Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!dsinc!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!cert.sei.cmu.edu!krvw From: panix!alexis@cmcl2.nyu.edu (Alexis Rosen) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: Re: Mac virus question (Mac) Message-ID: <0004.9011141856.AA23262@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu> Date: 9 Nov 90 13:39:50 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Lines: 39 Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu XRJDM@SCFVM.GSFC.NASA.GOV (Joe McMahon) writes: >>From: "Terry (TR) Roebuck; 966-4841" >> ... Disk >> seems fine (physically). Only clue was that there were at least 4 >> different versions of the system on the disk; probably the result of >> poor application install practices .... > >Aaaaack! >This is *extremely* bad thing number 2. Doing this kind of thing >almost guarantees that sooner or later the Resource Manager is going >to get confused and start loading from the wrong System file... At >that point it's Katie-bar-the-door; no one can predict exactly what >will happen. Except that it probably will be bad. Just a minute... This is a popular rumor that has, as far as I know, no basis in fact. The res. manager does _not_ get confused (about that, anyway). The problem with multiple System files is twofold: 1) On older systems, it wasn't to difficult to crosslaunch and wind up with a different active system file than the one you booted with. Like, one without the fonts and DAs you use all the time. Or possibly even without resources that are needed by drivers or INITs (I'm less certain of this- need to think about it...) 2) On newer systems (or rather, those which are running MultiFinder), you can't crosslaunch. The problem is reduced to the possibility of one of the other systems getting blessed accidentally, with annoying results. >2) Make up a sign and post it near the Mac saying "Did we do the > backups?". Even better, make up a startup screen that says the > same thing. I can help on that if you need advice. Now that's an idea I like... - --- Alexis Rosen Owner/Sysadmin, PANIX Public Access Unix, NY {cmcl2,apple}!panix!alexis