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Mac Forum / Applications / Mac Applications / June 2008HELP! My Mac is Possessed! Possible Virus!
This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a time zone ahead of the U. S. At random times, the CD drive not only opens by itself, but keeps opening and closing, sometimes partially and sometimes fully, is if it's possessed! I ran out of the room for some packing tape to stick it closed as it was driving me to distraction, and it stopped. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks! Cori In article <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Cori Possibly a sticky 'eject' key on your keyboard? > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Cori If an eMac we've had a couple of these - all beyond warranty. No real fix that I know of. I'm going to take the drives out.  SignatureTim lance_1012@hotmail.com In article <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > some packing tape to stick it closed as it was driving me to > distraction, and it stopped. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks! Not a virus. Seriously, Calm down; thinking "virus!" when something happens on a Mac is like thinking "Unicorn!" when you drive by a farm and see hoof prints in the road. There are three common causes for what you describe: 1. A stuck eject key on your keyboard. Does it still happen with a different keyboard? 2. A malfunctioning USB device. Certain models of Belkin USB hub are notorious for this. They make the drive door pop open when they initialize, or when the computer is restarted, or when you plug or unplug a USB gadget, or just at random. I've seen it happen on several clients' computers. Does it happen if you unplug all your USB gizmos? 3. A malfunctioning C-ROM drive. By the way, if you tape the drive door shut, and it is still trying to eject anyway, eventually you'll burn out the eject motor on the CD-ROM drive--destroying it. SignaturePhotography, kink, polyamory, shareware, and more: all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html In comp.sys.mac.apps tacit <tacitr@aol.com> wrote: > Not a virus. There are three common causes for what you describe: > 1. A stuck eject key on your keyboard. > 2. A malfunctioning USB device. > 3. A malfunctioning C-ROM drive. It could also be a practical joker. drutil tray open/close. Is remote login enabled? SignatureK. Lang may your lum reek. > In article > <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd0...@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, > Seriously, Calm down; thinking "virus!" when something happens on a Mac > is like thinking "Unicorn!" when you drive by a farm and see hoof prints > in the road. <claps> love it. In article <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > some packing tape to stick it closed as it was driving me to > distraction, and it stopped. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks! Well, since there have been NO OS X viruses in the wild since it was introduced in the spring of 2001, I doubt that the problem lies there. Just exactly where...that I can't say. > In article > <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Just exactly where...that I can't say. This is absolutely false. > > In article > > <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > This is absolutely false. Nope. It's absolutely _true_. There are NO Mac OS X viruses in the wild. PERIOD. Any supposed viruses for Mac OS X have been proof-of-concept viruses created by antivirus software makers and "security professionals" whose goal is to scare Mac users into buying security software - usually the software they happen to also make and sell. SignaturePlease send all responses to the relevant news group rather than directly to me, as E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google Groups. You'll need to use a real news reader if you want me to see your posts. JR > > > In article > > > <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > goal is to scare Mac users into buying security software - usually the > software they happen to also make and sell. There *was* one Trojan horse - and since people seem to use the word virus to refer to pretty much any illicit malware nowadays I'll mention it in this context - that I know did not originate from an anti-virus vendor or a security professional. It was still a proof of concept, though. Despite the heat they took for overhyping it, the people who blamed Intego for *creating* the app-disguised-as-an-MP3 4 years ago were off-base. Signature"Harry?" Ron's voice was a mere whisper. "Do you smell something ... burning?" - Harry Potter and the Odor of the Phoenix > > Any supposed viruses for Mac OS X have been proof-of-concept viruses > > created by antivirus software makers and "security professionals" whose [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > it in this context - that I know did not originate from an anti-virus > vendor or a security professional. Since the overwhelming majority of proof-of-concept malware for Mac OS X *has* originated from anti-virus vendors and "security professionals", you'll need to offer proof that it did not originate from an anti-virus vendor or a security professional. I'm not taking your word for it. Nothing personal. SignaturePlease send all responses to the relevant news group rather than directly to me, as E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google Groups. You'll need to use a real news reader if you want me to see your posts. JR >> There *was* one Trojan horse - and since people seem to use the word >> virus to refer to pretty much any illicit malware nowadays I'll mention [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >vendor or a security professional. I'm not taking your word for it. >Nothing personal. While I agree with you, I will note that it really doesn't matter where it originated when we evaluate its chances of harming us. > >> There *was* one Trojan horse - and since people seem to use the word > >> virus to refer to pretty much any illicit malware nowadays I'll mention [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > While I agree with you, I will note that it really doesn't matter > where it originated when we evaluate its chances of harming us. Well it matters to me. If malware created by such a company were to make its way onto people's computers, and one could prove the malware was created by those companies, the sh.t would hit the fan. Of course these companies know they are playing a dangerous and risky game, and it's in their best interests to make sure the proof-of-concept malware they create never sees the light of day. But even if that never happens, paying "security professionals" to create malware in order to issue press releases with the intent to scare Mac users into purchasing anti-virus and security software is a despicable practice. SignaturePlease send all responses to the relevant news group rather than directly to me, as E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google Groups. You'll need to use a real news reader if you want me to see your posts. JR >> While I agree with you, I will note that it really doesn't matter >> where it originated when we evaluate its chances of harming us. > >Well it matters to me. If malware created by such a company were to make >its way onto people's computers, and one could prove the malware was >created by those companies, the sh.t would hit the fan. It matters politically, and it would get a different political/law enforcement response from me. But that doesn't change how I evaluate and/or prepare for it. > > > Any supposed viruses for Mac OS X have been proof-of-concept viruses > > > created by antivirus software makers and "security professionals" whose [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Since the overwhelming majority of proof-of-concept malware for Mac OS X > *has* originated from anti-virus vendors and "security professionals", Do *you* have any proof of *that* claim? > you'll need to offer proof that it did not originate from an anti-virus > vendor or a security professional. I'm not taking your word for it. > Nothing personal. Simple: I was a participant in a March/April, 2004, Usenet discussion that led to the first of the OS X TH's. Several other long-term and respected contributors to these groups also participated. Essentially we confirmed for an interested poster that a social engineering exploit that's been available on the Mac since day 1 still exists and described how it would work. Here's the message ID for the root of the thread: ynk6c.411$Fo4.3307@typhoon.sonic.net Message ID <blgl-5D750C.02150821032004@news.bahnhof.se> from that thread announces the development of the proof of concept, which was "discovered" by Intego a couple of weeks later. Signature"Harry?" Ron's voice was a mere whisper. "Do you smell something ... burning?" - Harry Potter and the Odor of the Phoenix > > > > Any supposed viruses for Mac OS X have been proof-of-concept viruses > > > > created by antivirus software makers and "security professionals" whose [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Do *you* have any proof of *that* claim? You want proof that anti-virus vendors and "security professionals" create the majority of Mac OS X proof-of-concept exploits? > > you'll need to offer proof that it did not originate from an anti-virus > > vendor or a security professional. I'm not taking your word for it. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > announces the development of the proof of concept, which was > "discovered" by Intego a couple of weeks later. Oh you're talking about the shell script masquerading as an audio file. Ok I remember that one. I think of that as a pretty well isolated incident. SignaturePlease send all responses to the relevant news group rather than directly to me, as E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google Groups. You'll need to use a real news reader if you want me to see your posts. JR > > > > > Any supposed viruses for Mac OS X have been proof-of-concept viruses > > > > > created by antivirus software makers and "security professionals" [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > You want proof that anti-virus vendors and "security professionals" > create the majority of Mac OS X proof-of-concept exploits? Yes. You're making the claim. It's a fairly serious one to make. Even as presumably harmless proof-of-concept releases, there's a BIG difference between stirring up and capitalizing on fears through rhetoric and actually implementing and distributing software that reinforces those fears. > > > you'll need to offer proof that it did not originate from an anti-virus > > > vendor or a security professional. I'm not taking your word for it. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Ok I remember that one. I think of that as a pretty well isolated > incident. It wasn't a shell script. It was an actual, playable audio file that was *also* an actual, runnable native-code application. Signature"Harry?" Ron's voice was a mere whisper. "Do you smell something ... burning?" - Harry Potter and the Odor of the Phoenix > > > > > > Any supposed viruses for Mac OS X have been proof-of-concept > > > > > > viruses [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > actually implementing and distributing software that reinforces those > fears. It's not necessary to distribute proof-of-concept malware. In fact, the majority of proof-of-concept exploits aren't distributed at all. All one need do is create it, document it, and issue a press release that it exists. That's all that is needed to spread fear, uncertainty, and doubt, which is what these companies rely on to sell their software. SignaturePlease send all responses to the relevant news group rather than directly to me, as E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google Groups. You'll need to use a real news reader if you want me to see your posts. JR > > > > Any supposed viruses for Mac OS X have been proof-of-concept viruses > > > > created by antivirus software makers and "security professionals" whose [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > announces the development of the proof of concept, which was > "discovered" by Intego a couple of weeks later. And I believe that *I* was the original "interested poster"... SignatureDon Bruder - dakidd@sonic.net - If your "From:" address isn't on my whitelist, or the subject of the message doesn't contain the exact text "PopperAndShadow" somewhere, any message sent to this address will go in the garbage without my ever knowing it arrived. Sorry... <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd> for more info > > > you'll need to offer proof that it did not originate from an anti-virus > > > vendor or a security professional. I'm not taking your word for it. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > And I believe that *I* was the original "interested poster"... Yep. That's the thread. Signature"Harry?" Ron's voice was a mere whisper. "Do you smell something ... burning?" - Harry Potter and the Odor of the Phoenix > > Well, since there have been NO OS X viruses in the wild since it was > > introduced in the spring of 2001, I doubt that the problem lies there. > > > > Just exactly where...that I can't say. > > This is absolutely false. You're claiming there have been OS X viruses that weren't fabricated by companies selling anti-virus software? > > In article > > <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > This is absolutely false. Please give me some links to available Mac viruses ... I'm feeling left out. I want one! SignatureAdrian >Please give me some links to available Mac viruses ... I'm feeling left >out. I want one! The easiest one to acquire is the one mentioned earlier - the one that misspells words such as "their" or "its". It can do tremendous amounts of damage. > >Please give me some links to available Mac viruses ... I'm feeling left > >out. I want one! > > The easiest one to acquire is the one mentioned earlier - the one that > misspells words such as "their" or "its". It can do tremendous > amounts of damage. Or, here is the famous DIY virus: 1) Save a copy of these instructions. 2) Randomly delete a few files you like plus a few system files that you have no idea what they do. 3) Mail a copy of this page to everyone in your Address Book. Done! SignatureTeam EM to the rescue! http://www.team-em.com > Or, here is the famous DIY virus: > > 1) Save a copy of these instructions. > 2) Randomly delete a few files you like plus a few system files that > you have no idea what they do. > 3) Mail a copy of this page to everyone in your Address Book. I forgot to do step 2; am I safe? SignatureSupport the troops: Bring them home ASAP. > >Please give me some links to available Mac viruses ... I'm feeling left > >out. I want one! > > The easiest one to acquire is the one mentioned earlier - the one that > misspells words such as "their" or "its". It can do tremendous > amounts of damage. ah right, I think I've seen that one... SignatureAdrian >>> Please give me some links to available Mac viruses ... I'm feeling left >>> out. I want one! [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > ah right, I think I've seen that one... Damn! Last night I ran into ANOTHER damn virus. I went out to eat with some friends, in the pouring rain, I might add. I was out about 3 hours. When I got home my computer was turned off! Not only did the virus turn my computer off, but it reset all the clocks and my VHS recorder to 12 o'clock. Damn--I never even heard of a Microsoft virus that did all that! I'm moving back to XP... SignatureThank you and have a nice day. > Damn! Last night I ran into ANOTHER damn virus. I went out to eat > with some friends, in the pouring rain, I might add. I was out about > 3 hours. When I got home my computer was turned off! Not only did > the virus turn my computer off, but it reset all the clocks and my > VHS recorder to 12 o'clock. I bet they were blinking too. SignatureSupport the troops: Bring them home ASAP. >Damn! Last night I ran into ANOTHER damn virus. I went out to eat >with some friends, in the pouring rain, I might add. I was out about 3 [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >I'm moving back to XP... I'm going to steal that one, it's worth sharing. 8^) > >>> Please give me some links to available Mac viruses ... I'm feeling left > >>> out. I want one! [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > I'm moving back to XP... very wise - you can't be too careful SignatureAdrian > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Cori Is there a priest in the house? :-D But seriously - try swapping out your keyboard, and restarting your Mac if you've not already. Regards, Jamie Kahn Genet SignatureIf you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. In article <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > some packing tape to stick it closed as it was driving me to > distraction, and it stopped. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks! *sigh* Please stop doing this... Just because your computer is doing something unexpected does *not* mean you have a virus. Viruses today don't do stupid things like opening the CD drive or no reason - instead, they do things like send massive amounts of SPAM from your computer or steal personal information from you. SignaturePlease send all responses to the relevant news group rather than directly to me, as E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google Groups. You'll need to use a real news reader if you want me to see your posts. JR > *sigh* Please stop doing this... You mean replying to clueless goglegroupers that the rest of have successfully KF'd? Yes, please stop doing this. Do you REALLY thing you're NOT responding to a troll? <shaking my head> 30 day penalty. Into the KF. SignatureWoodworking links and more at http://www.woodenwabbits.com -------------- I kill all messages from Google Groups. See http://improve-usenet.org for details. > > *sigh* Please stop doing this... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > <shaking my head> Why don't you have a problem with all the other folks who responded? > 30 day penalty. Into the KF. Go ahead and make it permanent, for all I care. SignaturePlease send all responses to the relevant news group rather than directly to me, as E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google Groups. You'll need to use a real news reader if you want me to see your posts. JR >>> *sigh* Please stop doing this... >> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Why don't you have a problem with all the other folks who responded? Because. >> 30 day penalty. Into the KF. > > Go ahead and make it permanent, for all I care. Dave's having a bad year. Signatureemail to oshea dot j dot j at gmail dot com. > Why don't you have a problem with all the other folks who responded? > > > 30 day penalty. Into the KF. > > Go ahead and make it permanent, for all I care. I don't understand this "30 day penalty" stuff. Dave's not the only one who does it, there's a very famous net-kook who very famously does it. Does anyone really care if they're put in someone's stupid "penalty box?" What does it prove? I don't have any real individuals in my kill-file at all, just that MI5 guy. And all of Google groups, of course. SignatureW. Oates >> Why don't you have a problem with all the other folks who responded? >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > box?" What does it prove? I don't have any real individuals in my > kill-file at all, just that MI5 guy. And all of Google groups, of course. Some newsreaders, such as Hogwasher, default to having filters run for 30 or 31 days. If you want to make a filter, including a kill filter, permanent, you have to actually make an effort. I normally just leave the default time setting in place, so my filters expire in 30 days. If I have to filter someone a second time, I expend the effort to make the filter a permanent one, as I'm not going to waste more time by filtering them a third time. Signatureemail to oshea dot j dot j at gmail dot com. Hi, like several of you, my brother-in-law, the resident computer exorcist, er, expert, suggested a sticky eject key. I pressed the key a couple of times and it seemed to have no effect. I also turned off and restarted the computer. The first time, the CD drive still kept popping open, but after leaving the computer shut down for several hours and then coming online this evening, it seems (crossed fingers) to be okay. I've been on almost three hours without incident. Thanks for the replies. Cori In article <36fe4d07-36e7-48dd-a693-758c47dea4d3@d77g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>, > Hi, like several of you, my brother-in-law, the resident computer > exorcist, er, expert, suggested a sticky eject key. I pressed the key [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > to be okay. I've been on almost three hours without incident. Thanks > for the replies. Yeah...maybe the tubes had to cool down. > In article > <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > amounts of SPAM from your computer or steal personal information from > you. I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so malicioius. Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my current mac that switches the "t" and "h" in the word the, so it produces "hte". That's just one of many. It frequently switches "their" for "there" and adds 's where it doesn't belong. SignatureThank you and have a nice day. > I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so malicioius. > Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my > current mac that switches the "t" and "h" in the word the, so it > produces "hte". That's just one of many. It frequently switches > "their" for "there" and adds 's where it doesn't belong. There are not now nor have there ever been any OS X viruses in the wild. >> I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so malicioius. >> Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >There are not now nor have there ever been any OS X viruses in the wild. You need to re-read the above, checking your humor sensor. > >> I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so malicioius. > >> Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > You need to re-read the above, checking your humor sensor. It's obvious his sensor has been compromised by the AnAl-RETenTIVe-B virus. SignaturePlease send all responses to the relevant news group rather than directly to me, as E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my very hungry SPAM filter. Due to Google's refusal to prevent spammers from posting messages through their servers, I often ignore posts from Google Groups. You'll need to use a real news reader if you want me to see your posts. JR > > I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so > > malicioius. Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > There are not now nor have there ever been any OS X viruses in the > wild. He was being facetious. SignatureSupport the troops: Bring them home ASAP. >> I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so malicioius. >> Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > There are not now nor have there ever been any OS X viruses in the wild. Nothing "wild" about this one, though. It's totally domesticated. SignatureThank you and have a nice day. > Not all viruses are so malicioius. > Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my > current mac that switches the "t" and "h" in the word the, so it > produces "hte". That's just one of many. It frequently switches > "their" for "there" and adds 's where it doesn't belong. Somehow I suspect that virus is in your fingers 8-) SignatureMary Loomer Oliver (aka Erilar) You can't reason with someone whose first line of argument is that reason doesn't count. --Isaac Asimov Erilar's Cave Annex: http://www.chibardun.net/~erilarlo > I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so malicioius. > Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my current > mac that switches the "t" and "h" in the word the, so it produces > "hte". That's just one of many. It frequently switches "their" for > "there" and adds 's where it doesn't belong. That's to funny. I tried two keep the definitions up too date, but as you can see, I have the same virus. SignatureWes Groleau Change is inevitable. Liberals need to learn that "inevitable" is not a synonym for "good." Conservatives should learn that "inevitable" is not a synonym for "bad." -- WWG > I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so malicioius. > Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my > current mac that switches the "t" and "h" in the word the, so it > produces "hte". That's just one of many. It frequently switches > "their" for "there" and adds 's where it doesn't belong. Mine had a virus that wrote "suod" instead of "sudo" so often that I had to create an alias to kill it. SignatureW. Oates > > I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so > > malicioius. Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Mine had a virus that wrote "suod" instead of "sudo" so often that I > had to create an alias to kill it. Mine has a virus that changes "sappho" into "applescript". If you don't believe me, ask Dave Balderstone. SignatureSupport the troops: Bring them home ASAP. >> I think you're being a bit naive. Not all viruses are so malicioius. >> Some are quite benign. I have for a long time had a virus on my [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Mine had a virus that wrote "suod" instead of "sudo" so often that I had > to create an alias to kill it. Yeah, and that stuff doesn't take into account the "bots" and "malware" and "zombies" that are somewhere on my mac, behind the scenes or in the dead of night downloading porn to my computer! I've explained to my wife how they got there, so she understands now. But it was very embarrassing. Dang, I need to get some serious security product. I'm gonna look into that sometime this summer. Or sometime at the beginning of the year when I have some extra cash. SignatureThank you and have a nice day. In article <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > some packing tape to stick it closed as it was driving me to > distraction, and it stopped. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks! Sounds like a sticky key to me. In article <7fd303e2-9b61-4e04-a22d-8bb83acd042f@z66g2000hsc.googlegroups.com>, > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > some packing tape to stick it closed as it was driving me to > distraction, and it stopped. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks! You'll probably get a lot of responses to this. They might not be very helpful, though. Next time, ask the question in the subject line that you actually want to ask: "Why does my CD keep opening?" That way someone scanning the group will see your question and immediately know if they have the answer. > This just started today, so I'm wondering if there is a possible > "Friday the 13th" virus for Macs originating from some country with a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > some packing tape to stick it closed as it was driving me to > distraction, and it stopped. Is there a way to fix this? Thanks! Duct tape is considerably stronger than packing tape I would recommend it for a permanent fix because, with it in place, the drive motor will eventually burn out. > Cori It's a G4. Just started this disk drive display. The eject key does not look stuck, dirty, or different in any way from the other keys. It's not a USB hub because I don't have one. It did it again today. Keeps it up for awhile and then stops. Can't be stopped by shutting the Mac down and turning it back on, hitting the key, or any other means I've found. Cori P. S. I've used the machine constantly and heavily for six years and the CD drive very little. In this time, I have NEVER changed the battery--wouldn't know what kind to get or how to change it. Thanks. > It's a G4. Just started this disk drive display. The eject key does > not look stuck, dirty, or different in any way from the other keys. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Cori > It's a G4. Just started this disk drive display. The eject key does > not look stuck, dirty, or different in any way from the other keys. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Cori I'm assuming this is a Power Mac G4 with a tray-loading optical drive. Unlike the slot-loading drives Apple uses in most Mac models, your Mac uses a standard full-sized drive. Several people have suggested the eject key on the keyboard might be stuck, but it's likely that the eject button on the front of the drive itself is playing up. Pushing this button will cause the tray to open or close. I've never used a Power Mac G4, but I assume it's the same as the eMac and that Apple hides the button behind the drive door. If you open the tray can you see the button on the front of the drive? If so try pushing it a few times and see what happens. SignatureRoger Johnstone, Invercargill, New Zealand -> http://roger.geek.nz No, open or closed, I don't see any button. There's only the power button, and the eject key to make the tray open. Cori > If you open the tray can you see the button on the front of the drive? If so try pushing it a few times and see what happens. > > -- > Roger Johnstone, Invercargill, New Zealand ->http://roger.geek.nz In article <4a1aded1-6bf7-4212-9f2b-b77161cdef2a@s33g2000pri.googlegroups.com>, > It's a G4. Just started this disk drive display. The eject key does > not look stuck, dirty, or different in any way from the other keys. > It's not a USB hub because I don't have one. It did it again today. > Keeps it up for awhile and then stops. Can't be stopped by shutting > the Mac down and turning it back on, hitting the key, or any other > means I've found. A friend of mine's G4 iMac combi-drive is also on the blink. The problem started when the Japanese police took his computer into custody - they were looking for evidence of illegal activity. The blockheads couldn't figure out how to open the tray. Apparently they must have forced it with a screwdriver or something as the front flap won't close anymore and the thing pops out on annoyingly odd occasions. They also took his printer into custody too as it was 'part of the set'. They returned it to him (well actually told him to travel to Osaka and pick it up himself) a few weeks later. Apparently if he'd had any child pornography, that would have been OK - owning the stuff here is quite all right. Various police agencies around the world have been trying to bring Japan into line with the rest of the world but Japanese politicos have been resisting the move as it would interfere with their lucrative business. Japan can be a weird place at times. >Apparently if he'd had any child pornography, that would have been OK - >owning the stuff here is quite all right. Various police agencies around >the world have been trying to bring Japan into line with the rest of the >world but Japanese politicos have been resisting the move as it would >interfere with their lucrative business. I never knew that "the rest of the world" was in agreement on what threats are worth grabbing our computers. Heck, my own country's three branches don't seem to be in agreement here. |
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