Hardware failure or virus attack?

[phuile]

My friend's computer suddenly failed in the midst of him looking at a
website. When we tried to get into check the CMOS settings, all the
words appeared garbled. For example, "boot" is spelt "bont" or "Drive"
becomes "Frive" etc. At first, we suspect something is attacking CMOS.
But someone advise us that it may be a hardware failure - maybe a
failing computer.

Also, we can only start the machine on Safe Mode. If he attempts to
start it up in normal mode, the screen freeze and shows a large blue
and a large red block.

Can someone tell us whether this looks like a hardware failure or a
virus attack? We'd just like to get it fixed.

Thanks a million.

 

[Yes Baby]

My friend's computer suddenly failed in the midst of him looking at a
website. When we tried to get into check the CMOS settings, all the
words appeared garbled. For example, "boot" is spelt "bont" or "Drive"
becomes "Frive" etc. At first, we suspect something is attacking CMOS.
But someone advise us that it may be a hardware failure - maybe a
failing computer.

Also, we can only start the machine on Safe Mode. If he attempts to
start it up in normal mode, the screen freeze and shows a large blue
and a large red block.

Can someone tell us whether this looks like a hardware failure or a
virus attack? We'd just like to get it fixed.

Thanks a million.

you could try popping the CMOS battery for a minute or 2 or replacing it
while there.

dj

 

[paulmd]

My friend's computer suddenly failed in the midst of him looking at a
website. When we tried to get into check the CMOS settings, all the
words appeared garbled. For example, "boot" is spelt "bont" or "Drive"
becomes "Frive" etc. At first, we suspect something is attacking CMOS.
But someone advise us that it may be a hardware failure - maybe a
failing computer.

Also, we can only start the machine on Safe Mode. If he attempts to
start it up in normal mode, the screen freeze and shows a large blue
and a large red block.

Can someone tell us whether this looks like a hardware failure or a
virus attack? We'd just like to get it fixed.

Thanks a million.

I've seen this before. It's corrupted RAM, or video RAM.

On a system with integrated video, try different RAM. In this case
Memtest may be useless because it cannot test the portion of RAM taken
up by the video.

On a system with a seperate video card, try a different video card.


But due diligence first:

Open up the computer, blow out the dust.

Look for bad capacitors (they look like little soda cans) if any are
bulged or leaking, even a bit, they're bad. This usually spells a
motherboard replacement.

Check that the fans still run. As an overheating processor can also
cause the same symptoms.

Not a virus.

 

[DaveW]

Sounds like a virus to me. Others?

 

[paulmd]

Sounds like a virus to me. Others?

No.

Do you know how RARE a virus that corrupts the CMOS is?

Bad video card, or bad RAM, that's pretty much it.

 

[Plato]

My friend's computer suddenly failed in the midst of him looking at a
website. When we tried to get into check the CMOS settings, all the
words appeared garbled. For example, "boot" is spelt "bont" or "Drive"
becomes "Frive" etc. At first, we suspect something is attacking CMOS.
But someone advise us that it may be a hardware failure - maybe a
failing computer.

Also, we can only start the machine on Safe Mode. If he attempts to
start it up in normal mode, the screen freeze and shows a large blue
and a large red block.

Can someone tell us whether this looks like a hardware failure or a
virus attack? We'd just like to get it fixed.

Chances are that it's NOT a result of a virus, but either bad ram or a
bad video card.