[comp.virus] Probably not a virus

XRJDM@SCFVM.BITNET (Joe McMahon) (10/19/90)

Hi. Your problem sounds like a DA which does not clean up properly
when closed, leaving a bad handle to a "menu" (now garbage) in the
menu list. It may be bad, incompatible with the current system, or
damaged.

I have also seen applications do this. If you can, try to get together
with your user and see if you can duplicate the error. You may also
want to check the level of system she is running (some very old
programs will fail spectacularly under new systems/ROMs, and some new
programs will do likewise under old systems). Reinstalling the System
and the DA's might also be useful.

Getting a first-hand look at the problem should be your first
priority. Also, if she uses other Macs, do they fail in the same
way? Might be a bad application or system disk. Do other disks
(formerly OK) start acting up after she has used them in her
machine? If so, it may be a virus.

 --- Joe M.