Computer wont boot from CD due to a virus

[gamebr8ker]

My Windows XP SP3 computer was recently hit by a virus (2 days
ago).Its a 2 year old custom built computer and is using a foxconn
motherboard (if that's of any importance). Currently, it boots and I
can view files and everything but none of my programs run (neither do
system restore, and some other windows utilities) due to some rundll
file missing from the system32 folder.
I was advised to just reformat my drive. I put in my windows boot disc
and rebooted but when I go into the boot menu to select boot from CD,
I hit the arrow keys to make my selection and nothing happens. Im
using a standard usb keyboard that requires no installation software
by the way. When I go into the bios, it lets me maneuver around the
menus though and I set the boot priorities (3 of them total) all to CD-
ROM. Before this, the first two were set to cd-rom and the last one
was set to hard drive but the computer would always boot from the hard
drive anyway. Still with all three boot priorities set to cd-rom, the
cd still wont boot. When logged into windows, I can run the cd so I
dont think that its faulty (or maybe it still is). I did unplug the
hard drive and boot with the cd in the disc drive and the cd booted.
When I rebooted this time with the hard drive in, it booted again to
the hard drive.

So presently, Im wonderring if its a bios problem? If it is, is there
a way to fix it? And if its not...what might it be?

 

[David B.]

Get into Windows, insert your Windows CD, go to a command prompt (Start >
Run > type cmd and hit enter)
In the command window type sfc /scannow
This should replace any missing system files.

 

[smlunatick]

My Windows XP SP3 computer was recently hit by a virus (2 days
ago).Its a 2 year old custom built computer and is using a foxconn
motherboard (if that's of any importance). Currently, it boots and I
can view files and everything but none of my programs run (neither do
system restore, and some other windows utilities) due to some rundll
file missing from the system32 folder.
I was advised to just reformat my drive. I put in my windows boot disc
and rebooted but when I go into the boot menu to select boot from CD,
I hit the arrow keys to make my selection and nothing happens. Im
using a standard usb keyboard that requires no installation software
by the way. When I go into the bios, it lets me maneuver around the
menus though and I set the boot priorities (3 of them total) all to CD-
ROM. Before this, the first two were set to cd-rom and the last one
was set to hard drive but the computer would always boot from the hard
drive anyway. Still with all three boot priorities set to cd-rom, the
cd still wont boot. When logged into windows, I can run the cd so I
dont think that its faulty (or maybe it still is). I did unplug the
hard drive and boot with the cd in the disc drive and the cd booted.
When I rebooted this time with the hard drive in, it booted again to
the hard drive.

So presently, Im wonderring if its a bios problem? If it is, is there
a way to fix it? And if its not...what might it be?

Booting from a CD would not be affected by most "standard" viruses in
Windows (besides the viruses that can destroy the BIOS.)

You CD drive might be failing. You may need to consider replacing it.

 

[Jonah Johansen]

The mystery here is the booting from CD when hard drive is absent, and not
when plugged in.
Step 1 Check how the cables are set up. Is the CD-Rom on it's own cable?
Is it properly jumpered for that cable hopefully it is on its won cable and
jumpered for single or master.
Step 2 Assuming the above is correct, When they both are connected and the
bios displays its text and it gets to the point where it lists drives it has
found does it list the CD-Rom and display its brand and model number like
Hitachi CDR-103 or even just CDR-103 , If not if now CD drive shows it really
looks like cabling, jumpers even loose power plug.

Step 4 is there an F-key you can choose which allow you to select the boot
drive?

A message like hit F9 to select boot device,
sometimes you will also get a hit any key to boot from CD message.

I will await your reply, do not despair this is fixable I am confident.
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Jonah Johansen]

send me an email at (e-mail address removed) I will walk you through it.

 

[smlunatick]

The mystery here is the booting from CD when hard drive is absent, and not
when plugged in.
Step 1 Check how the cables are set up.  Is the CD-Rom on it's own cable?
Is it properly jumpered for that cable hopefully it is on its won cable and
jumpered for single or master.
Step 2 Assuming the above is correct, When they both are connected and the
bios displays its text and it gets to the point where it lists drives it has
found does it list the CD-Rom and display its brand and model number  like  
Hitachi CDR-103 or even just CDR-103 , If not if now CD drive shows it really
looks like cabling, jumpers even loose power plug.

Step 4 is there an F-key you can choose which allow you to select the boot
drive?

A message like hit F9 to select boot device,
sometimes you will also get a hit any key to boot from CD message.

I will await your reply,  do not despair this is fixable I am confident..  
(e-mail address removed)

I have encountered some PCs that the CD Rom needs to be on a separate
IDE cable and set as master on this cable. Sometimes when the CD-Rom
is set as "slave" the "master" hard drive takes over and its
electronics will force the boot from the "master" drive.

Slave IDE drives usually will let the master IDE drive electronic
control the boot access. Some hard drives seem to have their
electronics set to force a boot from its self first. If the drive
then finds a boot record, the CD-Rom boot would be ignored.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Huh ?? I keep reading and re-reading what you wrote and for the life of me I cannot
follow your logic on this.

--
Peter

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