Windows XP Freezes when going into Safe Mode

[Guest]

Hi
My friends computer has a nasty little virus (Download Trojan) which
requires running NIS 2006 in Safe Mode to clear out.
When starting with F8 and getting into Safe Mode I can select the
Administrator but at that point I get the header and footer telling me I am
in safe mode but no desktop and icons appear and the Start button does not
produce any response.
The HDD talks for a while with flashing lights but after 2 minutes that
stops and then waiting upwards of 10 minutes still does not produce.
There is a very quick (1 sec) message about being in Safe Mode with a Y/N
question but selecting either still produces no response.
Tried several times all with no result and the only way out is to use CAD
(which shows no applications running) and telling the PC to shut down.
Anybody got any ideas or should I run the install disc to repair XP. It
could have been quicker to re-install Windows and other programs to a
reformatted disc but that is a chore I am trying to avoid.
System is Win XP SP2 - 512mb RAM - 40Gb HDD (plenty of spare space).
Thanks in advance

 

[Malke]

Hi
My friends computer has a nasty little virus (Download Trojan) which
requires running NIS 2006 in Safe Mode to clear out.
When starting with F8 and getting into Safe Mode I can select the
Administrator but at that point I get the header and footer telling me I am
in safe mode but no desktop and icons appear and the Start button does not
produce any response.
The HDD talks for a while with flashing lights but after 2 minutes that
stops and then waiting upwards of 10 minutes still does not produce.
There is a very quick (1 sec) message about being in Safe Mode with a Y/N
question but selecting either still produces no response.
Tried several times all with no result and the only way out is to use CAD
(which shows no applications running) and telling the PC to shut down.
Anybody got any ideas or should I run the install disc to repair XP. It
could have been quicker to re-install Windows and other programs to a
reformatted disc but that is a chore I am trying to avoid.
System is Win XP SP2 - 512mb RAM - 40Gb HDD (plenty of spare space).
Thanks in advance

You could try slaving the hard drive in a working XP machine and
scanning from there. It would probably be a good idea to do this from
that installation's Safe Mode. Or if you don't have a second computer
available you could use a Bart's PE with an antivirus plugin.

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/ - Bart's PE Builder


Malke

 

[Guest]

Malke - thanks, great idea that will sort the virus and will try this
weekend. Still can not get into Safe Mode do you ahve any oother ideas ?

 

[Malke]

Malke - thanks, great idea that will sort the virus and will try this
weekend. Still can not get into Safe Mode do you ahve any oother ideas ?

Nope. I already gave them to you.


Malke