[Jocko50]

I have a dell latitude d620 after the BIOS loads i get a black screen with a flashing curser in the left hand corner. The only thing i can do when it starts is hit F2 for setup or F12 boot menu. I dont have a recovery disk. The BIOS version A10 service tag is 96n57c1,processor type Intel core due processor,memory is 1024mb, 60GB HDD. Need to know is their a fix or is the hard drive gone?

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Hi, Jocko50! My nick name is CompCav and I will be assisting you with your Malware/Security problems. Please make sure you read all of the instructions and fixes thoroughly before continuing with them. If you have any questions or you are unsure about anything,

just ask and I will help you out.

If you have resolved the issues you were originally experiencing, or have received help elsewhere, please let me know so that this topic can be closed.


Please make sure you are saving and printing the instructions out prior to each fix, this way you will have them on hand just in case you are unable to access this site. One of the steps I will be asking you to do requires you to boot into Safe Mode and this process will be much easier for you to perform if the instructions are printed out for you to follow.

If you are ready to get started, please review and follow these guidelines so that we resolve your issues in a timely and effective manner:

• Logs from malware removal programs (OTL is one of them) can take some time to analyze. I need you to be patient while I analyze any logs you post.
• Please make sure to carefully read any instructions that I give you. Since I cannot see or directly interact with your computer I am dependent on you to "be my eyes" and provide as much information as you can regarding the current state of your computer.
• If you're not sure, or if something unexpected happens, do NOT continue! Stop and ask!
• These instructions have been specifically tailored to your computer and the issues you are experiencing with your computer. These instructions are not suitable for any other computer, even if the issues are fairly similar.
• Do not do things I do not ask for, such as running a spyware scan on your computer. However, the one thing that you should always do, is to make sure your anti-virus definitions are up-to-date!
• Please do not use the Attachment feature for any log file. Just do a Copy/Paste of the entire contents of the log file inside your post and submit.
• You must reply within four days failure to reply will result in the topic being closed!
• Please do not PM me directly for help. If you have any questions, post them in this topic. PM me only if I have not responded to your last post in 2 days.
• Lastly, I am no magician. I will try very hard to fix your issues, but no promises can be made. Also be aware that some infections are so severe that you might need to ultimately reformat your hard drive and reinstall the operating system.
  Don't worry, this only happens in severe cases, but it sadly does happen. Please have the software and storage media for backing up your data available.

I'm guessing you are using Windows XP since that is what Dell 620's have installed from the factory. If you have upgraded it to Vista or Windows 7, do not do these steps simply reply back here with which sytem you have and if it is 32 or 64 bit.



If you have an XP CD do this:

Your computer has a key you can press (F12) to bring up the Boot Menu from where you can select the CD/DVD drive to boot from.

If you do not have an XP CD do this:

If you don't have an XP CD, download and run ARCDC by Artellos. It will download the required files from the Microsoft Web site and create a .iso file. It will also offer to burn the iso image to a CD for you. If you don't do it then, there is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do it at a later time. If you're unsure how to do this, you can follow the tutorial here: How to Burn an ISO File. This can be done from any computer.


Once you are booting from either disk:

Boot the CD and at the first opportunity, enter R to start the Recovery Console.

Next, choose which XP installation you want to login to. Normally this will be 1.
Lastly you will be asked for the Administrator password. Just press the Enter key as the Administrator does not have a password (unless you gave it one, then you would enter it).

From the command prompt, enter: chkdsk /r
Allow it to complete undisturbed. It can take an hour or more depending on the size of the hard drive.

Remove the CD, type exit and the computer will reboot. Hopefully that will have fixed the problem (corrupted file system).

If this does not work we will begin a more measured process to correct your problems!

[CompCav]

Hi, Jocko50! My nick name is CompCav and I will be assisting you with your Malware/Security problems. Please make sure you read all of the instructions and fixes thoroughly before continuing with them. If you have any questions or you are unsure about anything,

just ask and I will help you out.

If you have resolved the issues you were originally experiencing, or have received help elsewhere, please let me know so that this topic can be closed.


Please make sure you are saving and printing the instructions out prior to each fix, this way you will have them on hand just in case you are unable to access this site. One of the steps I will be asking you to do requires you to boot into Safe Mode and this process will be much easier for you to perform if the instructions are printed out for you to follow.

If you are ready to get started, please review and follow these guidelines so that we resolve your issues in a timely and effective manner:

• Logs from malware removal programs (OTL is one of them) can take some time to analyze. I need you to be patient while I analyze any logs you post.
• Please make sure to carefully read any instructions that I give you. Since I cannot see or directly interact with your computer I am dependent on you to "be my eyes" and provide as much information as you can regarding the current state of your computer.
• If you're not sure, or if something unexpected happens, do NOT continue! Stop and ask!
• These instructions have been specifically tailored to your computer and the issues you are experiencing with your computer. These instructions are not suitable for any other computer, even if the issues are fairly similar.
• Do not do things I do not ask for, such as running a spyware scan on your computer. However, the one thing that you should always do, is to make sure your anti-virus definitions are up-to-date!
• Please do not use the Attachment feature for any log file. Just do a Copy/Paste of the entire contents of the log file inside your post and submit.
• You must reply within four days failure to reply will result in the topic being closed!
• Please do not PM me directly for help. If you have any questions, post them in this topic. PM me only if I have not responded to your last post in 2 days.
• Lastly, I am no magician. I will try very hard to fix your issues, but no promises can be made. Also be aware that some infections are so severe that you might need to ultimately reformat your hard drive and reinstall the operating system.
  Don't worry, this only happens in severe cases, but it sadly does happen. Please have the software and storage media for backing up your data available.

I'm guessing you are using Windows XP since that is what Dell 620's have installed from the factory. If you have upgraded it to Vista or Windows 7, do not do these steps simply reply back here with which sytem you have and if it is 32 or 64 bit.



If you have an XP CD do this:

Your computer has a key you can press (F12) to bring up the Boot Menu from where you can select the CD/DVD drive to boot from.

If you do not have an XP CD do this:

If you don't have an XP CD, download and run ARCDC by Artellos. It will download the required files from the Microsoft Web site and create a .iso file. It will also offer to burn the iso image to a CD for you. If you don't do it then, there is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do it at a later time. If you're unsure how to do this, you can follow the tutorial here: How to Burn an ISO File. This can be done from any computer.


Once you are booting from either disk:

Boot the CD and at the first opportunity, enter R to start the Recovery Console.

Next, choose which XP installation you want to login to. Normally this will be 1.
Lastly you will be asked for the Administrator password. Just press the Enter key as the Administrator does not have a password (unless you gave it one, then you would enter it).

From the command prompt, enter: chkdsk /r
Allow it to complete undisturbed. It can take an hour or more depending on the size of the hard drive.

Remove the CD, type exit and the computer will reboot. Hopefully that will have fixed the problem (corrupted file system).

If this does not work we will begin a more measured process to correct your problems!

[Jocko50]

Yes it is windows xp. When I get to the command prompt, enter: chkdsk /r the reply is the command is not recognized type help for a list of support commands. Not sure what to do now?

[CompCav]

When you get to the step to select with Windows installation, what does it say?

Most if installed on C drive will say:

1: C:\WINDOWS


Then when you enter 1

It says:

C:\WINDOWS


If all of these are what yours says then try:

chkdsk /? Remember to add a space between the k and /



Let me know if yours is different!

[Jocko50]

The space help between the k / now it said check a disk and displays a status report
chkdsk [drive:] [/p] [/r]
[drive] spectfies the drive check
/p check even if the drive is not flagged dirty
/r locates bad sectors and recovers readable information
(implies /p)
CHKDSK may be used without any parametets, in which case the current drive is check with no switches. Tou can specifty the list switches.
CHKDSK requires the AUTOCHK.EXE file. CHKDSK automatically locates AUTOCHK.EXE in the startup (boot) directory If it connot be found CHKDSK will attempt to locate the windows installation CD. If the installation CD cannot be found, CHKDSK prompts for the location of autochk.exe

c:\WINDOWS

Edited by Jocko50, 21 September 2012 - 10:40 AM.

[CompCav]

Now run:

chkdsk /r and use the space again between k and /


Let it run and follow the directions in my original post #2.

[Jocko50]

now it said AUTOCHK.EXE could not be located in either the startup directory or the CDROM drive

Type the full path ( including drive letter) for the location of AUTOCHK.EXE

[CompCav]

Are you using the installation CD or the Recovery Console disk by Artellos?

Is your XP home or pro and does the disk match?

[Jocko50]

I am using Recovery Console disk by Artellos. And it is XP professional

[CompCav]

Check the disk with the good computer you have and verify that autochk.exe is in the i386 folder. If it is not then you have a bad burn.

If it is then you need to give the full path to the file on the CD.

D:\i386\autochk.exe when it asks you for the full path including drive letter.

If D: does not work then at the C:\> type map and press ENTER

Your CD will be in the drive letter for \Device\CdRom0

[Jocko50]

could not fine the autochk.exe is in the i386 folder, so redownload it and burn new cd but still not there. I am dowing loading xp professional SP2 & SP3 should I try one of the other ones to see if it has the autochk.exe in it

[CompCav]

Try this link for a recovery console .iso file

You will need to save it to your good pc.

There is a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will burn it for you. If you're unsure how to do this, you can follow the tutorial here: How to Burn an ISO File. This can be done from any computer.

This disk should have it.

[Ztruker]

Not sure what problem you are having but I just created a XPRC.iso using Aretllos's ARCDC.EXE and it does contain AUTOCHK.EXE in the I386 folder.



CompCav, there is no link in your post.

[CompCav]

You are right I just added the link to the rc.iso file.

Thanks Ztrucker!

CompCav

[CompCav]

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad we could help.

If you're the topic starter, and need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member with the address of the thread.

Everyone else please begin a New Topic.