Posted on 05/30/2011 9:08:08 AM PDT by Outlaw Woman
Harddrive Failure Start up menu is empty (No outlook express, no list of program files) but still has My Computer on it.
OS XP Home Pentium R D 2 80GHz
You need to download ComboFix, save it to your desktop. Boot in Safe Mode with Networking.
You can download it from the link below.
Do you have a system restore cd? If hardware problem, replace the drive and restore. I did it a few times.
For data restore...One word: Carbonite.
Well it looks like you can still get to Web for now.
Before you boot down go here and down load Malwarebytes:
http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=5756
After you download open Malware bytes and update. Run the update twice to make sure you have the latest version.
Then boot down all the way.
Start you computer hitting F8 until you are prompted with some options. Choose the “Start up in Safe Mode with Networking”.
Go grab a cup of coffee, it will take a few minutes to get to windows in safe mode.
Allright, you are booted in Safe Mode, couple of options here:
Do Not Do The Following, unless you are comfortable with PC’s (I am)
Run a quick scan which will only take about 30 minutes to complete. Malwarebytes many times will catch all those little “Scare Whare” compononents and zap them.
You could then boot back into normal mode and run Malwarebytes again for a complete scann. Takes hours.
But you will be able to surf again.
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The safest route is when you are in Safe Mode to run a full scan with Malwarebytes. You will not be able to surf during this scan and can go to lunch or take in a movie.
Depending on your drive size and how many files you have it can take 2-3 hours for this to complete.
Download F-prot. Fortune 500 companies and ISP’s use this for Malware and viruses. The personal/home version use to be free, we pay for the commercial version.
Also get Spybot.
Run all the programs with their updates and you should be good to go.
I may have been had. A window popped up initially that looked like an internal error. Said to do a scan and an 'WINDOWS XP RECOVERY' Window popped up. Yes I hit scan. and it went through and 'fixed' 6 files but said 5 cannot be fixed with the 'general' fix. I would have to 'purchase' an Advanced fix.
After you have booted in Safe Mode with Networking. Then run Combofix. You probably won’t be able to run it in normal mode with the Fake Alert running.
I still think it’s a virus.
Get to work with Malwarebytes before you lose the ability to use the Internet.
Metal contracts when cold, allowing a little more room between moving parts, so you get less sticking.
Malwarebytes!
Yes
Now it’s telling me that RAM is critically low
Most virus scanners do not detect malware. You need to get Malwarebites and AdAware (from Lavasoft) for free and run them in Safe Mode.
The key to whether you have a bad hard drive or malware is the RAM warning. The malware on your machine is taking up all your memory.
Yep, you been had, ya installed the virus with the "scan".
Go with Unixfox's fix.
It says that link is expired. It has another link but now I’m concerned if it’s legit. I so appreciate your help..would you mind taking a look at the link and see if it tells you that too?
ok, MSE is very good. I’m going to suggest you reboot to safemode command prompt. Type chkdsk /f enter. let it run. when done do a ctl alt del shutdown reboot. do you have another computer that you can put the drive in? When you bring the system up do an f8 go to regular safe mode. Do you get the desktop? If you can’t get the chkdsk to work and if you have an xp disk you can boot from the cd and try some of the repair options, but the first one to try is chkdsk but with the v switch instead of “f”
It probably is, it only allows for it to remain on for 10 minutes. You have less than 10 minutes to download it.
Go here:
Geez. I never click on crap but this has duplicated pop ups perfectly. I’ve been having minor ‘issues’ so I thought that it was legit.
thx
less than 10 apparently
>Malwarebytes!<
MALWAREBYTES SUCKS. I was a consultant for a high-profile anti-virus company here in L.A. and I have actually witnessed the TLD4 ROOTKIT RENDER MWB USELESS. You can also see me as one of the AVAST “EVANGELISTS” on the AVAST forums offering free rootkit and malware solutions.
You thought that was impossible? I have seen it. ...and it was the PR0/PAID version of Malwarebytes. When people say MWB is “awesome”, i start laughing.
If the system shuts down completely (like power off) then it could be a heat issue. If the system restarts then it’s probably a software issue. There’s an option to automatically restart on system error (rt clk my computer > properties > advanced > startup & recovery > uncheck automatically restart. If it is heat related it could be dirt/dust or thermal compound failure between heatsink/fan & cpu. If laptop - Try blowing out the fan from the opposite direction it sucks usually bottom and dust/dirt will shoot out back or side. Desktop - open side (powered off & unplugged of course) look for big fan w/ metal cube under it and blow fan & between the fins of metal cube (heatsink) then blow out rest of motherboard. Post back w/ more info.
Once Combofix does it’s thing you also need to do the Malwarebytes scan. You can get it here:
http://www.techspot.com/downloadget.php?id=4716&file=1&evp=0a59f9584bb65ce60f8292a3fc06e555
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