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Text File
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1994-01-09
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14KB
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335 lines
THE "VKILLER.CPX" FILE ON THE DISK
AN ATARI EXTENDED CONTROL PANEL MODULE
WRITTEN BY
TORBJ▓RN OSE
(LORD HACKBEAR OF DF)
MANUAL
Last change: October 2nd 1993
LIST OF CONTENTS
DISCLAIMER NOTICE
INTRODUCTION
LOADING THE VKILLER.CPX MODULE
WORKING WITH THE VKILLER.CPX MODULE
THE PUTBOOT OPTION
CREDITS
HISTORY
BUG REPORT
The "Ultimate Virus Killer" .CPX module and manual are
copyright (c) 1993 by Douglas Communications
0 DISCLAIMER NOTICE
We make no warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect
to this manual or with respect to the software described in this
manual, its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for
any particular purpose. The entire risk as to its quality and
performance is with the buyer. Should the programme prove defective
following its purchase, the buyer assumes the entire cost of all
necessary servicing, repair, or correction and any incidental or
consequential damages. In no event will we be liable for direct,
indirect or consequential damages resulting from any defect in the
software.
1 INTRODUCTION
Some time ago now, Atari released their extended control panel
accessory - "XCONTROL.ACC". It's one of those programmes that isn't
actually Public Domain but that may be spread non-commercially
anyway - hence the reason why you won't actually find it on this
disk, because this is what Atari calls 'commercial distribution',
which is not allowed.
This extended control panel is MODULAR, which means that you can
add bits (modules) to it, or remove them. Whereas the old control
panel ("CONTROL.ACC") could change the colours and set the keyboard
click rate and that sort of thing, the extended control panel can
do nothing at all - at least not on its own. Separate modules,
specially written programme files ending with the extension "CPX",
can be loaded in order for various different things to be done. One
can for example load a module that allows you to change the
colours, or another module to change the keyboard click and repeat
rate.
Principally, however, the modular setup of the extended control
panel is a lot more flexible than the old one. Provided that
certain criteria of CPX programme structure are met, you can
principally write ANY programme for it. You could do a game which
would be loaded with the extended control panel on boot-up, for
example, or just about anything else.
"VKILLER.CPX", you probably guessed it by now, is a module written
especially for the extended control panel. You can simply have the
control panel load it, after which it's present in your computer at
the click of a mouse button, just like any other accessory you
might want!
2 LOADING THE VKILLER.CPX MODULE
The basic functions of the Atari control panel will not be
explained here. For our purposes, it suffices to tell that the
control panel will load its modules from a specific search path
(i.e. a specific directory, for example your root directory or a
specific folder) whenever you boot your machine with the
extended control panel enabled (the actual control panel will be
loaded just like any other desk accessory, with which no doubt
you're already familiar), it will load all correctly structured
programme files that have the "CPX" extension.
Do note: This only works with CORRECTLY STRUCTURED files. Simply
renaming regular programmes ("PRG") or desk accessory files will
not work!
Basically, what you need to do is copy the extended control panel
on the root directory of your boot drive (usually drive A when you
have a floppy system, or drive C when you have an auto-booting hard
disk). Copy the "VKILLER.CPX" file from the "Ultimate Virus Killer"
disk there as well, boot your computer, and that's all there is to
it.
The "VKILLER.CPX" module can be actually activated by selecting
the extended control panel from the accessory list (top lefthand
pull-down menu in the desktop or any proper GEM programme) and then
double-clicking on its entry (UVK CPX vx.x, "VIRUS KILLER").
Do note: You need the EXTENDED control panel for this to work!
This control panel has been supplied with ST systems for the last
two years or so, and may also be available from your local Public
Domain library. Contact your dealer or Atari in case you have
difficulty finding it.
Note on memory: If you have only a limited amount of free memory,
or if you have a machine with half a megabyte of memory, you might
not find sufficient space to load the "Ultimate Virus Killer"
programme once you have the extended control panel installed with
its appropriate modules loaded.
3 WORKING WITH THE VKILLER.CPX MODULE
Once you've activated the module by double-clicking on it (or by
clicking on it once and then selecting "open" from the control
panel menu), you'll have some of the basic first-aid functions of
the "Ultimate Virus Killer" at hand, without you even having to
load or having to have loaded the actual "Ultimate Virus Killer"
programme.
The module offers several buttons you can press with the mouse
pointer.
ARROW UP/DOWN:
Allows you to look at the bootsector that was most recently read.
If no bootsector was read yet, it will display a quick manual text
and the author's regular-and Email address.
PUTBOOT:
When checking for bootsector viruses on floppy disks, you can
write one of several selected special bootsectors on the disk -
sortof an immunization. Refer to the next chapter for more details
on these bootsectors.
This option can only be selected if you have already read a
bootsector by clicking on the "A" or "B" buttons.
SAVEBOOT:
If you have found a bootsector not known by the module, you can
write it into a small file on disk with this option. This option
can be compared with the "WRITE BOOTFILE" option from the "Ultimate
Virus Killer".
Do note: As the VKILLER.CPX module recognizes only preciously few
harmless bootsectors in order to save as much memory space as
possible, these "BIN" files should only be sent in for analysis
when the "Ultimate Virus Killer does not recognize them either! In
those cases, they should also be submitted to the "Ultimate Virus
Killer" feedback address, mentioned in the FEEDBACK chapter of the
main programme manual - NOT to the VKILLER.CFX module author!
SYSCHECK:
Displays some of the more interesting system variable contents,
including possible XBRA identifiers. This option will probably be
of little interest for most users.
A:
Loads and analyzes the bootsector from the floppy in drive A.
If recognized, the name will be displayed in the status box, with
a status (harmless / executable) below. "DskMsg" does not apply to
the actual bootsector but instead refers to the floppy drive error
status (i.e. is says "OK" when the bootsector was properly read or
written).
B:
Loads and analyzes the bootsector from the floppy in drive B.
If recognized, the name will be displayed in the status box, with
a status (harmless / executable) below. "DskMsg" does not apply to
the actual bootsector but instead refers to the floppy drive error
status (i.e. is says "OK" when the bootsector was properly read or
written).
This button will be disabled if you don't actually have drive B
installed.
OK:
Exits the module, back to the extended control panel main menu.
Do note: The VKILLER.CPX module is not intended to replace the
actual "Ultimate Virus Killer" programme. It offers only basic
first-aid protection, by allowing you to recognize all current
bootsector viruses. Most other, harmless bootsectors - with the
exception of the "Ultimate Virus Killer" immunization method and
the bootsectors it can write with the "PUTBOOT" option - are NOT
recognized! In each of the latter cases, you are advised to check
out that particular disk with the actual "Ultimate Virus Killer"
programme.
Note to avoid confusion: There is another, Public Domain, virus
killer called "VKILLER". It's written by George Woodside from the
United States. Despite the similar name of the module, they have
nothing to do with each other and George Woodside didn't program
the CPX module as such.
4 THE PUTBOOT OPTION
When selecting the "PUTBOOT" option, an additional menu will pop
open that allows you to select one of several bootsectors. These
bootsectors can then be written to the floppy disk that is
currently being checked.
MAKEEXEC:
This makes the disk executable, as opposed to the option "NOEXEC",
below. With regular disks, making the bootsector executable may
result in a crash when booting with that disk in the drive.
NOEXEC:
This simply makes the disk non-excutable. Whatever's on the disk
will not actually be destroyed but it will no longer be executed
upon booting with the disk in the drive. Don't do this with games
or any other disks that have valid bootsector programmes - use the
"Ultimate Virus Killer" to do an in-depth check first!
MEDWAY 4:
Writes the Medway Boys Virus Protector Boot IV. Upon booting a
disk with a bootsector containing this programme, your computer
will be checked for some (*!* NOT ALL *!*) viruses and a brief
warning will be given if something suspicious is found.
This is no anti-virus insofar that it does NOT copy itself to
other disks of its own accord.
POMPEY 2:
This is a bit like the "MEDWAY 4", mentioned above - the
difference being that it only checks whether or not reset-resistant
programmes are resident in your computer's memory upon booting.
This is no anti-virus either, insofar that it does NOT copy itself
to other disks of its own accord.
IMMUNE:
This immunizes the current disk according to the latest "Ultimate
Virus Killer" immunization method.
CLEAN ST:
This zeroes the bootsector with the exception of the Bios
Parameter Block (for explanation of what that is, check out the
actual main programme manual). A possible programme in the
bootsector will be lost, whether it's a virus or not.
CLEAN PC:
This is almost identical to the "CLEAN ST" option, above, but has
the advantage of creating a disk that can be read using a PC.
Regular ST disks can't always be read by a PC (IBM compatible
thingy).
5 CREDITS
Manual:
Richard Karsmakers
Research:
Richard Karsmakers and Torbj│rn Ose
All programming, design, and the rest:
Torbj│rn Ose
6 HISTORY
- Version 1.0 (December 16th 1992)
The first version, which is probably not going to change much,
except for addition of new viruses and possible cosmetic changes or
additional Falcon compatibility (IF it's not compatible, which it
may already be).
First released with "Ultimate Virus Killer" version 5.7.
- Version 1.1 (March 11th 1993)
New viruses were added in its recognition, the 'Drive B' button is
disabled if it is not present, text positions are reset to zero for
all changes in the text area.
First released with "Ultimate Virus Killer" version 5.8.
- Version 1.2 (May 18th 1993)
Support for versions in several languages included - Dutch and
English versions now exist. Function keys F1-F7 now supported, and
resident scan not accessible when "MiNT" cookie is found so as to
prevent memory protection errors.
First released with "Ultimate Virus Killer" version 5.9.
- Version 1.3 (August 15th 1993)
New viruses have been added to fit with version 6.0 of the
"Ultimate Virus Killer". 'Saveboot' extension now ".IMG".
First released with "Ultimate Virus Killer" version 6.0.
7 BUG REPORT
Of course we wouldn't be offering you a programme that's buggy. We
know of no bugs in the VKILLER.CPX module. However, when using
"MultiTOS" the system check will not work, for "MultiTOS" does not
allow you to access memory that was set up by another application
in protected mode. So far we know not of a way around it.
Should you find any bugs (whether cosmetic or not), please report
them by sending your bug report to the following address:
Torbj│rn Ose
Haueteigen 1
N-6150 ▓rsta
Norway
For those of you lucky enough to have access to Email facilities,
this is his Email address:
tose@dhmolde.no
Never forget to include sufficient reply stamps (Norwegian!) or
International Reply Coupons if you expect an answer or if you want
your disks to be returned; email correspondence, of course, does
not require this.
!! FOR ALL OTHER "ULTIMATE VIRUS KILLER" CORRESPONDENCE, PLEASE
REFER TO THE FEEDBACK CHAPTER IN THE MAIN PROGRAMME MANUAL !!