A
Andrew Bailey
Hi and thanks for taking the time to read...
My problem started about 10 days ago when I downloaded the latest version of
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal tool from Majorgeeks.com (using the
author (Microsoft) download link). The file downloaded ok but hung about 30%
into installation which froze my pointer and kept the hard drive light on.
I tried again and the same thing happened, so I put it down to a corrupt
file and would wait until another version appeared or it showed up on
windows update.
Then I discovered that when I came to do my weekly backup I could not delete
the oldest ASR backup (windows Backup utility) and just selecting the file
would cause the same lockup and hard drive light on as above. I tried to
delete the folder but that didn't work, I tried to reformat the partition
and that failed so in the end I used my windows cd to repartition and
reformat the drive and all seemed well and good, I was able to do a backup
and the drive seemed to be working just fine.
One week later and I need to perform another backup but I'm having the same
problem. Thinking it might be the drive I tried to backup to a different
hard drive but now the windows backup utility is locking up in the same
manner.
So I can't access the one backup I have and I can't create a new one...
hence the no safety net!
Today I noticed a load of security updates on the windows update site and
installed them... but when it came to installing the Microsoft malicious
software removal tool that was a part of the update my pc froze in exactly
the same way and this is what reminded me of my earlier problem with the
version I downloaded from majorgeeks.com.
Also, I've started to notice that weird directories (e.g. named _175984_ or
_176015_ possibly other names ) have started to appear on the drive where I
normally keep my backups, they are empty and can be deleted.
Any help would be very gratefully received as I'm worried that if I lose my
C: drive I will be in a whole World of pain
PS: I've just tried to run scandisk on the drive and my pc locked up again..
normally I would think dodgy drive, but how would this prevent me from
backing up to a different drive and why does update fail to install the
malicious software removal tool?
system specs:
Operating system: Windows XP Pro SP2
Chipset: Gigabyte K8N Pro
CPU: Athlon64 XP3200 @2.20GHz
GFX: Gigabyte GeForce FX5950 Ultra 495 MHz / 972 MHz
RAM: Kingston 1.5 GB PC3200 DDR (3x512MB)
SFX: Creative Audigy2 Value
HD1: Maxtor 6Y080L0 80GB (C: E
HD2: WDC WD800BB-00DAA3 80GB (D: F
HD3: Maxtor 6Y080L0 80GB (G: H (H: Is where I stored my ASR backups)
DVD: Sony RW (I
FFD: Sony (A
PSU: 500 Watts
My problem started about 10 days ago when I downloaded the latest version of
Microsoft Malicious Software Removal tool from Majorgeeks.com (using the
author (Microsoft) download link). The file downloaded ok but hung about 30%
into installation which froze my pointer and kept the hard drive light on.
I tried again and the same thing happened, so I put it down to a corrupt
file and would wait until another version appeared or it showed up on
windows update.
Then I discovered that when I came to do my weekly backup I could not delete
the oldest ASR backup (windows Backup utility) and just selecting the file
would cause the same lockup and hard drive light on as above. I tried to
delete the folder but that didn't work, I tried to reformat the partition
and that failed so in the end I used my windows cd to repartition and
reformat the drive and all seemed well and good, I was able to do a backup
and the drive seemed to be working just fine.
One week later and I need to perform another backup but I'm having the same
problem. Thinking it might be the drive I tried to backup to a different
hard drive but now the windows backup utility is locking up in the same
manner.
So I can't access the one backup I have and I can't create a new one...
hence the no safety net!
Today I noticed a load of security updates on the windows update site and
installed them... but when it came to installing the Microsoft malicious
software removal tool that was a part of the update my pc froze in exactly
the same way and this is what reminded me of my earlier problem with the
version I downloaded from majorgeeks.com.
Also, I've started to notice that weird directories (e.g. named _175984_ or
_176015_ possibly other names ) have started to appear on the drive where I
normally keep my backups, they are empty and can be deleted.
Any help would be very gratefully received as I'm worried that if I lose my
C: drive I will be in a whole World of pain
PS: I've just tried to run scandisk on the drive and my pc locked up again..
normally I would think dodgy drive, but how would this prevent me from
backing up to a different drive and why does update fail to install the
malicious software removal tool?
system specs:
Operating system: Windows XP Pro SP2
Chipset: Gigabyte K8N Pro
CPU: Athlon64 XP3200 @2.20GHz
GFX: Gigabyte GeForce FX5950 Ultra 495 MHz / 972 MHz
RAM: Kingston 1.5 GB PC3200 DDR (3x512MB)
SFX: Creative Audigy2 Value
HD1: Maxtor 6Y080L0 80GB (C: E
HD2: WDC WD800BB-00DAA3 80GB (D: F
HD3: Maxtor 6Y080L0 80GB (G: H
(H: Is where I stored my ASR backups)DVD: Sony RW (I
FFD: Sony (A
PSU: 500 Watts