Microsoft KB Archive/79090

= Michaelangelo Virus Disables Floppy Drive =

Article ID: 79090

Article Last Modified on 11/16/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.1
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.2 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.21 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3a
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 4.01 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a

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This article was previously published under Q79090



SUMMARY
The error message &quot;general failure error&quot; may occur when trying to access a floppy drive on a system infected by the Michaelangelo virus. If the virus is present, the error message can occur regardless of which MS-DOS version is running at the time. If the machine is booted from a floppy disk, the virus is inactive and the error message will not be displayed.



MORE INFORMATION
If the Michaelangelo virus is present on a hard drive, it will disable (make unreadable) the boot record of any floppy disk (that is not write-protected) when the disk drive is accessed. The virus resides in the partition table and cannot be destroyed by repartitioning.

NOTE: McAfee's ScanV82 can detect this virus. The code name for the Michaelangelo virus is &quot;MICH.&quot; For more information about this virus detection software, contact McAfee Associates at:

McAfee Associates

4423 Cheeney Street

Santa Clara, CA 95054

(408) 988-3832

The product included here is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 3.3 3.30 3.3a 3.30a 4.0 4.00 4.0a 4.00a 4.01 4.01a 5.00 3rdparty err msg &quot;michelangelo&quot;

Keywords: KB79090

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