NTLDR - could a Virus cause error?

[Guest]

My brother's PC recently gave the NTLDR is missing error so he brought it to
a computer shop to get it sorted. They told him that a virus called
Worm_mytob.j was on his PC and had caused it, and that they had to replace
the Hard Drive and reinstall Windows to fix it.

I know the Hard Drive part was totally overkill, but I have also looked a
lot around the net and I don't think that that particular virus would cause
that? I have repaired several machines with the NTLDR missing, usually in
less than an hour but they said it took a day and a half.

Just really want a second opinion on this - does anyone know if the virus
they mentioned could have caused this?

Any help appreciated,
Thanks,
Ger

 

[John Wunderlich]

My brother's PC recently gave the NTLDR is missing error so he
brought it to a computer shop to get it sorted. They told him that
a virus called Worm_mytob.j was on his PC and had caused it, and
that they had to replace the Hard Drive and reinstall Windows to
fix it.

I know the Hard Drive part was totally overkill, but I have also
looked a lot around the net and I don't think that that particular
virus would cause that? I have repaired several machines with the
NTLDR missing, usually in less than an hour but they said it took
a day and a half.

Just really want a second opinion on this - does anyone know if
the virus they mentioned could have caused this?

According to Symantec's description of this problem:

<http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/[email protected]>

this worm does not modify or delete files.

Most "NTLDR missing" errors are due to leaving a non-boot disk in
the floppy drive when you last powered down.

HTH,
John

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Who knows what files a virus might corrupt.

NTLDR is missing, why does it happen?

[[This problem may occur if the basic input/output system (BIOS) on your
computer is outdated, or if one or more of the following Windows boot files
are missing or damaged:
* Ntldr
* Ntdetect.com
* Boot.ini ]]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318728

[[Cause:
* Computer is booting from a non-bootable source. I.e. a disk left in the
the floppy or CD drive.
* Computer hard disk drive is not properly setup in BIOS.
* Corrupt NTLDR and/or NTDETECT.COM file.
* Misconfiguration with the boot.ini file.
* Attempting to upgrade from a Windows 95, 98, or ME computer that is using
FAT32.
* New hard disk drive being added.
* Corrupt boot sector / master boot record.
* Seriously corrupted version of Windows 2000 or Windows XP.
* Loose or Faulty IDE/EIDE hard disk drive cable. ]]
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000465.htm

[[For this problem to occur, all the following conditions must be true:
* The system/startup partition is formatted with the FAT32 file system.
* The computer starts by using INT-13 extensions. (This is a partition
larger than 7.8 GB with a System-ID type of 0C in the partition table).
* Because of the cloning procedure, the Heads (sides) value in the FAT32
BIOS Parameter Block (BPB) does not match the geometry of the physical
drive. ]]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314057


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Gank]

My brother's PC recently gave the NTLDR is missing error so he brought it
to
a computer shop to get it sorted. They told him that a virus called
Worm_mytob.j was on his PC and had caused it, and that they had to replace
the Hard Drive and reinstall Windows to fix it.

I know the Hard Drive part was totally overkill, but I have also looked a
lot around the net and I don't think that that particular virus would
cause
that? I have repaired several machines with the NTLDR missing, usually in
less than an hour but they said it took a day and a half.

Just really want a second opinion on this - does anyone know if the virus
they mentioned could have caused this?

Any help appreciated,
Thanks,
Ger

I think they are scamming. Just the fact they said they had to replace the
hdd is proof enough to me that they are scamming. Even if it was a virus it
doesn't take a day and half to do a quick secure wipe and install XP.