defrag/ error check/ Safe mode problems

[Guest]

Trying to clean out a Sony Vaio computer. Doing lots of system maintenance -
found infected files, etc. through AVG and online scans... Some of the
problems I need help with:
1) Disk check starts with every startup. I noticed it seems to run over &
over, but on subsequent scans, the error list seems to be shorter - maybe
it's just taking time to fix everything(?). I let it continue overnight -
this AM a message said: Disk Boot failure - Insert system disk... I just
restarted it - ok. How do I get it not to run on startup?? or does it have
to fix everything first??
2) Defrag won't run 'cuz "there is corruption in file C:\FOUND.005". When I
tried to delete that file thru Win Exp, "is not accessible. ..file or dir. is
corrupt and unreadable" When I retried this AM, the \FOUND.005 was not
there, but \FOUND.002 was the "corrupt" file. Again, can't delete thru
WinExp.
This is why I'm thinking the Error checking is actually doing its job, but a
little at a time. How do I get the defrag to run?? --
3) I installed AdAware & SpyBot; the AdAware has been starting and then
freezing - each time it goes a little further (700-800 files). After last
night, it went to 76702 files. Does this tie in with #1 and 2 above??? I
was going to uninstall and reinstall, but I seem to be making progress. Any
advice??
4) I downloaded sysclean, but when I tried to go to Safe Mode, it freezes
on the screen where all the drivers are loading, around Drivers\Mups.sys ?? I
retried and it went to Safe Mode, but I couldn't get sysclean to run. Then,
every time I try to start Safe Mode, it jams at the same place as above.
The owner said he went to some history site, and when he clicked on a link,
a porn pic came up, and then other problems started. S'posedly, some worm
came in. He also got this computer from a sister's friend, bot didn't get
any OS CD, so I can't re-install the OS.

Like I said, I think I'm making headway, but if anybody has some advice to
speed this up, I'd appreciate it. He wants to install NIS, but hasn't been
successful - he bypasses some error messages. I'm not going to reinstall it
'til I'm reasonably sure this computer is CLEAN.

Barb Zakrzewski

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Barbara

The files found.005 etc are recoveries of damaged or corrupted files by
chkdsk. They are not a good sign.

You need to find out whether you have a failing hard disk? For chkdsk to
continually provide a new crop of these files suggests this may so.

How old is the computer? Is this an original hard disk?

Try HD Tune (freeware). Download and run it and see what it turns up.
http://www.hdtune.com/

Select the Info tabs and place the cursor on C:\ under Drive letter
and then double click the two page icon ( copy to
Clipboard ) and copy into a further message.

Select the Health tab and then double click the two page icon ( copy to
Clipboard ) and copy into a further message.

Also do a full surface scan with HD Tune.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

Hi Gerry - I ran the HD Tune program - some damaged parts on Error scan =
1.1% of the 40GB drive.
I'll try to send you the results. (trying) I saved them to the desktop,
but I am not an e-mail wizard, so I guess you're not going to see them.
Sorry. Health status came back OK, info said bootable; nothing looked out-of
the ordinary there.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Barbara

What is the make and model of your hard drive?

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information about your
computer:
Everest Home Edition (freeware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight required
text, right click and select copy. However, whilst this is fine for
posting small amounts of information into newsgroup messages
longer reports will irritate other newsgroup subscribers.

How old is the computer? Is this an original hard disk?

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

Gerry -
Thanks for info. I'll try to get to it today (Sunday). This comp was given
to these people free, but they were not given OS CD, and I'm pretty sure it's
orig HD - ST340823A (40GB). I'll suggest that they either limp along 'til
it's unusable, then spend the $$ for new HD and OS, or really try to get the
OS CD from whoever gave it to them and still buy a new HD. I don't think
they use it for more than the Internet, but I'll advise that they save
anything important