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From: n8541751@unicorn.cc.wwu.edu (Where there is darkness, light)
Newsgroups: comp.virus
Subject: Re: Hardware damage?
Message-ID: <0012.9102061308.AA27330@ubu.cert.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 6 Feb 91 09:58:04 GMT
Sender: Virus Discussion List <VIRUS-L@LEHIIBM1>
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Approved: krvw@sei.cmu.edu

hagins@gamecock.rtp.dg.com (Jody Hagins) writes:

>Please forgive my ignorance on this subject...

>Is it possible for a virus, etc to cripple physical hardware
>components?  I ask as I have recently experienced an abrupt halt of my
>system, frying my power supply.  This occurred after aquiring a piece
>of software from a supposedly very reliable source.  Just wondering if
>this is related, or a coincidence.

>Thanks for any help!

I have a book on assembly language programming of the PC video
hardware which includes a caution against certain programming mistakes
to avoid when setting up the video controller.

It claims that you can actually physically damage a monitor from
within software.  Needless to say I haven't tried it to see if it's
really true.

I don't know about other components.

Kris.
- --
Kriston M. Bruland          |    . .         . .      . . .      .       . .
n8541751@unicorn.cc.wwu.edu |    .   .     . .        .        . .       .   .
8541751@nessie.cc.wwu.edu   |    .             .         .     .   .     .