MS DOS 2nd message from MS DOS above

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jeanie
  • Start date Start date
J

Jeanie

I was'nt sure if anyone would see my reply from replys
to my message so I hope nobody will be mad that I posted
it again. Pertaining to the MS DOS files that I found in
Norton windoctor's list of files to be scanned. I was
told MS DOS hardly exist anymore and I was asked from a
replier what the files were so here they are.
MS DOS shortcut c;\doc~ (8 of them)
MS DOS shortcut c;\programs~
MS DOS shortcut c;\windows~

I have winxp home
 
I was'nt sure if anyone would see my reply from replys
to my message so I hope nobody will be mad that I posted
it again. Pertaining to the MS DOS files that I found in
Norton windoctor's list of files to be scanned. I was
told MS DOS hardly exist anymore and I was asked from a
replier what the files were so here they are.
MS DOS shortcut c;\doc~ (8 of them)
MS DOS shortcut c;\programs~
MS DOS shortcut c;\windows~

I have winxp home
Click to expand...

Jeannie,
While XP doesn't have an option to run the old fashioned MS-DOS, it does
have a few MS-DOS emulators in it (CMD.EXE and COMMAND.COM).

Their presence allows some DOS programs to run on an XP machine. Those DOS
programs can be launched with an MS-DOS shortcut also known as a *.PIF
file. *.PIF files pass on information about the DOS program to the
emulators, just like they did under the old fashioned DOS environments.

Your list is not very revealing as far as what files on your system are
MS-DOS shortcuts. It is only showing that they are MS-DOS shortcuts as the
path information is truncated and does not end with a file name.

I forgot what your orginal problem was with Norton's but if it's
recommending scanning those files -- Yes, I would definitely scan them.

Reason: Files of that type do exist on an XP setup but are not common.
Recently they have been a popular vehicle for tricking unsuspecting and
uninformed users into downloading and installing viruses.

The default settings in Windows "hide known file extensions." If the user
is not careful, a file named look-at-this.jpg.pif will appear - at first
glance - to be an innocent JPG (image file). Closer examination shows the
real extension as PIF. Any unsolicited file is suspect and should run up a
red flag. Any unsolicited file that contains executable code should set off
the air raid sirens!

I'm not saying that these files on your system contain a virus. I'm just
saying that you should let your antivirus program examine them. If it wants
to quarantine or even delete the files - let it. Normal PIF files are
shortcuts and can be easily recreated if needed.
 
-----Original Message-----


Jeannie,
While XP doesn't have an option to run the old fashioned MS-DOS, it does
have a few MS-DOS emulators in it (CMD.EXE and COMMAND.COM).

Their presence allows some DOS programs to run on an XP machine. Those DOS
programs can be launched with an MS-DOS shortcut also known as a *.PIF
file. *.PIF files pass on information about the DOS program to the
emulators, just like they did under the old fashioned DOS environments.

Your list is not very revealing as far as what files on your system are
MS-DOS shortcuts. It is only showing that they are MS- DOS shortcuts as the
path information is truncated and does not end with a file name.

I forgot what your orginal problem was with Norton's but if it's
recommending scanning those files -- Yes, I would definitely scan them.

Reason: Files of that type do exist on an XP setup but are not common.
Recently they have been a popular vehicle for tricking unsuspecting and
uninformed users into downloading and installing viruses.

The default settings in Windows "hide known file extensions." If the user
is not careful, a file named look-at-this.jpg.pif will appear - at first
glance - to be an innocent JPG (image file). Closer examination shows the
real extension as PIF. Any unsolicited file is suspect and should run up a
red flag. Any unsolicited file that contains executable code should set off
the air raid sirens!

I'm not saying that these files on your system contain a virus. I'm just
saying that you should let your antivirus program examine them. If it wants
to quarantine or even delete the files - let it. Normal PIF files are
shortcuts and can be easily recreated if needed.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP - Windows XP Shell/User
.
Thanks so much for all the info! I went to the pif file
Click to expand...
and there is only 1 MS DOS shortcut default pif file,
which when I tried to open and got this message that the
file is invalid. But it does say something about it being
a emulator. So does that mean I can go ahead and delete
all the shortcuts?
 
Thanks so much for all the info! I went to the pif file
and there is only 1 MS DOS shortcut default pif file,
which when I tried to open and got this message that the
file is invalid. But it does say something about it being
a emulator. So does that mean I can go ahead and delete
all the shortcuts?
Click to expand...

You're welcome, Jeanie.

It won't hurt anything to delete the file.

A more cautious approach would be to move it into a folder. If the PIF file
was in the Windows folder, name the new folder similar to the folder that
you took the file from. For example, if the file is in the Windows folder,
name the new folder: "From Windows Folder" Move the shortcut into it (you
can use drag and drop for this step). If nothing complains about missing
the file in a month or so, delete the file and the folder.

On the other hand, if a program sqawks about this file being missing, you
can easily move it back into place.

By the way, I found your other message and see that it was Norton's System
Doctor complaining about the file. While System Doctor can be useful, it
will sometimes incorrectly identify normal files and registry entries as
"problems."

If you are not sure what it is referring to, leave it be until you can ask
about it. Eventually you'll become familiar enough with your system and
Norton's to know when to ignore the program's suggestions and when to take
heed.
 
Back
Top