Windows Won't Start

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G

Guest

Hi,

This started three weeks ago. I have two computers, both running Windows XP
Service Pack 2. One morning, Windows refused to start on the first machine
(a Dell 8250). The Windows logo screen would display, then nothing. If I
requested that it start in Safe mode, it would quickly list a whole bunch of
file names, then nothing. I attempted to run a Windows repair which appeared
to run okay, however when I tried to start the machine, I got a blue screen
(sorry, but I don't have the details on it anymore). I restored this machine
to its most recent backup using the Norton Recovery CD and Ghost.

Two days later, the second machine (a Dell XPS 600) refused to boot as well.
I restored it to its most recent backup.

Eight days later, the first machine again refused to boot. I restored it
back a month. I contacted Symantec and had them analyze the second machine,
to see if they could determine if it contained a hidden virus. After a very
frustrating 8 hours, they claimed that the machine was free of viruses. They
didn't seem to know if it had had any viruses to start with and they wouldn't
tell me what they had done. Some existing programs now refused to run and
the machine crashed when I attempted to uninstall the problem programs. I
restored the machine back a month.

Four days later, the second machine again refused to boot. I restored it
back a month.

Today (10 days after its last restore), the first machine refused to boot.
I have again restored it from backup.

I have the latest signature files for Norton Anti-Virus and am currently
running a full scan daily on both machines. I have run full scans, using the
latest signature files, from the Symantec Recovery Disk against each machine.
I have Norton Firewall up-to-date on both machines. I have Webroot
Spysweeper on both machines. Its definitions are up-to-date and I am doing
full scans almost daily. All three of these utilities are started
automatically at signon. Tonight, I ran a web-based scan using Panda
software against both machines. I cannot locate any viruses or spyware
(other than the usual cookies).

Has anyone encountered a similar problem to this or know of any virus that
affects the computer in this manner. I have a third machine that runs
Windows 98SE and it has not been affected. It also runs the above protection
applications.
 
Mark said:
Hi,

This started three weeks ago. I have two computers, both running
Windows XP Service Pack 2. One morning, Windows refused to start on
the first machine (a Dell 8250). The Windows logo screen would
display, then nothing. If I requested that it start in Safe mode, it
would quickly list a whole bunch of file names, then nothing. I
attempted to run a Windows repair which appeared to run okay, however
when I tried to start the machine, I got a blue screen (sorry, but I
don't have the details on it anymore). I restored this machine to
its most recent backup using the Norton Recovery CD and Ghost.

Two days later, the second machine (a Dell XPS 600) refused to boot
as well. I restored it to its most recent backup.

Eight days later, the first machine again refused to boot. I
restored it back a month. I contacted Symantec and had them analyze
the second machine, to see if they could determine if it contained a
hidden virus. After a very frustrating 8 hours, they claimed that
the machine was free of viruses. They didn't seem to know if it had
had any viruses to start with and they wouldn't tell me what they had
done. Some existing programs now refused to run and the machine
crashed when I attempted to uninstall the problem programs. I
restored the machine back a month.

Four days later, the second machine again refused to boot. I
restored it back a month.

Today (10 days after its last restore), the first machine refused to
boot.
I have again restored it from backup.

I have the latest signature files for Norton Anti-Virus and am
currently running a full scan daily on both machines. I have run
full scans, using the latest signature files, from the Symantec
Recovery Disk against each machine. I have Norton Firewall up-to-date
on both machines. I have Webroot Spysweeper on both machines. Its
definitions are up-to-date and I am doing full scans almost daily.
All three of these utilities are started automatically at signon.
Tonight, I ran a web-based scan using Panda software against both
machines. I cannot locate any viruses or spyware (other than the
usual cookies).

Has anyone encountered a similar problem to this or know of any virus
that affects the computer in this manner. I have a third machine
that runs Windows 98SE and it has not been affected. It also runs
the above protection applications.
Click to expand...

A couple things you didn't mention:

-- ARe you using UPDATED AV files?

-- Running any type of malware detector such as adaware, spybot, etc..
Norton won't catch malware, only a virus.

-- Whether or not your are firewalled. If not, you need to be.

UPDATE ALL, even if you just downloaded them.
 
Thanks for your reply, Poprivet. I thought that I did answer your questions
in my original message, but I shall do so again:

-- Are you using UPDATED AV files? Yes, they are automatically updated. I
also do a manual LiveUpdate for all of my Symantec protection daily.

-- Running any type of malware detector such as adaware, spybot, etc..
Norton won't catch malware, only a virus. I run Spysweeper and keep its
definitions up-to-date.

-- Whether or not your are firewalled. If not, you need to be. I have
Norton Personal Firewall installed on each machine, and also have hardware
firewall protection in my router.

As for the Spysweeper -- do you know whether Adaware or Spybot checks for
different types of malware?

Is there a malware software that can be run from outside of Windows (ie.
under DOS possibly), that would catch malware that is hidden below XP?

Thanks,
 
Mark W said:
Thanks for your reply, Poprivet. I thought that I did answer your
questions
in my original message, but I shall do so again:

-- Are you using UPDATED AV files? Yes, they are automatically updated.
I
also do a manual LiveUpdate for all of my Symantec protection daily.

-- Running any type of malware detector such as adaware, spybot, etc..
Norton won't catch malware, only a virus. I run Spysweeper and keep
its
definitions up-to-date.

-- Whether or not your are firewalled. If not, you need to be. I have
Norton Personal Firewall installed on each machine, and also have hardware
firewall protection in my router.

As for the Spysweeper -- do you know whether Adaware or Spybot checks for
different types of malware?

[Snip]
Click to expand...

Hi Mark
This is one of many for blue screen problems start-up. If you Goggle 'Blue
screen start up' it will show

http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/windowsxp/articles/548/1/Stop-Errors-and-Blue-Screen

Also you could do better if you completely remove Norton, and go for
freeware AVG anti virus I did it two years back and have been conflict free
since.
"Roger"
============================ =========================
 
Thanks for your message Roger.

I will check out the link that you gave me. However, the only time I got a
blue screen was after I attempted to run repair from the install CD for XP.
My problem is that the computer dies after the Windows logo displays and
before the sign-on menu appears. It stops dead in its tracks and simply
displays a black screen. No messages, nothing.
--
Mark


Roger said:
Mark W said:
Thanks for your reply, Poprivet. I thought that I did answer your
questions
in my original message, but I shall do so again:

-- Are you using UPDATED AV files? Yes, they are automatically updated.
I
also do a manual LiveUpdate for all of my Symantec protection daily.

-- Running any type of malware detector such as adaware, spybot, etc..
Norton won't catch malware, only a virus. I run Spysweeper and keep
its
definitions up-to-date.

-- Whether or not your are firewalled. If not, you need to be. I have
Norton Personal Firewall installed on each machine, and also have hardware
firewall protection in my router.

As for the Spysweeper -- do you know whether Adaware or Spybot checks for
different types of malware?

[Snip]
Click to expand...

Hi Mark
This is one of many for blue screen problems start-up. If you Goggle 'Blue
screen start up' it will show

http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/windowsxp/articles/548/1/Stop-Errors-and-Blue-Screen

Also you could do better if you completely remove Norton, and go for
freeware AVG anti virus I did it two years back and have been conflict free
since.
"Roger"
============================ =========================
Click to expand...
 
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