Swapping out the "Normal" template

[denisesgardner]

I posted previously about having trouble attaching word documents in
google mail -- a virus was detected. I followed the great advice and
swapped out the normal template. Newly created documents can now be
sent without any problems.

HOWEVER --

Apparently, changing the "Normal" template does not impact the
infected nature of previously created documents that pre-date the
change to the Normal template. So, if I want to send a document that
I created 4 months ago, forget it.

And here's an additional catch -- cutting and pasting the content of
the OLD document and then pasting it into a NEWLY CREATED document
somehow carries the virus forward.

HELP!

 

[Clive Huggan]

Hello Denise,

I can't trace your previous post(s) under your present address or by
subject, so I have no way of finding the background. You are on a Mac?

But if you *did* have a virus (and you may not necessarily have): do you
have anti-virus software now? It will remove the infection and report the
particular virus.

Cheers,

Clive Huggan
Canberra, Australia
(My time zone is 5-11 hours different from North America and Europe, so my
follow-on responses to those regions can be delayed)
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[Clive Huggan]

Ah, I see the earlier posts now, including Michel's suggestion:

 

[Daiya Mitchell]

Hi Denise,

Changing the Normal template *only* has an effect going
forward---nothing retroactive that can affect old docs, sorry. Annoying.

One possible workaround--if you copy and paste the contents into a new
document, but WITHOUT the last paragraph mark in the document, that
might work. The last paragraph mark holds a lot of technical
information, which might include the virus flag. Hit ¶ to show paragraph
marks. (This is also a standard trick for corrupt docs that are
behaving all crazy)

Daiya

 

[John McGhie]

Hi Denise:

"Actual" Word viruses reside in the Template attached to a document, or in
the document itself.

Provided that your Normal template is clean, if you create a new blank
document, then copy the text from an old document and paste into the new,
the virus will not be transferred.

Of course, if you copy the new document from the old document, the virus
will be transferred. If the document is attached to a template other than
Normal, the virus can be in the attached template, and you need to clean
that one too. Or it may be in a template that has been mounted in your
Global Add-ins dialog (see Tools>Templates and Add-ins>Attach...)

On the other hand, viruses are now such a problem that the more
simplistically paranoid of ISP anti-virus filters will go off for things
that turn out to be simply toolbar or keystroke customisations...

The most hassle-free solution is to install a good anti-virus application.
ClamXAV does a grand job on the Mac. However, I use a PC anti-virus
solution in Parallels (Windows Vista) on this Mac. That's because I not
only have Windows running on this Mac, but my business consists of
exchanging documents with people who don't necessarily have enough
professionalism to keep their computers secure.

PC anti-virus solutions are a lot more alert to the various classes of
malware out there, but you need to choose carefully. The one I use and
recommend is AVG. It is available in both free and paid-for versions here
http://free.grisoft.com/

If you are running Windows Vista, the free version is all you need. If you
are running older versions of Windows, buy the paid-for version for peace of
mind

Be careful of the market-leading AV solutions. Most are not available in a
Mac version. McAfee is, and it does an excellent job.

Symantec/Norton AntiVirus and Trend Micro's PC-cillin are far too
power-hungry and intrusive. Not only are they far more than you need on a
Mac (or Windows Vista!) but they will slow anything but the most powerful
PowerMac to a crawl

Hope this helps

I posted previously about having trouble attaching word documents in
google mail -- a virus was detected. I followed the great advice and
swapped out the normal template. Newly created documents can now be
sent without any problems.

HOWEVER --

Apparently, changing the "Normal" template does not impact the
infected nature of previously created documents that pre-date the
change to the Normal template. So, if I want to send a document that
I created 4 months ago, forget it.

And here's an additional catch -- cutting and pasting the content of
the OLD document and then pasting it into a NEWLY CREATED document
somehow carries the virus forward.

HELP!

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]