kw> KW>> no, you never have to format your hard drive to recover
kw> from a virus KW>> infection... 
 
TV> Absolutely incorrect. There are some times where removing a virus
MM> You right. But just one word - 'never' - did it make wrong.
Please give an example.  Don't use the "encrypted boot sector" cause
(that can be fixed without a FORMAT).
 
tv> from your hard drive will leave the boot sector and the FAT
tv> table encrypted, and the only way to recover from it is to
tv> format the drive. 
mm> For some viruses there a special removers which decrypt this
mm> stuff too. 
And don't use that example either, then.
BTW - which virus encrypts the FAT?
tv>   The MOST IMPORTANT THING to do when you're infected is to
tv> BACK UP EVERYTHING to tape or to a ZiP drive or some other
tv> device. DO 
mm> That's right, as stated above one may have more luck using a
mm> more special virus remover. Sometimes you will also get the
mm> info the virus is a data diddler and nobody can say what it did
mm> change (see Ripper). That's a point where most AV software
mm> would fail a test, they simple give not enough information to
mm> the user. 
Tell me the advantage of backing up _after_ the system is infected. 
That's the statement you were so quick to agree with.
TTFN. Rick.
Ottawa, ON 25 Dec 9:40 
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