1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

This sucks really bad!!

Discussion in 'Safety valve' started by Pop_Smith, Mar 4, 2005.

  1. Pop_Smith

    Pop_Smith Regular member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    Messages:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Hey everyone, I am on my sisters computer as I downloaded a virus that was REALLY new, Kaspersky didn't even detect it. Well, the damn thing erased my HDD as far as i can tell because when i go to reboot it says "NTLDR is missing" which from what i remember when i put it togeather means its missing an OS. Well, I put in the Windows XP Pro CD that I got with the PC and nothing happens. It says "Push and key to boot from CD" and i push a button, nothing happens. I have pushed a ton of them to, no key works. I CAN format as nothing really valuable is on it, except a few picture that i would like to recover (i don't need them, I just want them). What do you guys think? What can i use to format the drive/repair windows?
     
  2. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2004
    Messages:
    39,153
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    143
    check boot sequence in bios so can boot off cd. is cd bootable??
     
  3. Pop_Smith

    Pop_Smith Regular member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    Messages:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Hey ddp, I assume so as it is the Windows XP Pro CD that i installed the OS with when i made the PC. I change the boot sequence so it boots from CD and when it says "Press any key to boot from CD" I pushed a button, nothing happened. I reboot, with the CD still in the drive, and that same message is displayed, so this time i pushed a bundle of buttons and it still didn't boot from the CD. My Mobo has a dual-bios and it says "If the first BIOS is comprimized by a virus etc. the Mobo will boot with the secondary, secure BIOS." I can access my BIOS so i assume everything on that level is fine.
     
  4. djscoop

    djscoop Active member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    4,051
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    66
    any key you hit should work. since the install disk temporarily instals setup files on the HDD, perhaps it has been so corrupted the install disk can't read it, and thats why it doesn't load. You can format if you have a win98 startup disk, as it has a bootup sequence with format and fdisk on it.
     
  5. djscoop

    djscoop Active member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    4,051
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    66
    do you do routine backups? If not, now would be a good time to start...I have learned the hard way too many times.
     
  6. Xian

    Xian Regular member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2003
    Messages:
    954
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    As far as getting back the pictures that you wanted, I have found Knoppix very good for accessing corrupt Windows installations. It is a Live Linux cd that boots and runs from CD. You can mount your Windows drives in it and recover the files that way.
    http://www.knoppix.net
    Of course if you are having trouble booting from cd you might have trouble with booting the Knoppix cd though.
     
  7. Pop_Smith

    Pop_Smith Regular member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    Messages:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Thanks guys, I still haven't got it running yet and I am going to start backing up stuff to burnable DVDs from now on (probably once a month or so, whats recommended?)

    @Xian, I will try knoppix and see if it helps.

    Thanks for all the support,

    Pop Smith

    P.S. What if I can't get Knoppix to boot?

    Maybe then its a lost cause but, I hope not :(

    EDITED by Pop_Smith
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2005
  8. djscoop

    djscoop Active member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    4,051
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    66
    If it were me I'd backup more often than once a month, but I guess its a personal preference. I backup every weekend to a removable drive, then store that drive in my fireproof safe. (Yes, I'm paranoid and anal.) But some people I know have their computers backup everyday, which is pretty extreme.
     
  9. Pop_Smith

    Pop_Smith Regular member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    Messages:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Well, right now I have a Dell machine with a 120GB HDD, maybe i will set that as my "Backup" drive on my network and backup to it every week or so.

    If I had a personal server to back stuff up to I would back it up probably 3-4 times a week, once on Monday, again on Wednesday, again on Friday and every other time, alternate between Sunday and Saturday. Too bad I don't currently have a server. If I get my hands on a good one for a good price, thats whats going to happen from now on. :D

    So, that being said, if you find any servers for a good deal, reply to this forum or hit me up with a PM.
     
  10. pulsar

    pulsar Active member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2003
    Messages:
    2,081
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    68
  11. Pop_Smith

    Pop_Smith Regular member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    Messages:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    ok, I will try that (as soon as i can get a hold of a Windows 95, 98, or ME disk) wish me luck :D

    Pop Smith

    EDIT (by Pop Smith) its too bad that my connection has been down, I miss reporting spammers to Neph and other Mods :(
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2005
  12. ScubaBud

    ScubaBud Regular member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2004
    Messages:
    1,951
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    46
    Pop_Smith

    If what is left as your final outcome is to format your original HD you might want to try this first:

    Boot up with a disk, either Windows98se or ME and get to your HD if it will read by doing the c:\ and enter. Since you say you only need a couple of things from your HD and if you know where they are located at, (which folder,) you might be able to copy them to disk(s). Also, you might try and format a new HD with Windows and slave your old one and see if you can get into it that way to try and recoup your pictures.

    Yep, that's me! <G> Every morning at 2:00 AM my PC automatically does a full backup to my slave HD using Drive Image 7.0. It does it’s thing while windows is running, so there is nothing for me to do but delete older backups when my second drive is getting full.

     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2005
  13. Pop_Smith

    Pop_Smith Regular member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    Messages:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    i actually can boot into a thing called Bart's PE
    http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

    It seems to let me access my C: drive but, I am not sure, I will have to see if it will let me access it. Maybe that will work, i will try your idea Scubabud :D

    Thank you for all your ideas everyone :)

    Pop Smith

    EDITED by Pop_Smith, I added the Bart's PE link so you guys could check it out.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2005
  14. djscoop

    djscoop Active member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    4,051
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    66
    scubabud:

    to be honest I probably would backup everyday as well, except I don't leave my main computer running all night, and am too lazy to do it manually everyday. Also I like to remove the backup drive from the computer when not in use. But I think the bottom line is no matter when or how you backup, its an essential key to good computering, cause sooner or later either hardware or software is gonna crash and you're gonna need to restore.
     
  15. ScubaBud

    ScubaBud Regular member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2004
    Messages:
    1,951
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    46
    djscoop

    I agree 100%. Talk about anal, I also do a full backup on an external drive once a month and it too is in a fire safe.
     
  16. wild77

    wild77 Guest

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 7, 2005
  17. djscoop

    djscoop Active member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    4,051
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    66
    very cool...a handy CD to keep in the fire proof safe as well. thanks for the link
     
  18. djscoop

    djscoop Active member

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2003
    Messages:
    4,051
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    66
  19. Pop_Smith

    Pop_Smith Regular member

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2003
    Messages:
    925
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Well, I tired the UBCD and my keyboard wouldn't respond, this happened with several other recover apps as well. So, I got sick of it, my computer is currently reformatting the HDD. I do have a question though, is there anyway (with any sort of software) that i can recover data after i format it and reinstall XP? I have heard you can't but, I want to check before I reload anything that was on the HDD before it got a virus.
     
  20. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2004
    Messages:
    39,153
    Likes Received:
    134
    Trophy Points:
    143
    there are programs the feds use when an hd is formated to see what the info was/is
     

Share This Page