Thread: major computer problems, please help!

I was attacked by tons of viruses and I got all of them cleaned out except one that couldn't be removed by mcafee, I ran 2 full scans and afterwards I restarted my comp but on start-up it shows only my wallpaper and that's it, I tried safe mode and it won't boot up because it says I have a virus and I need to restart...i also tried every other start up option on there and its all the same thing and I've been at this for 6 hours now and I don't know what to do-i know little to nothing about computers, I'm hoping someone on here is able to help me out, buying another laptop is not an option. This thing was nearly airborne and I'd rather not go that route. I am running windows XP with sp3 on a dell inspiron, any help would be greatly appreciated.
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I would suggest may be getting Norton antivirus and trying running a scan...seeing if it will pick it up. I use McAfee as well, but hate it... As a last resort, see if you can turn it off for a while, then restart, and try backing everything up...If you are able to do that, I would suggest doing a system recovery. I have had to do it on mine a few times.

...but again, I am not a super pro on this...but the Norton step would be your least expensive (vs buying a PC or laptop)

Well, I would bring your tower to your nearest computer repair shop and have them dig deeper cause it sounds like this virus/trojan/worm has spread through your registry/program files/windows files/other areas.

What is the name of the virus? There have been one or two I hot years ago that you had to do extra to get rid of them
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A good program to try to root out the pesky viruses is malwarebytes ... go to the malwarebytes.org website (becareful of lookalikes) and you can download the free version, works very well and picks up items that are not yet in Nortons library.

I left it off for a while and tried again this morning with no luck, I tried running mcafee CD but its just nothing but my wallpaper that loads up-thats as far as I can get, no safe mode whatsoever and I can't really afford anything, I have malwarebtyes and tried running it when my system was up but it wouldn't start up, and I don't remember the names of the virus either
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If you could find the name would be helpful in trying to help resolve the issue.

Originally Posted by apuntsel

If you could find the name would be helpful in trying to help resolve the issue.

I remembered after my last post, all the viruses popped up after I got that stupid Antivirus 2009 popup, I tried to close it before it was too late-unfortunately-blackberries can be deadly
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Originally Posted by apuntsel

If you could find the name would be helpful in trying to help resolve the issue.

I remembered after my last post, all the viruses popped up after I got that stupid Antivirus 2009 popup, I tried to close it before it was too late-unfortunately-blackberrys can be bad for you-I was entranced on bbm messenger when I looked up to see it happening. I almost had this virus before but stopped it from infecting me then.
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Moved to PC questions

malwarebytes or this A guide and tutorial on using ComboFix

I got my bro-in-law to fix my comp sorta, installed a new XP OS onto here, but I am wondering if it's possible: When I run chkdsk on this OS upon restart-will it check the entire hard drive for both systems and possibly fix whatever is ailing the original OS? Or am I doomed to start all over with this sumb***h. Pardon my newb questions, I'm not computer savvy at all really. I did install malwarebytes and it found a hefty 32 infected files-hopefully it actually removed them, thx in advance for your help.

chkdsk will only check the hard drive for physical defects and attempt to fix them, it does not repair Windows issues or fix virus issues.

Originally Posted by apuntsel

chkdsk will only check the hard drive for physical defects and attempt to fix them, it does not repair Windows issues or fix virus issues.

Well after removing any viruses with my mcafee, malwarebtyes and windows malicious software download-which didn't show any threats, I am still unable to get into my original OS-chkdsk is almost done-are there any ideas on why I am unable to get into it?
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Originally Posted by jcorv58

Well after removing any viruses with my mcafee, malwarebtyes and windows malicious software download-which didn't show any threats, I am still unable to get into my original OS-chkdsk is almost done-are there any ideas on why I am unable to get into it?
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you installed a new XP on the infected machine? If so the new XP will detect the old install and not allow you to get into it, since it thinks you are not the owner...mybe it would help if you would search for tools resetting your original account completely - provided that the virus hasn't changed/deleted too much of your 1st XP making it impossible to run it again...

Originally Posted by breiti

you installed a new XP on the infected machine? If so the new XP will detect the old install and not allow you to get into it, since it thinks you are not the owner...mybe it would help if you would search for tools resetting your original account completely - provided that the virus hasn't changed/deleted too much of your 1st XP making it impossible to run it again...

Yes but as far as the 3 virus applications I ran-my system has no infection, I was unable to get into my original XP even when it was just the one installed on it, its not the new XP that's keeping from getting in. When I tried normal mode it booted up only to show my wallpaper and alt+ctrl+dlt did not work. When I tried safe mode or any other type of mode it gave me the blue screen with an error message and it said I had to run chkdsk and also do virus scans which is what I did using the newly installed XP after and those both came up clean. As far as I can tell most of my programs I can access and use and also I am able to get to my other files from the new XP. Other than that I am at a loss for what I can do, I have no boot up CD either.
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Hm, really sounds like the old xp is completly messed by the former virus, provided it was sitting in an important system file - which now was cleaned (deleted) by the scanners, I guess, there is no hope left. During the new install there was no option to repair the old xp? If so, the installer did not even recognize it as valid OS and therefore I do not know how to help anymore, I am very sorry!

maybe you can try to reinstall the OS....

Burn it and get a Mac, lol. J/K, I'm not really computer biased.

One thing I have done for many that I fixed this virus or rather it's a type od spyware that has hijacked your pc and or browser. Take the drive out and slave to another xp machine or vista doesn't matter. Run a full sector by sector scan on the drive in question. Also xp will often notice corrupt files if connected and will try to repair but if the spyware, malware, or virus it shouldn't fix it as stated above. It can be fixed. I would say unless you have data that you can afford I would wipe and reload. Not just a reload. Slaving it will allow you to get your pics, most soca, etc. The problem is pretty much in the profile and could be system files but it is 99% in the profile. I have just renamed the profile and drag the items over AFTER CREATING AND LOGGING ON WITH NEW PROFILE. When all that looks good SHIFT+DEL to remove the old profile. In fact I would do the profile thing fix. Their is a cutoff point at some point and you should be able to fix with one of the two. Let us know if you get it resolved or still have trouble..
Regards,
M130carbine.