konechiwa
hoxie08
5,000+ posts
i <3 drugs
gay viruses cannot reproduce....... so how would it get on there?
jmanpc
5,000+ posts
CA.com Nostalgist.
restart it with safe mode and go from there
for one, attempt to get the following-
You say it gives off different sys files, well i'll disregard that for now.
Let it go to BSOD and write down the Sys file with the error code, for example 0x0000F1.
Let me know what it is.
Also, try booting the computer into safe mode by repeatedly pressing F8 right after the pc POSTs. If it goes to the windows xp loading screen then you waited too long before starting to press F8. when the screen finally appears, just choose Safe Mode.
Regardless of any or all errors that may appear, go to Control Panel, view in classic view(setting is on the left), then choose Administrative Tools, then Event Viewer.
Go into the System and Application folders on the left and start trying to find Red X Errors in these 2 groups starting when the problem first happened.
Read them, if anything sounds helpful, write em down to copy n paste them to natepad and copy to flash drive or burn off disc so u can paste them all here.
the reason i want you to do this first is so i can find out what exactly happened.
Pop ups are usually spyware related but these types of infections do not cause this type of damage so i must know what's up first.
Get me that info and i can help you.
You say it gives off different sys files, well i'll disregard that for now.
Let it go to BSOD and write down the Sys file with the error code, for example 0x0000F1.
Let me know what it is.
Also, try booting the computer into safe mode by repeatedly pressing F8 right after the pc POSTs. If it goes to the windows xp loading screen then you waited too long before starting to press F8. when the screen finally appears, just choose Safe Mode.
Regardless of any or all errors that may appear, go to Control Panel, view in classic view(setting is on the left), then choose Administrative Tools, then Event Viewer.
Go into the System and Application folders on the left and start trying to find Red X Errors in these 2 groups starting when the problem first happened.
Read them, if anything sounds helpful, write em down to copy n paste them to natepad and copy to flash drive or burn off disc so u can paste them all here.
the reason i want you to do this first is so i can find out what exactly happened.
Pop ups are usually spyware related but these types of infections do not cause this type of damage so i must know what's up first.
Get me that info and i can help you.
jmanpc
5,000+ posts
CA.com Nostalgist.
Go to start > run > msconfig > services
turn off everything that isn't a Microsoft service
then, go to to the startup tab and turn everything off. that way, the only thing running at startup will be the OS
go online, download AVG and scan the computer.
turn off everything that isn't a Microsoft service
then, go to to the startup tab and turn everything off. that way, the only thing running at startup will be the OS
go online, download AVG and scan the computer.
dam jizzon your a f'in genius. if i get a virus your my go-to-guy.
OP
konechiwa
10+ year member
Jeepers
- Thread Starter
- #7
no it keeps restarting. I'm going over their thursday, but from he tells me it goes like this:
1) computer turns on
2) XP logo shows up, starts to load
3) goes straight to blue screen of death
4) restarts
5) repeat 1-4
that being said, he runs Norton Antivirus (updated database) everyday. But I'll run it if i can get it to start.
1) computer turns on
2) XP logo shows up, starts to load
3) goes straight to blue screen of death
4) restarts
5) repeat 1-4
that being said, he runs Norton Antivirus (updated database) everyday. But I'll run it if i can get it to start.
ok i've dealt with problems like this before.
Again try to get it to go into Safe Mode.
When you get to the screen to choose safe mode, it will display a LOT of files loading.
A lot of times with problems like these, it may get to a file then just freeze the system. Now, even during normal access to safe mode, it will freeze for several seconds but if it freezes on loading a certain file for a long time, like 5 minutes straight, then it may be inaccessible.
Windows Updates will also cause this problem as well. I've worked on many pcs who use the windows updates like crazy and eventually, one update will conflict and cause this same problem.
My advice-
For one, do not use Windows Updates. They are mostly just security fixes. Since he runs 3rd party security (you will actually need virus\spyware protection and firewall) he doesnt need windows updates.
Two, if u cant get into safe mode, the only thing left really is to find out if he needs anything backed up before u wipe out his hard drive!
If he doesnt know what to ask or where things are, these are typical places of interest to keep-
C:\Documents and Settings\(his user name)\My Documents
C:\Documents and Settings\(his user name)\Favorites
This will take care of most default saved locations and his bookmarks if he has been using Internet Explorer.
If he uses Firefox, go here-
C:\Documents and Settings\(his user name)\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
there is a directory in there called something weird, go in there then get the bookmarks.html
That file keeps ALL firefox bookmarks so that's his favorites for Firefox if he uses that.
Also, check in C:\Program Files for installed software. This way you can write down everythign he has installed and see if he has the discs for them still. If he doesn't, then at least you have a list so he isn't missing something that he can't remember what it is.
To backup all this data, you will need to pull the drive out of his pc, where all the cables are wired, set the jumper to SLAVE and hook it up to your computer via the same cable as your Master drive. You will need to make sure you set your Master drive to MAster with slave present if it isnt already.
If you decide to hookup his drive via a separate cable that connects to it's own connector, you will need to set his drive to just MASTER or MASTER with no slave present.
If he has no jumpers, then it's SATA or SATAII and this info is irrelevant.
Go into windows and find all of these files from there.
When you are done, take his hard drive out, AFTER you shut the computer down. Never hookup the drive with pc on either. And, never touch the circuit board unless you are grounded.
Now, put his drive back in his pc, make sure his is set back as master if need be and pop in a Windows XP disc and it will allow him to format his drive then reinstall windows xp.
Do a quick format as it sounds like the hardware is still fine. IT will ask this.
Once everything is back in windows, u say his pc only has 256mb of RAM... thats not enough for fast preformance. PM me when you get his pc back up in windows and i'll have you forward me his services list so i can tell you how to Optimize his pc(very easy, just do as i say) and it will free up memory from 10-80MB depending on what all is turned on that he will never use.
This will allow him to have ALL security required to be protected and still have some memory left over before his pc starts slowing down again.
Again try to get it to go into Safe Mode.
When you get to the screen to choose safe mode, it will display a LOT of files loading.
A lot of times with problems like these, it may get to a file then just freeze the system. Now, even during normal access to safe mode, it will freeze for several seconds but if it freezes on loading a certain file for a long time, like 5 minutes straight, then it may be inaccessible.
Windows Updates will also cause this problem as well. I've worked on many pcs who use the windows updates like crazy and eventually, one update will conflict and cause this same problem.
My advice-
For one, do not use Windows Updates. They are mostly just security fixes. Since he runs 3rd party security (you will actually need virus\spyware protection and firewall) he doesnt need windows updates.
Two, if u cant get into safe mode, the only thing left really is to find out if he needs anything backed up before u wipe out his hard drive!
If he doesnt know what to ask or where things are, these are typical places of interest to keep-
C:\Documents and Settings\(his user name)\My Documents
C:\Documents and Settings\(his user name)\Favorites
This will take care of most default saved locations and his bookmarks if he has been using Internet Explorer.
If he uses Firefox, go here-
C:\Documents and Settings\(his user name)\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles
there is a directory in there called something weird, go in there then get the bookmarks.html
That file keeps ALL firefox bookmarks so that's his favorites for Firefox if he uses that.
Also, check in C:\Program Files for installed software. This way you can write down everythign he has installed and see if he has the discs for them still. If he doesn't, then at least you have a list so he isn't missing something that he can't remember what it is.
To backup all this data, you will need to pull the drive out of his pc, where all the cables are wired, set the jumper to SLAVE and hook it up to your computer via the same cable as your Master drive. You will need to make sure you set your Master drive to MAster with slave present if it isnt already.
If you decide to hookup his drive via a separate cable that connects to it's own connector, you will need to set his drive to just MASTER or MASTER with no slave present.
If he has no jumpers, then it's SATA or SATAII and this info is irrelevant.
Go into windows and find all of these files from there.
When you are done, take his hard drive out, AFTER you shut the computer down. Never hookup the drive with pc on either. And, never touch the circuit board unless you are grounded.
Now, put his drive back in his pc, make sure his is set back as master if need be and pop in a Windows XP disc and it will allow him to format his drive then reinstall windows xp.
Do a quick format as it sounds like the hardware is still fine. IT will ask this.
Once everything is back in windows, u say his pc only has 256mb of RAM... thats not enough for fast preformance. PM me when you get his pc back up in windows and i'll have you forward me his services list so i can tell you how to Optimize his pc(very easy, just do as i say) and it will free up memory from 10-80MB depending on what all is turned on that he will never use.
This will allow him to have ALL security required to be protected and still have some memory left over before his pc starts slowing down again.
Shizzon may know more on this, but I have fixed a similar situation by removing the HD.
I attached the HD to a USB to IDE or SATA adaptor.
I attached the USB to a functioning computer with up to date virus definitions.
I fixed the filesystem issues by right clicking the HD on My Computer > tools>error checking
After it fixed the MBR or something, I ran a virus scan on the whole HD.
I reinstalled the HD in the original computer and it booted up.
I attached the HD to a USB to IDE or SATA adaptor.
I attached the USB to a functioning computer with up to date virus definitions.
I fixed the filesystem issues by right clicking the HD on My Computer > tools>error checking
After it fixed the MBR or something, I ran a virus scan on the whole HD.
I reinstalled the HD in the original computer and it booted up.
OP
konechiwa
10+ year member
Jeepers
- Thread Starter
- #10
I was thinking that, but it's a dell old *** pc and I really don't want to go in and mess around with the internals.
He wouldn't want me to either. He's very persnickity when it comes to hardware. He didn't even want me to touch his stereo in his truck even though i said all the instructions and gear would come from crutchfield.
He wanted BB to do it, because he said they were proffessionals.
I'll try to go into safe mode first.
You are quite lucky honestly.
Most preloaded windows based "fixing" tools are crap.
Of course i don't know what your scenario was but i usually suggest trying to use error checking or also called chkdisk for more simple problems.
Maybe, one day the pc works fine then the next it wont boot up. That is a corruption in the Windows directory or registry corruption. That's common possibilities. Using your method would indeed sound like a logical solution, because it was something simple.
This guys problem sounds different. Not to say your method cannot work no way whatsoever... anything is possible but from what the description of the problem sounds, it's more severe.
By default, if a pc BSODs, the settings are to restart the pc. You can change it to stay on the screen so i am hoping this type of BSOD stays on the screen or stays on there long enough to get the required info wrote down.
Most BSODS liek to resort to symptoms of possible hardware failure.
LUCKILY, because the errors are bringing up sys files, this should be a software related issue caused by major corruption.
Now, it is still possible for the drive to have multiple bad sectors but there is also only a list of files used to boot windows. For a BSOD to generate multiple sys file errors means that it is unlikely that bad sectors are causing this problem because bad sectors wouldnt necessarily form so fast as it would cause reading errors in other files just so happened to be required for windows to boot up.
Once windows hits a dead end trying to load a system file, it should generate the same error message. For it to generate multi problems, it sounds like multi files are infected. Multiple corruptions all related to system startup. whichever sys file loads before another one can cause a new BSOD error message to show with a new sys file.
With so many possibilities, just back up and wipe out. IT's simple and 40 min of install time, approx 5-30 min of backup time, it's the best expected outcome because whatever is wrong, everything is gone now. there may be small things still damaged trying to repair somethin like this with multi files causing the problem.
I say start over, get all the security on there. If he cant lose his files ever again, get Acronis True Image and call it a life, honestly. That program has saved many pcs from important documents lost. You just gotta have it installed before something like this happens.
Most preloaded windows based "fixing" tools are crap.
Of course i don't know what your scenario was but i usually suggest trying to use error checking or also called chkdisk for more simple problems.
Maybe, one day the pc works fine then the next it wont boot up. That is a corruption in the Windows directory or registry corruption. That's common possibilities. Using your method would indeed sound like a logical solution, because it was something simple.
This guys problem sounds different. Not to say your method cannot work no way whatsoever... anything is possible but from what the description of the problem sounds, it's more severe.
By default, if a pc BSODs, the settings are to restart the pc. You can change it to stay on the screen so i am hoping this type of BSOD stays on the screen or stays on there long enough to get the required info wrote down.
Most BSODS liek to resort to symptoms of possible hardware failure.
LUCKILY, because the errors are bringing up sys files, this should be a software related issue caused by major corruption.
Now, it is still possible for the drive to have multiple bad sectors but there is also only a list of files used to boot windows. For a BSOD to generate multiple sys file errors means that it is unlikely that bad sectors are causing this problem because bad sectors wouldnt necessarily form so fast as it would cause reading errors in other files just so happened to be required for windows to boot up.
Once windows hits a dead end trying to load a system file, it should generate the same error message. For it to generate multi problems, it sounds like multi files are infected. Multiple corruptions all related to system startup. whichever sys file loads before another one can cause a new BSOD error message to show with a new sys file.
With so many possibilities, just back up and wipe out. IT's simple and 40 min of install time, approx 5-30 min of backup time, it's the best expected outcome because whatever is wrong, everything is gone now. there may be small things still damaged trying to repair somethin like this with multi files causing the problem.
I say start over, get all the security on there. If he cant lose his files ever again, get Acronis True Image and call it a life, honestly. That program has saved many pcs from important documents lost. You just gotta have it installed before something like this happens.
GearGuy2001
10+ year member
CarAudio.com Veteran
First off BB is not professional 89% of the time
Secondly Insert XP Disc and instead of a fresh install do a Repair
with a repair you dont lose your files/programs //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif
he cant do a repair without recovery disks correct?
As far as i know, repair only works without recovery disks if the OS was just installed.
I know a repair may seem a more simple approach but even if it were possible, i do not know what has actually happened because i do not have the error codes and system notices in front of me. There is a chance that even if a "repair action" could possibly be taken.. And worked!, it's still likely that other problems are still present once in Windows.
If that happens, then he is in for another roller coaster.
As far as i know, repair only works without recovery disks if the OS was just installed.
I know a repair may seem a more simple approach but even if it were possible, i do not know what has actually happened because i do not have the error codes and system notices in front of me. There is a chance that even if a "repair action" could possibly be taken.. And worked!, it's still likely that other problems are still present once in Windows.
If that happens, then he is in for another roller coaster.
OMG...the same exact thing happened to my old dell pc..(i mean the same exact thing)..i just trashed it and got a laptop a few months later... i couldnt fix it
Oh how I despise Event Viewer ... The Reliability and Performance Monitor in Vista makes it so much easier ...
I usually use Safe Mode w/ Networking so I can access the internet while I'm in there, allows you to Google the code w/o needing another computer ...
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