Reinstalling Windows

[Terry]

I have been getting an error that FireDaemon is causing an error and
needs to close. I suspect this is the reason I can no longer access
my network drives.

I used AVG and got no virus reports. This really does not surprise me
as I don't use the computer for anything except for downloading movies
and mp3s. I don't even use the computer to play them.


Anyway. I plan to just install Windows Pro on the hard drive again
using the setting that the new version replace the old version.

Can damage from settings carry over to this install?

I would like to be able to do this without formatting the drive as I
would have to take the drive out and copy the files I want to keep as
my network connection is broke. If it were not for that I would just
reformat and start over.

I can VNC into the machine so I am pretty sure that it is not my
network connection.

 

[Dave Patrick]

You can perform a parallel install (new install to \windows2 directory) to
do the data recovery just prior to the clean install.



--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

 

[Rock]

I have been getting an error that FireDaemon is causing an error and
needs to close. I suspect this is the reason I can no longer access
my network drives.

I used AVG and got no virus reports. This really does not surprise me
as I don't use the computer for anything except for downloading movies
and mp3s. I don't even use the computer to play them.


Anyway. I plan to just install Windows Pro on the hard drive again
using the setting that the new version replace the old version.

Can damage from settings carry over to this install?

I would like to be able to do this without formatting the drive as I
would have to take the drive out and copy the files I want to keep as
my network connection is broke. If it were not for that I would just
reformat and start over.

I can VNC into the machine so I am pretty sure that it is not my
network connection.

Just because AVG says the system is clean does not mean it's not infected.
For one, AVG is only an anti-virus program. It does not check for non viral
malware. Second, no one AV or non viral malware program catches everything.
I gave you links in a previous message for how to check for malware. Did
you do a thorough scan? Just scanning with AVG is not sufficient. Besides
downloading music and movies through P2P is a prime vector for infection.

You should always have a full and complete backup of data. Things can go
wrong even with a repair install which should retain programs and data. I
would never do repairs on a system as you would like without having a
backup.

There are three types of installation. A parallel install in which you
install XP to another drive or partition as indicated by Dave Patrick. From
there you could copy the data you need, then remove the defective
installation. Programs will need to be reinstalled from their original
media in this new installation.

A second one is to do a repair install. This normally retains programs and
data. If the system is compromised or infected, then a repair install won't
remove the infection. After doing the repair install you'll need to visit
the windows update site and reinstall all the updates.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

The last type of install is a clean install. This will remove any
applications and data.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[Terry]

Just because AVG says the system is clean does not mean it's not infected.
For one, AVG is only an anti-virus program. It does not check for non viral
malware. Second, no one AV or non viral malware program catches everything.
I gave you links in a previous message for how to check for malware. Did
you do a thorough scan? Just scanning with AVG is not sufficient. Besides
downloading music and movies through P2P is a prime vector for infection.

I did check the system with several programs. One of the ones you had
the link to was limited to 15 fixes. It reported 60

Please explain how running mp3 or mpg files are a prime vector for
infection. I was under the impression that neither of these two files
could cause a virus.

I though it would be easier to just do a reinstall than to try to fix
the problem. If it were on my machine that I use for everything I
would not be so quick to do so.

As I had mentioned, I had no programs on the suspect computer. It was
way easier to just start over.

There was no reason to spend time backing up stuff that is worthless
anyway. I admit that I have some pretty interesting stuff, but I have
lost nothing I could not get again if I wanted to.

You should always have a full and complete backup of data. Things can go
wrong even with a repair install which should retain programs and data. I
would never do repairs on a system as you would like without having a
backup.

There are three types of installation. A parallel install in which you
install XP to another drive or partition as indicated by Dave Patrick. From
there you could copy the data you need, then remove the defective
installation. Programs will need to be reinstalled from their original
media in this new installation.

A second one is to do a repair install. This normally retains programs and
data. If the system is compromised or infected, then a repair install won't
remove the infection. After doing the repair install you'll need to visit
the windows update site and reinstall all the updates.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

The last type of install is a clean install. This will remove any
applications and data.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Then there are 4 types. I was allowed to install XP over my old
folder replacing the existing files. I still have all my mpg goodies
as well.

It does seem to run a tad slower now. I could just be imagining that
though. It never seems to be fast enough.


Thanks for your suggestions