Printing garbled text or graphics due to computer virus.
Cause:
Computer virus is causing garbled text or graphics to be printed.
Solution:
Save any open files, close all open applications and turn computer off immediately!
Arrange for local qualified computer technicians to diagnose and eradicate virus(es) as soon as possible using the most recent versions of special virus detection and cleanup programs.
CAUTION: Computer viruses are extremely dangerous. The data may be in danger of being corrupted or lost.
1) Perform immediate shutdown:
a) Save any open files.
b) Close all open applications.
c) Turn the computer off.
d) Identify and isolate all diskettes that have been used in this computer within the last month (to be scanned and, if necessary, disinfected).
CAUTION: Viruses should be diagnosed and repaired by qualified computer technicians using updated virus detection and cleanup software, as follows:
2) Detect and eradicate virus(es).
a) Insert a bootable, write-protected diskette in the bootable floppy drive (usually drive A), and turn on the computer.
b) After boot, insert a write-protected diskette that contains a virus detection program in the floppy drive.
c) Scan all memory and connected drives for viruses (i.e., all hard disks, all network drives, all backups and every floppy diskette in the vicinity).
d) Delete all infected files through detection/disk clean virus program.
e) If virus has infected the boot sector of hard disk, the following command may be useful. Type it at the DOS prompt:
FDISK /MBR
(The /MBR switch rebuilds the Master Boot Record on the disk.)
f) Cold boot the computer (Turn computer off, wait 15 seconds, and turn it back on again) to remove any lingering viruses from memory.
g) Scan all memory and connected drives for viruses again, using most thorough scan pattern (some detectors miss viruses on first pass). Use another virus detection program if available (to be absolutely sure all remnants are gone).
3) Check surrounding area and notify appropriate parties:
a) Scan all nearby PCs and floppy diskettes for viruses (reinfection of disinfected computer from other previously infected diskettes commonly occurs).
b) Notify diskette/transmission providers and receivers. Make sure the owner of the source diskette knows of the infection.
c) Report details of virus (which virus, number of machines affected, suspected damage sustained, and results of cleanup operations) to designated company authority .
4) Call for expert help from virus software and / or 3rd party providers if required .
NOTE: For future reference, consider installing a memory resident anti - virus monitor that runs all the time to detect and report suspicious program behavior as soon as it occurs.
