Major problem - virus got me!

[davegb]

I've been running Win2000 for some time, using Avast Anti-virus and a
firewall. Got a nasty virus that, after I noticed some problems, I
scanned for and thought I removed. But it got worse.

Now I can't boot from a CD. The only thing I can boot from is a WinME
boot disk I had laying around. When I try to boot from the Win2000 CD
or a WinXP CD I have, I get an error message saying it can't run from
the CD! Also, when I boot from a Win2000 boot disk(s) that I made from
the CD (accessed by booting up with the WinME disk), I get the
following:

"Couldn't open the bootpartition to check for a signature" then
"INF file txtsetup.sif is corrupt or missing"

And it stops there. It won't boot into save mode, only to a DOS prompt
with CD support. Any ideas on how to get around this? Ideally, I'd
like to get back my files on the C drive (NTFS), but there isn't
anything on there I couldn't live without. If I'm going to have to
reinstall everything, I'll move to XP. But if I can get back all my
data, I'd use whatever system worked best to do that.

The machine is an old HP Pavillion Pentium 3. Don't remember the exact
specs, but I can get them if they'd make a difference. I hope the
virus hasn't killed the machine, I can't afford a new one right now. I
did go into the BIOS setup, everything looked normal there.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "davegb" <[email protected]>

| I've been running Win2000 for some time, using Avast Anti-virus and a
| firewall. Got a nasty virus that, after I noticed some problems, I
| scanned for and thought I removed. But it got worse.
|
| Now I can't boot from a CD. The only thing I can boot from is a WinME
| boot disk I had laying around. When I try to boot from the Win2000 CD
| or a WinXP CD I have, I get an error message saying it can't run from
| the CD! Also, when I boot from a Win2000 boot disk(s) that I made from
| the CD (accessed by booting up with the WinME disk), I get the
| following:
|
| "Couldn't open the bootpartition to check for a signature" then
| "INF file txtsetup.sif is corrupt or missing"
|
| And it stops there. It won't boot into save mode, only to a DOS prompt
| with CD support. Any ideas on how to get around this? Ideally, I'd
| like to get back my files on the C drive (NTFS), but there isn't
| anything on there I couldn't live without. If I'm going to have to
| reinstall everything, I'll move to XP. But if I can get back all my
| data, I'd use whatever system worked best to do that.
|
| The machine is an old HP Pavillion Pentium 3. Don't remember the exact
| specs, but I can get them if they'd make a difference. I hope the
| virus hasn't killed the machine, I can't afford a new one right now. I
| did go into the BIOS setup, everything looked normal there.
|
| Any suggestions?
|
| Thanks in advance!

What virus ?

You said...
"I hope the virus hasn't killed the machine"

After reading you entire post I have to ask, do you know what you are talking about ?

 

[Vic]

It does sound like your PC has a problem. While I cannot help you with
specific advise (sounds like the OS has really been comprimized) I can
point out that there is a DOS NTFS file reader program you can use to
view your W2K partition (C.

Go to http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm and look to the right, down a
little. There is a link for a program to create a bootable floppy which
can read NTFS, *IF* your C: drive is readable! From the sound of your
post something serious may have happened to C: drive (specifically
"Couldn't open the bootpartition to check for a signature" then "INF
file txtsetup.sif is corrupt or missing). If I recall, txtsetup.sif is a
data file used for OS recovery/repair.

BTW, if you have a Norton System Tools CD you might try booting from it
and using the virus scan/repair options.

Let us know how you make out

Vic-

 

[davegb]

It does sound like your PC has a problem. While I cannot help you with
specific advise (sounds like the OS has really been comprimized) I can
point out that there is a DOS NTFS file reader program you can use to
view your W2K partition (C.

Go tohttp://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htmand look to the right, down a
little. There is a link for a program to create a bootable floppy which
can read NTFS, *IF* your C: drive is readable! From the sound of your
post something serious may have happened to C: drive (specifically
"Couldn't open the bootpartition to check for a signature" then "INF
file txtsetup.sif is corrupt or missing). If I recall, txtsetup.sif is a
data file used for OS recovery/repair.

BTW, if you have a Norton System Tools CD you might try booting from it
and using the virus scan/repair options.

Let us know how you make out

Vic-

Thanks for the help. I'll give your suggestions a try.

 

[davegb]

From: "davegb" <[email protected]>

| I've been running Win2000 for some time, using Avast Anti-virus and a
| firewall. Got a nasty virus that, after I noticed some problems, I
| scanned for and thought I removed. But it got worse.
|
| Now I can't boot from a CD. The only thing I can boot from is a WinME
| boot disk I had laying around. When I try to boot from the Win2000 CD
| or a WinXP CD I have, I get an error message saying it can't run from
| the CD! Also, when I boot from a Win2000 boot disk(s) that I made from
| the CD (accessed by booting up with the WinME disk), I get the
| following:
|
| "Couldn't open the bootpartition to check for a signature" then
| "INF file txtsetup.sif is corrupt or missing"
|
| And it stops there. It won't boot into save mode, only to a DOS prompt
| with CD support. Any ideas on how to get around this? Ideally, I'd
| like to get back my files on the C drive (NTFS), but there isn't
| anything on there I couldn't live without. If I'm going to have to
| reinstall everything, I'll move to XP. But if I can get back all my
| data, I'd use whatever system worked best to do that.
|
| The machine is an old HP Pavillion Pentium 3. Don't remember the exact
| specs, but I can get them if they'd make a difference. I hope the
| virus hasn't killed the machine, I can't afford a new one right now. I
| did go into the BIOS setup, everything looked normal there.
|
| Any suggestions?
|
| Thanks in advance!

What virus ?

You said...
"I hope the virus hasn't killed the machine"

After reading you entire post I have to ask, do you know what you are talking about ?

Thanks for your perceptive response. Unlike others, you saw through my
request for help and realized that what I really am looking for is a
critique of my computer skills!

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "davegb" <[email protected]>

|
| Thanks for your perceptive response. Unlike others, you saw through my
| request for help and realized that what I really am looking for is a
| critique of my computer skills!

Definitely. There are virus news groups for discussions that are gaered for viruses.

What you posted doesm't initially sound like a virus.

You posted no facts. You stated "Got a nasty virus that, after I noticed some problems, I
scanned for and thought I removed" Without stating what was removed such as thye name of
the file(s) and the name of the infector.

You say you are using NTFS and you boot from a DOS disk. How did you expect to view or
manipulagte a NTFS partition from DOS v8.0 ?

Finally you state "I hope the virus hasn't killed the machine, I can't afford a new one
right now."

First we have NOT determined you had a virus. Second is viruses don't kill hardware. Your
OS can or may become corrupt but you can ALWAYS re-install an OS. [ I won't get into the
Chernobyl or Kriz in this dicussion ].

So I repeat...
"After reading your entire post I have to ask, do you know what you are talking about ?"

 

[davegb]

From: "davegb" <[email protected]>

|
| Thanks for your perceptive response. Unlike others, you saw through my
| request for help and realized that what I really am looking for is a
| critique of my computer skills!

Definitely. There are virus news groups for discussions that are gaered for viruses.

What you posted doesm't initially sound like a virus.

You posted no facts. You stated "Got a nasty virus that, after I noticed some problems, I
scanned for and thought I removed" Without stating what was removed such as thye name of
the file(s) and the name of the infector.

You say you are using NTFS and you boot from a DOS disk. How did you expect to view or
manipulagte a NTFS partition from DOS v8.0 ?

Finally you state "I hope the virus hasn't killed the machine, I can't afford a new one
right now."

First we have NOT determined you had a virus. Second is viruses don't kill hardware. Your
OS can or may become corrupt but you can ALWAYS re-install an OS. [ I won't get into the
Chernobyl or Kriz in this dicussion ].

So I repeat...
"After reading your entire post I have to ask, do you know what you are talking about ?"

Thanks so much for your thoughtless reply! I wish I had more time to
be insulted, but as you may have heard, I'm having problems with my
home computer and need to spend my time in more fruitful pursuits than
exchanging pleasantries with you. However, I shall keep your name so
that if I'm ever feeling masochistic and wish to be demeaned and
humiliated, I'll certainly contact you first!

Have a nice day!

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "davegb" <[email protected]>


|
| Thanks so much for your thoughtless reply! I wish I had more time to
| be insulted, but as you may have heard, I'm having problems with my
| home computer and need to spend my time in more fruitful pursuits than
| exchanging pleasantries with you. However, I shall keep your name so
| that if I'm ever feeling masochistic and wish to be demeaned and
| humiliated, I'll certainly contact you first!
|
| Have a nice day!

Right. In other words you are saying...

I'll make a post without facts and make unsubstantiatied claims and ask for help based upon
clueless suppositions.

In all the text you have subsequently posted, you still haven't substantiated claims nor
provided any facts.

Tell 'ya what. Just take your computer to the local reputable and certified service shop
and have someone with knowledge examine it. You obviously don't have what it takes to
diagnose nor fix your problem.

EoD

 

[dave xnet]

Thanks for the help. I'll give your suggestions a try.

Something else may come i Handy, the F-Prot DOS
virus scanner.
http://www.f-prot.com/products/home_use/dos/
Good luck,
Dave

 

[davegb]

Something else may come i Handy, the F-Prot DOS
virus scanner.http://www.f-prot.com/products/home_use/dos/
Good luck,
Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks! I'll check that out.

 

[Guest]

Right. In other words you are saying...

I'll make a post without facts and make unsubstantiatied claims and ask for help based upon
clueless suppositions.

In all the text you have subsequently posted, you still haven't substantiated claims nor
provided any facts.

Tell 'ya what. Just take your computer to the local reputable and certified service shop
and have someone with knowledge examine it. You obviously don't have what it takes to
diagnose nor fix your problem.

EoD

Dear Mr David H. Lipman,
Was it really necessary for you to respond to this guy in that manner? I
don't care how much or how little he knows. I don't care whether you want to
try to help him or not. But it is utterly rude of you to respond in this
manner.

You COULD have said something like, "It might not be a virus at all but we
need more information to help you. Is your system doing.................?"
whatever - and then demonstrate your superior skills by asking clever
forensic questions - NOT by posting abusive, sarcastic comments directed
towards someone who is clearly in a panic and doing the best he can...

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Mr FD" <[email protected]>

| Dear Mr David H. Lipman,
| Was it really necessary for you to respond to this guy in that manner? I
| don't care how much or how little he knows. I don't care whether you want to
| try to help him or not. But it is utterly rude of you to respond in this
| manner.
|
| You COULD have said something like, "It might not be a virus at all but we
| need more information to help you. Is your system doing.................?"
| whatever - and then demonstrate your superior skills by asking clever
| forensic questions - NOT by posting abusive, sarcastic comments directed
| towards someone who is clearly in a panic and doing the best he can...

It's called Tough Love and yes, it was needed. Sorry you didn't like it but, yhis is Usenet
and I hate pulling teeth from someone in need of help but is unwilling to truly help
themselves.

 

[davegb]

From: "Mr FD" <[email protected]>

| Dear Mr David H. Lipman,
| Was it really necessary for you to respond to this guy in that manner? I
| don't care how much or how little he knows. I don't care whether you want to
| try to help him or not. But it is utterly rude of you to respond in this
| manner.
|
| You COULD have said something like, "It might not be a virus at all but we
| need more information to help you. Is your system doing.................?"
| whatever - and then demonstrate your superior skills by asking clever
| forensic questions - NOT by posting abusive, sarcastic comments directed
| towards someone who is clearly in a panic and doing the best he can...

It's called Tough Love

I think you need to go online and do some research on "Tough Love".
Tough love means being honest, yes, but does not involve deriding or
putting down the object of this kind of love. Of course, in some
instances, like this, it's used as a cover-up for what is really just
plain old-fashioned abuse.

and yes, it was needed. Sorry you didn't like it but, yhis is Usenet
and I hate pulling teeth from someone in need of help but is unwilling to truly help
themselves.

I dont' sense that you hate it at all. It's quite obvious you like to
put-down those who know less that you do far more than you like to
help, as others have helped me here. If you like to go around
attempting to bully people, at least have the courage to acknowledge
it rather than pretend it's some kind of kindness you're doing. No one
here buys your "tough love" crap. You're only making a bigger fool of
yourself if you think you can sell that to me or anyone else reading
this thread.