[oh so frustrated]

HI,

OK here goes we have a Dell Dimension 2400. OS Windows XP.
Our virus protector was windows defender.
My husband received a malware called security shield & called me to "take care of it". The computer kept giving me wierd warnings about my harddrive being to full while I was trying to figure out how to get rid of security shield. Not more than 5 minutes after the malware started running this happened....

All of the sudden the system did a warm boot without my prompt & Windows XP no longer boots, just a blinking cursor. No choice for safe mode.

Here is what I tried so far.
I downloaded and booted with the bootable AVG virus check and it detected no virus.
I downloaded and booted with Linux puppy and that seems to work fine.
I downloaded Windows memory diagnostic tool bootable and no memory problems were detected.

Interesting note- Windows Defender seemed to be completely removed from the computer I didn't do it, my husband didn't remove it. So I don't know how long the computer was unprotected.

I booted with the XP disc & ran the repair and it still won't boot up although it appears to have run successfully. I never got to the part where it asks for the KEY which I can't find.

I am running with Knoppix right now- I told my husband I would do my best to save his microsoft outlook contacts & the information from the harddrive, but I am completely unfamiliar with Knoppix. We do have a terrabyte external harddrive to back up into if needed.

Thank you for any assistance you might be able to provide.

I know that everyone has a job & I have now taken two hours off from mine to assist my husband. I'll check back once every hour although I don't expect immediate service. (We are thinking that our 7 year old computer may not be worth fixing again- I already had to do a disc kill once & reloading the OS) If you deem this computer unsalvagable can you help me backup the harddrive & recommend a new computer. We don't play video games, but my husband makes movies, is a photographer and writer for a living. He does seem to need a lot of memory- thus multipe harddrives and have been purchased.

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Hi oh so frustrated,

I think you wont be frustrated anymore now that you've got help

Welcome to Geekstogo. My name is Salagubang and I'll be helping you with this problem.

• Please read all of my response through at least once before attempting to follow the procedures described. I would recommend printing them out, if you can, as you can check off each step as you complete it. If there's anything you don't understand or isn't totally clear, please come back to me for clarification.
  
• Please do not attach any log files to your replies unless I specifically ask you. Instead please copy and paste so as to include the log in your reply. You can do this in separate posts if it's easier for you
  
• English is not my first language, so please do not use slang or idioms, as this makes it difficult to understand for me.

There is a list of things we need to do. Since you performed a repair install (which obviously did not complete), I believe we should address that first.


Step One

On a clean XP machine

• Please do the following:
  
• Go to Tools (drop-down menu at the top of the window)
• Go down and click Folder Options
• Click on the View tab
• Find the Hidden Files and Folders, find "Hide extension for known file types" and uncheck it (if it's already checked)
• Click Apply, and then Ok at the bottom.
• Close the window

Next

• Insert your USB Flash Drive (UFD).
• Download hpusbfw.exe to your Desktop.
• Double click "hpusbfw.exe" to run HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool 2.0.6.0.
  

  

  • Choose your USB under "Device"
  • For "File system", choose "FAT"
  • Under "Volume label", type in the name "Bootloader"
  • Leave un-checked "Quick Format" and "Create a DOS startup disk"
  • Click "Start"
• Copy these two files, from the root of the Windows drive (C:\) to the UFD:
  

  NTLDR
  Ntdetect.com

Next

• Open Notepad (go to Start>All Programs>Accessories and click Notepad)
• Copy the contents of the codebox below using CTRL+C (or selecting all the text in the box, and right clicking on it and selecting Copy)
  

  [boot loader]
  timeout=-1
  default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
  [operating systems]
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="A) Emergency Boot Loader" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="B) Emergency Boot Loader 2nd Partition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="C) Alternate Boot Loader" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="D) Alternate Boot Loader 2nd Partition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos
  

• Now return to Notepad and use CTRL + V (or rightclick on the whitespace and Paste) to paste the script
• Verify that you have pasted the complete script
• Save the Notepad file to the UFD as "boot.ini" using Save as Type: All files

Your Emergency Bootloader is now ready.

Booting using the Emergency Bootloader.

• Insert the USB (UFD) to the ailing computer.
• Reboot the system using the UFD Bootloader you just created.
• Depending on how the harddisk is partitioned, choosing (A) Emergency Bootloader will most of the time do the trick. If however it doesnt work, please try options B,C and D. But since you're using a Dell, it might as well be D

Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from USB follow the steps here

Now let the XP setup finish.


Step Two

Download OTL to your Desktop

• Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
• Under the Custom Scan box paste this in
  
  netsvcs
  drivers32
  %SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.*
  %systemroot%\*. /mp /s
  CREATERESTOREPOINT
  %systemroot%\System32\config\*.sav
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\Results\Install|LastSuccessTime /rs
  
  
• Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
• When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. Post them on your next reply.

[Salagubang]

Hi oh so frustrated,

I think you wont be frustrated anymore now that you've got help

Welcome to Geekstogo. My name is Salagubang and I'll be helping you with this problem.

• Please read all of my response through at least once before attempting to follow the procedures described. I would recommend printing them out, if you can, as you can check off each step as you complete it. If there's anything you don't understand or isn't totally clear, please come back to me for clarification.
  
• Please do not attach any log files to your replies unless I specifically ask you. Instead please copy and paste so as to include the log in your reply. You can do this in separate posts if it's easier for you
  
• English is not my first language, so please do not use slang or idioms, as this makes it difficult to understand for me.

There is a list of things we need to do. Since you performed a repair install (which obviously did not complete), I believe we should address that first.


Step One

On a clean XP machine

• Please do the following:
  
• Go to Tools (drop-down menu at the top of the window)
• Go down and click Folder Options
• Click on the View tab
• Find the Hidden Files and Folders, find "Hide extension for known file types" and uncheck it (if it's already checked)
• Click Apply, and then Ok at the bottom.
• Close the window

Next

• Insert your USB Flash Drive (UFD).
• Download hpusbfw.exe to your Desktop.
• Double click "hpusbfw.exe" to run HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool 2.0.6.0.
  

  

  • Choose your USB under "Device"
  • For "File system", choose "FAT"
  • Under "Volume label", type in the name "Bootloader"
  • Leave un-checked "Quick Format" and "Create a DOS startup disk"
  • Click "Start"
• Copy these two files, from the root of the Windows drive (C:\) to the UFD:
  

  NTLDR
  Ntdetect.com

Next

• Open Notepad (go to Start>All Programs>Accessories and click Notepad)
• Copy the contents of the codebox below using CTRL+C (or selecting all the text in the box, and right clicking on it and selecting Copy)
  

  [boot loader]
  timeout=-1
  default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
  [operating systems]
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="A) Emergency Boot Loader" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="B) Emergency Boot Loader 2nd Partition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="C) Alternate Boot Loader" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="D) Alternate Boot Loader 2nd Partition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptOut
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos
  

• Now return to Notepad and use CTRL + V (or rightclick on the whitespace and Paste) to paste the script
• Verify that you have pasted the complete script
• Save the Notepad file to the UFD as "boot.ini" using Save as Type: All files

Your Emergency Bootloader is now ready.

Booting using the Emergency Bootloader.

• Insert the USB (UFD) to the ailing computer.
• Reboot the system using the UFD Bootloader you just created.
• Depending on how the harddisk is partitioned, choosing (A) Emergency Bootloader will most of the time do the trick. If however it doesnt work, please try options B,C and D. But since you're using a Dell, it might as well be D

Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from USB follow the steps here

Now let the XP setup finish.


Step Two

Download OTL to your Desktop

• Double click on the icon to run it. Make sure all other windows are closed and to let it run uninterrupted.
• Under the Custom Scan box paste this in
  
  netsvcs
  drivers32
  %SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.*
  %systemroot%\*. /mp /s
  CREATERESTOREPOINT
  %systemroot%\System32\config\*.sav
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate\AU
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update\Results\Install|LastSuccessTime /rs
  
  
• Click the Quick Scan button. Do not change any settings unless otherwise told to do so. The scan wont take long.
• When the scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. Post them on your next reply.

[oh so frustrated]

I will have to try all this this weekend when I can sit down and work on this.
I will get back to you.

[Salagubang]

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