HardDrives and Attack from hackers on the internet!!

[sammy]

My pc was "attacked" from outside (hackers) and can't seem to reinstall Win
Xp again.

I realised the internet connection automatically redialling and making a
connection even though I had set it out. In a fast attempt to stop it
happening the third time, I pulled out the plug from the socket and then
removed the modem cable from the pc. When I restarted windows a long list
of files kept rolling down. I stopped the pc and restarted with a startup
diskett for windows 98 (on floppy) and then deleted all files in the
c:\windows map - that was where all the changes or the long list of files
were rolling from -. I put the XP cd in, in an attempt to repair windows
but didn't succeed. Finally, I decided all was just ruined so instead of
wasting time I FDISKed, deleted and created a partition and formatted.
Installing Windows isn't possible now!!!!!! The pc stops and freezes when
it gets to checking Drive C.

Question is: Can the haddrive be ruined by an attack from hackers ?

gr & thanks.

 

[Dave]

My pc was "attacked" from outside (hackers) and can't seem to reinstall Win
Xp again.

I realised the internet connection automatically redialling and making a
connection even though I had set it out. In a fast attempt to stop it
happening the third time, I pulled out the plug from the socket and then
removed the modem cable from the pc. When I restarted windows a long list
of files kept rolling down. I stopped the pc and restarted with a startup
diskett for windows 98 (on floppy) and then deleted all files in the
c:\windows map - that was where all the changes or the long list of files
were rolling from -. I put the XP cd in, in an attempt to repair windows
but didn't succeed. Finally, I decided all was just ruined so instead of
wasting time I FDISKed, deleted and created a partition and formatted.
Installing Windows isn't possible now!!!!!! The pc stops and freezes when
it gets to checking Drive C.

Question is: Can the haddrive be ruined by an attack from hackers ?

gr & thanks.

probably not, but it might be ruined by suddenly pulling the plug... though
with modern drives this is not all that likely either. if you were able to
fdisk and format the drive then try running a disk test utility to test the
whole drive for errors. if the drive tests ok then try installing xp from
scratch and use it's tools to create partitions and format them. note that
there may be long pauses in the installer if the disk is large while it
tests and formats it.

 

[Rob Schneider]

Could it be the "witty worm"? New this weekend. See
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11310-2004Mar20.html and
http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/alerts/id/167 related to a specific
product, though.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[wojo]

Boot to the CD and do what you already did once again but w/o FDisk.
The first option you get off the CD boot is to delete and repartition so do
that then install. It can't find an error checking drive C if drive C is
unformatted. It will format and install automatically and all will again be
right in your world.

 

[sammy]

Will definitely, send a feedback here.

Thanks for the answers.

 

[sammy]

Actually, like I said, I deleted and created a partition and formatted. So
XP started copying files and then got to where it had to check the C drive.
And there was no activity again. But like Dave said, there may be long
pauses in the installer if the disk is large while it tests..
Thanks anyway, and I'll give it another shot this evening.

 

[**{Steven}**]

Instead of referring people to sites that require sign ups, it is better to
use ones like symantec's free info found here
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.witty.worm.html

Steven

 

[Rob Schneider]

You're right. It is better. But then I didn't know of this other page,
and since I'm a longtime registered reader of Washington Post, I
completely forgot that registration is required. The other link I
provided doesn't required (to my knowledge) registration. I think the
important thing is to offer something for the O.P. isn't it.

Hope this is useful to you. Let us know.

rms

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

Boot to the CD and do what you already did once again but w/o FDisk.
The first option you get off the CD boot is to delete and repartition so do
that then install. It can't find an error checking drive C if drive C is
unformatted. It will format and install automatically and all will again be
right in your world.

Hardly - he'll get shot to pieces by Lovesan et al as soon as he
connects to the Internet.

Hell need to patch the defective RPC service before going online, or
at the very least, turn on the built-in firewall.

-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Running Windows-based av to kill active malware is like striking
a match to see if what you are standing in is water or petrol.

 

[wojo]

Were just trying to get XP installed again. Then of course your right enable
your firewall before even thinking of going online. Lovesan hell Blaster
will probably be there 1st.

Hardly - he'll get shot to pieces by Lovesan et al as soon as he
connects to the Internet.

Hell need to patch the defective RPC service before going online, or
at the very least, turn on the built-in firewall.



Running Windows-based av to kill active malware is like striking
a match to see if what you are standing in is water or petrol.

Were just trying to get XP installed again. Then of course your right enable
your firewall before even thinking of going online. Lovesan hell Blaster
will probably be there 1st.