HELP please, virus wont let me log in to windows. how can i save my files?

i cant log in to my windows xp after getting a virus & running a few scans in safemode. i tried logging in in safemode & the same thing happens, i log in & get automatically logged out...

anyone know a way i can fix this? my main priority is getting my files back safely. i have another computer, is there anyway to move my files from computer A to compuer B without logging in to computer A? im pretty sure smitfraud came up during the virus scans, can i maybe put smitfraudfix on a disk & run it without logging in to windows?
ive also heard of anti-virus boot disks that can remove viruses without having log in to windows but i dont know where to get these or how they work. i just need to backup my files somehow, so if you guys know something, then plaese help me out




heres what happened

i left some stuff downloading overnight & then i woke up to a bunch of pop ups & mcafee asking me about allowing registry changes also there was alot of windows open & they were all my documents...

so thinking this was just spyware i tried to do system restore to a restore point from a few days back but it wouldn't let me, then i tried running a scan with mcafee but after a minute the scan just stopped.

i tried rebooting only to find that explorer wasnt starting, so i opened task manager & opened it from there. when explorer opened the task manager closed & i couldnt open it anymore after that it said that the administraitor had locked it

after searching for ways to fix this on yahoo, the virus blocked my internet. i rebooted in to safe mode to run some spyware/virus scans.
the scans found adware & trojans & 2 of the items it found were smitfraud & something i think was called spywarex

i rebooted after the scans & then found i couldnt log in anymore. windows starts, the log in screen comes up, i type in my password, it says logging in, i get to see my wallpaper for a second then it goes back to the same screen & it says logging out. the same thing happens on all the safemodes even when logging in as administraitor i tried repairing windows but that didnt change anything.

 

This should do it..
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-v...ndows-computer/

2oG

 

thanks 2oldGeek

the link doesnt actually take me anywhere

but looking around that site i found this

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/geek-repair-create-your-own-ultimate-recovery-cd/

im not sure, but i think this might just be what i need,
has anyone here ever tried something like this?

 

do you think you can post the full link? Its incomplete.

 

i guess me and HDpunk have the same problem...i'd still like to see the link from 2oldgeek so if you read this, can you post it still?

My parents are facing the same issue. It happened after my dad opened up an e-card and downloaded a virus

 

sorry, afterdawn cuts up the link, just right click it & open in new tab/window

anyways, heres the link

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/geek-repair-create-your-own-ultimate-recovery-cd/

and i also found this, it seems to also help back up your files if you cant boot your computer

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/

i just ordered an external HD from newegg so i can save my files, but does anyone know if the virus could infect the external HD & then infect another computer?

 

all of your links were working fine. I was just curious about the other link that 2old posted that wasn't working. were you able to get in to your computer to save your files? send me a pvt message if you'd like to work on this together.

 

Sorry about the Bum Link guys : (
I think these are good ones so look them over…

Download a Linux Live Disk.iso it’s 695MB and will take a little time to download….
HERE!

Download Imgburn to burn your .iso file to a CD-R…
http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Tools/Data-CD-DVD-Burning/ImgBurn.shtml


Use this guide to burn it..
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

Use this guide to recover files from your downed HDD using the Linux Live disk..
http://lifehacker.com/software/disk-recovery/geek-to-live--rescue-files-with-a-boot-cd-192982.php


Life would be simpler if you had an Image backup of your Boot Drive, Huh?
The first 3 rules in computing are 1. backup 2. backup and 3. backup : )

Questions? Fire at will!

2oG

 

lol, thank you for your help 2oldGeek & trust me, the lesson is learned

im hopeing to be able to use UBCD4WIN or BARTpe as does discs also have anti virus/spyware programs on them. the problem is that im useing dell & creating does live discs is a bit more tricky with dell reinstallation cds. if i cant get those to work then i will try a linux live cd, ive also been looking at Hiren's BootCD as it has smitfraudfix on it, but i dont know if i need a windows xp disk for that.

ill keep you guys posted

 

Here’s a little advice from an old guy that’s been around computers since 1965….

If you keep a backup image file of your operating drive on your second disk then, when you become infected, you can recover your main drive in about 4 minutes. Just like reformatting, reinstalling the OS and all of your applications in a few minutes.

I use Acronis TrueImage Home it’s about $50 but worth it : ) It will also work on a single drive computer by using a secure partition. Trial:
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/download/trueimage/

A free version of a disk imager is Macrium Reflect slower than Acronis and not as many bells and whistles but FREE and it works..
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

I have used Acronis since it first came out and have never had a problem.
My boot drive only contains the OS and all my applications. The My Documents files are re directed to my second drive that way I can have a small, fast main operating drive. I use a 74GB Raptor 10000 rpm drive for the OS and a 500gb 7200 rpm for my second drive.

I have 6 operating systems imaged and can be up and running in any one of them in 4 to 5 minutes. My main OS is XP 7 extreme, highly tweaked. I also have Windows 7 beta, XP pro, Vista ultimate, Linux Knoppix and Linux Ubuntu. All share the My Documents file so that when I switch the OS I still have everything in front of me.. : )

I also have a stack of hard drives that I can plug into the USB port and keep a mass of movies, music, pictures, etc., etc. on.


2oG (that’s “2” and Not TOO, old with a little “o” and Geek with a capital “G”) LOL

 

so keeping a backup image of the main drive is like a hard restore point? do you have to update your drive image everytime you install a new program? also do you always save any new files on your back up drive?

anyway, i used that knoppix cd & at the part with the 2 penguins i get,

"cant find knoppix file system, sorry. dropping you to a (very limited) shell. press reset button to quit."

i tried doing it 5 times & the same thing comes up. do you know what this means? well, for now im going to try using ubcd4win, hiren's bootCD, or Ubuntu live

 

Yeah, that’s kinda what it is. It’s a bit by bit copy of your HD that can be restored.

I have mine scheduled to make an incremental backup every 3 days. That just adds the changes you have made to the backup and I am only 3 days behind if something happens. : )

The My Documents folder is on my second drive and anything that I add to it is automatically directed to that folder. That way I only have the OS and programs on my operating drive, no data. Makes it faster, less to backup and if my main drive croaks I simply replace it with the same size or larger drive and I’m back in business.

I use an older version of Acronis and at this point I cannot recommend the newest 2009 version. It seems to be having problems so I will just wait until they get the bugs worked out.

You got me… The Linux live disk just operates from the cd and memory, nothing on the HD.
Guess it could be a RAM problem but don’t know…..??

2oG

 

only with windows do you need to back up your stupid unreliable operating system.. keep all your files on a different physical device.. along with all your settings.. when you screw up your operating system just reinstall.. with everythiung updated and (hopefully) working again together nice without tons of (usually retarded glibC2.6) version errors..

I run servers.. they back up user data on a nightly basis using tar.. they never back up the operating system.. because if they did that's a very very serious security hole. The OS for the servers lives on some dvd's that reside in my house. If some idiot breaks the OS on any of the machines I can reformat and reinstall with a simple cp whatever > whatever and then change the whole partition permissions again..

acronis true image... only in windoze world do people pay for backup software. *sigh*.. what a retarded world we live in.. the biggest pile of crap.. is used by the largest number of non thinking people.. like maccy D's.. just because it's everywhere don't mean it's any good.

 

this backup drive that you use, is it an external hard drive or a secondary hard drive?

which version do you use?

 

HDpunk,

Sorry for the delay, had to put in some long hours at work..

My OS is not unreliable, my stupid drives ARE and go Tits up ^^ occasionally. When this happens all that needs to be done is replace the drive and copy the image file to it, about 15 minutes to replace the drive and 4 minutes to image the new drive, same thing as reformat/reinstall the OS and all of the programs/settings but in only a few minutes.. No big deal…

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. Looking glasses reverse things. Maybe you should try some rose colored glasses. Be not cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.

It’s a secondary drive and an incremental backup, that is; it only backs up the changes that have been made since the original backup, not the whole system each time.

I use version 10.

A free version of a disk imager is Macrium Reflect slower than Acronis and not as many bells and whistles but FREE and it works..
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp


2oG

 

thanks for all the help 2oldgeek,

using ultimate boot cd 4 windows(ubcd4win) i managed to save all my stuff to an external HD. i havent been able to remove the virus though, i might have to just bite the bullet & reformat, but at least all my stuff is safe

 

If you run a PC with Windows, it is almost a requirement to have an image of your OS drive on the second drive… I keep a backup image of my OS and also have My Documents redirected to the second drive. That’s because the main drive is the most likely to crash and also makes for a smaller backup with nothing on the main drive except the OS and programs. If and when it does crash it only takes about 4 or 5 minutes to restore it and you don’t even have to reinstall all your programs and settings. : )

It also works for ridding any malware even though that’s not the main reason that I do it. I never get any malware but I have crashed drives… lol

2oG