Posted on 06/18/2011 5:40:28 AM PDT by TheRobb7
First the setup: Computer is a Dell Dimension E521 running Windows Vista Home Premium.
My antivirus software is AVG free edition.
The other day, I ran the AV, using the "Rootkit scanner". The PC was acting slower than usual, even after a few complete scans.
The rootkit scan showed a file that was possibly malware. I chose to remove that file.
The AV then prompted me to restart for the change to take effect.
Now, Windows will not start. A black screen appears with this message:
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem: 1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer. 2. Choose language settings and then click "next". 3. Click "repair your computer".
None of the above is possible because the PC won't talk to the disk drive, even after pressing F12 or F2 or F8 during restart...it's just a constant loop.
Any help ya'll can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you :)
Why would you buy a PC that requires you to go through such pain to simply keep it running?? Get a Mac. No AV software needed. It will run for 10 years and be fun to use to boot.
Freeper PC guru’s: does anyone know how to filter out a Domain in GMail? logrhythmsrule.com is a garbage SPAMMER that sends SPAM all day long with different names before the @logrhythmsrule.com
GMail’s filter stinks and no one can figure out how to stop the domain.
Help please.
Maybe he can’t use a Mac because he’s a heterosexual.
Do you recall the name of the file you deleted?
Have you tried to run the ‘safe mode’ during start-up? [Not sure how in Vista]
Well it only took to post 2. well done
does nothing to really help him though
Hey guys, cut it out.
I love ya’ll, but I just needed help...not a PC/mac flam war.
My PC is already paid for and needs to remain serviceable until finances are not as tight.
I am requesting helpfulness, not snarkiness.
Peace.
This sounds to me like a hardware failure. I would suggest you open the computer, and disconnect all the peripherals, and see if the computer will boot without the CD ROM, harddrive, memory installed, and other add-ons connected. If still it doesn’t boot, it’s probably the motherboard/CPU. If it does boot, reconnect each of the disconnected items to see which one is causing the boot failure.
We tried everything but eventually had to revert my system to the "new" state of when I bought it. Luckily, I was able to save my critical files in "safe" mode. But reloading all of my software was a nightmare. I'm almost positive this is what you'll have to do.
I’d use this as a chance to upgrade to win 7, its much better than Vista.
I’d try to get it booted into safe mode and then restore the file.
Its also possible to use the windows disk to repair the OS problem without reinstalling the OS. Choose the repair option.
My guess is you’ll need to reinstall the operating system.
You are saying that you can’t even go in to ‘Setup’ to check the drive settings?
There are some nasty viruses out there than can alter or wipe out the ‘head block’ of a hard drive.
If that virus did that, then your only alternative is to send it back to the factor to be restored.
Unfortunately, they will wipe out all of your information.
Do you have the Dell Vista DVD that came with your system? Try booting the PC off of that, and getting into Vista setup. There is an option there to Repair, and it will scan the Vista installation on your C:\ drive and repair/replace any missing core files. You will need to re-update any MS patches or service packs, probably.
NFP
I have the worst possible news for you.
The rootkit gave a false positive on a bit of information on the drive that Windows uses to validate the OS as legitimate.
You deleted something you shouldn’t have and will have to reinstall your OS. You won’t be able to recover otherwise. You should be able to save all of your data
when turning on the machine, try going into BIOS mode by pressing down on the DELETE or ENTER key (depends on the motherboard) and get the BIOS screen. If you have a Live CD (which boots a mini OS on RAM), in the BIOS choose the CD/DVD to be the first place the computer look for an OS. Exit BIOS mode. The computer will look for an OS CD/DVD. When the LIVE CD OS is installed, transfer all your files you have worked on to a USB. Some Live CD carry some anti-malware and anti-virus programs.
I avoid such virus problems by using 3 products:
1- Deep Freeze.
2- Sandboxie.
3- Avira (something like AVS)
They come with free bumper stickers!
Head block.. should have read ‘header block’.
I would pull the hard drive and scan it on another system with AVG, IObit or clamwin for viruses, and then with Antimalware and Spybot for malware.
You can get these programs from www.majorgeeks.com.
If you don't understand everything I said (without needing to look anything up), do NOT proceed further and find a local Dad or a kid who KNOWS his stuff, and fork over $50 and dinner.
re: @logrhythmsrule.com
Have you tried creating a filter using the ‘any of these words’ option and entering just part of the phrase such as ‘logrhythmsrule’?
I do that with my regular email filterer (Mailwasher) when I get spam that changes the name part but has a recurring address.
The error sheen lists several modes to run, but none of them work.
The PC will go right up to the Dell logo with the F2 and F12
In the top right corner of the screen. Pushing those doesn’t do anything.
After the Dell logo, the screen goes black and then returns to the error message I listed earlier.
Any other thoughts? (Thanks BTW)
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