diagnostic start up (big mistake?) HELP

C

christine1957

-- Writing from laptop. This concerens the home PC.


Nov 11 08

Attacked by 3 trojans, Pandex and false alert were deleted by Norton,
Infected by by Virantix c

went to symantec's website for removal , printed instructions.

-turned off Windows XP System restore
-updated virus definition with "intelligent"uploader. My Norton verion was a
home version 2006 upgraded ever since. I used the i32.exe and x86.exe
(probably a mistake..)
-ran full scan - was very slow and a window popped out regularly saying it
was sterting fuk system scan (was already running) and didn't affect the
number of files scanned. Finished the scan with nothing found

Nov 12 08
Decided to run the scan in Safe Mode.
start>run>msconfig> couldn't find Safe Mode, clicked general>diagnostic
start up (big mistake?)
started computer, loaded XP but nothing else than background picture showed
up. No application loaded, no way to run anything, no "start" button. Only
thing is ctrl-alt-del


Helppppp
Christine
 
M

Mark L. Ferguson

The Safe Mode menu will appear if you restart, and just after the BIOS
screen, during the 'black screen' of startup, you press F8. From safe mode,
start/run, type MSCONFIG to remove the diag startup.
You may have to do a Repair setup to replace damaged files, but the first
step, from safe mode, will be to run the command:
SFC /SCANNOW

--
Please use the Communities guidelines when posting.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm
Use the "Ratings" feature. It helps the new users.
Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Mark.Ferguson
 
C

christine1957

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your reply. I just tried F8 and nothing happened. I was able
to access the window "select first boot device" with F11 though. I might have
a boot disc - somewhere... .

Is there another way to access safemode? Are all computers the same
concerning keys?

Also, later on in the booting process, Norton go back shows up and asks to
press space bar but that has no effect...

Christine
 
C

christine1957

Hi Mark,

Thank you again for responding so fast. I tried multiple times and no luck.
It doesn't react to F8.
I hit DEL and can access the AMIBIOS BEW SETUP UTILITY-VERSON 3.31a

Can I do anything from there?

Christine
 
C

christine1957

Hi Mark

Another question. With this not working, could I save the files, mainly
pictures and e-mails from the C drive and other partiction on that drive, by
connecting it to the laptop as a slave drive?
 
C

christine1957

Hi Mark

It is a USB. I didn't know it made a difference. I will go buy a PS2.

Thanks for the help.
 
D

db.·.. >

a small adaptor
for the kb will
work as well.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
 
C

christine1957

Bought other keyboard. F8 works now. I can go in safe mode but do not see the
start. I tried two tupes of safemodes,

Safemode---> window to start window then nothing happens
safemode with prompt--->brings me in a cmd.exe windows with

C:\documents and settings\cm>



typing start or run or msconfig doesn't work

tried to remember long forgotten commands of DOS but am too afraid to do
anything. Just saw there is a Windows directory and a start menu directory
etc.

Can msconfig be run from somewhere here? needs a path? Am not doing anything
until further advise.

Thank you so much for your help.



Christine
 
C

christine1957

I wanted to add that it does say

windows starting up
shows the box
Log On to Windows/password
then
loading personal settings

then stays black still safemode in each corner


will wait longer just in case it is very very slow
 
C

christine1957

it has been quite a while now and nothing happens. Stays black with safemode
in the corners. When idle, a flying windows logo shows up but that's it.

Can msconfig be used from DOS?
 
C

christine1957

I entered
%WINDIR%\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries\msconfig.exe
at the prompr

brought the box system configuration utility with 3 choices under "general"
-normal startup
-diagnostic startup
-selective startup (it seems that is where I was and not diagnostic)


normal doesn't work as system retore was turned off following Norton's advise.
no "safe mode" option that I can see...
what next? Thanks again for any input.

Christine
 
C

christine1957

I tried all 3 options and none work because of system retore disabled...
thank you Norton...
 
C

christine1957

I typed what that link said

%WINDIR%\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries\msconfig.exe


gave me a window with startup selection with 3 choices

-normal startup
-diagnostic start up
-selective start up (seems that is what I had)


if I click normal start up then launch system retore it refuses because
system restore was turned off (Norton's instructions)
 
C

christine1957

had a sudden flash. During the startup, Norton goback keps prompting for a
spacebar that like F8 hadnot worked. Well with this keyboard it does. Busy
restoring it now but it is at a time when I was already infected...
earliest possible.

If that works, then Norton might help me, they were useless if I could not
connect the computer to the web...
 
C

christine1957

Hi Mark


The new keyboard also fixed the spacebar that Norton goback wanted in the
booting process. I did it yesterday and restored it to the oldest point I
could which was after the infection and it worked, all my files are there...

Now I do not know if I need to go back to Safemode and do the scan you
recomend of contact Norton who could not help without a connection to the
computer (that I can now do).

Without you, I would have never known about F8 and a different kind of
keyboard. Thank you so much.

Christine
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

HELP - diagnostic start up problem 3
Lost desktop, start menu and taskbar after re-start 2
XP PRO SP2 Hangs at Logo Screen on Start Up 4
Clean-up cleaned too much -- help! 6
Start up Problems.. Won't Log on.. HELP!! 1
rundll32.exe missing 12
Windows XP wont start up - Boot error, please help 2
Server busy - switch to, retry comes up when opening files 0

Top