Windows 95 Customer Advisory for Virus on Disk 2 Problems
Article ID: 136111
Article Last Modified on 11/15/2006
APPLIES TO
This article was previously published under Q136111
SUMMARY
This article contains a copy of the information in the Windows 95
Customer Advisory.
SYMPTOMS
When a floppy-based Setup gets to disk 2, it can halt with a message
indicating a bad disk 2, or may be unable to locate disk 2 even though
you have inserted it in the drive. You will be required to exit Setup at
that time. Since it is early in the process there should be no effect on
your ability to run your previous configuration.
CAUSE
We have tracked down a handful of disk sets nationwide from customers
who have reported this problem. In every case, the second disk turned
out to have been corrupted by a virus on the customer's computer that
had infected the second disk during Setup. In each case, the virus was
on the customer's computer prior to the installation of Windows 95 and
not caused by the Windows 95 disks. This generally happens on disk 2
because this is the disk that stores customer registration information,
so Setup writes to this disk. The virus, which installs itself
undetected on a typical floppy disk, is exposed because of the unique
high-density format used for Windows 95 distribution diskettes.
MORE INFORMATION
How can a customer prevent this:
There are several viruses that can cause this problem. The best way to
eliminate the problem for good is to run an anti-virus program and scan
the computer for viruses before upgrading. This is recommended on the
disk labels. Because viruses can be difficult to get rid of completely,
you should reboot your computer and check for viruses a second time
after you believe the virus has been removed. All Windows 95 disks
should be write-protected when possible. Disk 2 can be write-protected
when your information has already been recorded from a previous Windows
95 Setup. A floppy disk is write-protected when the tab on the top of
floppy disk is flipped up so that you can see through the hole.
What a customer should do if this happens:
Once the virus has infected disk 2, the disk cannot be used. Please call
(800) 360-7561 or Microsoft Product Support Services for updated disks.
Additional query words: dmf bad disk baddisk
Keywords: kbsetup KB136111