Blue Screen of Death - Desperate for HELP!!!

[pbl]

Tonight I got the BSOD after my antivirus software (AVG Free) detected a
virus in a file downloaded. Now I can't reboot my notebook without getting
the BSOD. This happens when attempting to reboot even to safe mode or the
dos prompt. Also tried last working configuration option. I'm wondering what
my options are here?

Will booting to the WinXP CD allow me to run AVG on the hard drive files or
somehow provide any other course of action to recover the important system
files?

Is it time to purchase a 2.5 inch HDD enclosure and transfer my important
files to another PC before doing a fresh install?

Many thanks.

 

[Joe Grover]

What is the message that comes on the screen when it bluescreens?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

See below.

Tonight I got the BSOD after my antivirus software (AVG Free) detected a
virus in a file downloaded. Now I can't reboot my notebook without getting
the BSOD. This happens when attempting to reboot even to safe mode or the
dos prompt. Also tried last working configuration option. I'm wondering
what my options are here?

Unless the BSOD messages contain a pointer towards a corrupted
file, you would have to try a repair installation of WinXP. If this
does not work then a new installation will be required.

Will booting to the WinXP CD allow me to run AVG on the hard drive files
or somehow provide any other course of action to recover the important
system files?

No. Booting with your WinXP lets you install Windows or it gets
you into the Recovery Console. Neither is suitable to run AVG.

"Important system files"? What important system files? Do you
mean "important data files"?

Is it time to purchase a 2.5 inch HDD enclosure and transfer my important
files to another PC before doing a fresh install?

No, it's way too late. You should have done this when you started
storing important files on your laptop. You now have to pay the
penalty because it will become much harder to get your files off
the disk. One method is to remove the internal laptop disk, install
it in an external USB case and save the files to the hard disk of
some other laptop or PC. The other method is to boot the laptop
with a Bart PE boot CD, then save the files to a USB disk.

In each case you must verify that all files are copied and that
you can actually open them. And don't forget your Email files -
they are often forgotten in the heat of the battle.

Many thanks.

You're welcome. And remember to review (or formulate!)
your backup policy after you have traded out of this disaster.

 

[Ken Blake]

Tonight I got the BSOD after my antivirus software (AVG Free)
detected a virus in a file downloaded. Now I can't reboot my notebook
without getting the BSOD. This happens when attempting to reboot even
to safe mode or the dos prompt. Also tried last working configuration
option. I'm wondering what my options are here?

Will booting to the WinXP CD allow me to run AVG on the hard drive
files or somehow provide any other course of action to recover the
important system files?

Is it time to purchase a 2.5 inch HDD enclosure and transfer my
important files to another PC before doing a fresh install?

It's very hard to help you with your problem, since you haven't told us what
error was reported on the BSOD. But I'll add one comment: the time to have
an external backup of your important files is *all* the time. Waiting until
you have a problem is foolhardy; by then it may be too late.

 

[pbl]

See below.



Unless the BSOD messages contain a pointer towards a corrupted
file, you would have to try a repair installation of WinXP. If this
does not work then a new installation will be required.

It doesn't provide a clue. It just reports a windows error and suggests I
may be infected with a virus and to run my antivirus software. Of course I
cant get the system to sart so running the antivirus software is not
possible.

No. Booting with your WinXP lets you install Windows or it gets
you into the Recovery Console. Neither is suitable to run AVG.

"Important system files"? What important system files? Do you
mean "important data files"?

Yes, sorry.

No, it's way too late. You should have done this when you started
storing important files on your laptop. You now have to pay the
penalty because it will become much harder to get your files off
the disk. One method is to remove the internal laptop disk, install
it in an external USB case and save the files to the hard disk of
some other laptop or PC. The other method is to boot the laptop
with a Bart PE boot CD, then save the files to a USB disk.

I do have a regular weekly backup plan. Most of my files are stored on an
external drive. There are some that are a few days old that haven't been
backed up.

I created a Bart PE boot disk and booted to it as you suggest but
unfortunately it doesn't recognise my external USB drive so there is still
no way to copy files.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

It doesn't provide a clue. It just reports a windows error and suggests I
may be infected with a virus and to run my antivirus software. Of course I
cant get the system to sart so running the antivirus software is not
possible.

Yes, sorry.

I do have a regular weekly backup plan. Most of my files are stored on an
external drive. There are some that are a few days old that haven't been
backed up.

I created a Bart PE boot disk and booted to it as you suggest but
unfortunately it doesn't recognise my external USB drive so there is still
no way to copy files.

You would have to include the USB drivers when building the
Bart boot CD. With my Bart CD I have to plug in the USB
disk ***before*** turning on the machine. If I plug it in later
then I cannot see them.