xp disaster...

[mdooly]

Hello and HELP Please...
I have a disaster I think. I attempted to install a virus
protection product. There was virus and wham, the computer
went down. I can boot up in safe mode which tends to make
me think that the problem may be fixable.

I cannot log on in regular mode, I get a couple of
different things occur. The computer either, allows for
the login, then is says loading your personal settings,
that dialog box stays on the screen and my desktop wall
paper displays but I never get past the dialog that tells
me the system is loading my personal settings.

Other times all I get is the light blue screen that
usually shows up prior to the system loading.

So I tried to repair the computer by using the install
disketts, which brings me to the recovery console.

I am not sure what I can do with that, however I did find
a tool called FIXMBR, ran that and it reports that I have
a non standard MBR or I could have a corrupt MBR, and if I
choose to run FIXMBR I will lose my partition records...
NOT GOOD! What good is that tool?

I have to chuckle at this because if I dont I will most
likely break the computer.

I dont want to have to reinstall XP PRO from scratch, but
I cannot seem to get this to work out.

Can someone that knows what is happening help?

I am at a loss and after two days of messing with this I
am at my wits end.

Thank you so much in advance.

mdooly

 

[me]

Uninstall the new program in safe mode

 

[John]

Can you install the antivirus program and run it while in
safe mode and clean the virus out that way?

Before you do anything, make sure you back up your
personal files and data, so if things go pear shaped, you
can still have your data. Before you restore any files
from your back-up, you would scan those for viruses, too.

 

[Malke]

Hello and HELP Please...
I have a disaster I think. I attempted to install a virus
protection product. There was virus and wham, the computer
went down. I can boot up in safe mode which tends to make
me think that the problem may be fixable.

I cannot log on in regular mode, I get a couple of
different things occur. The computer either, allows for
the login, then is says loading your personal settings,
that dialog box stays on the screen and my desktop wall
paper displays but I never get past the dialog that tells
me the system is loading my personal settings.

Other times all I get is the light blue screen that
usually shows up prior to the system loading.

So I tried to repair the computer by using the install
disketts, which brings me to the recovery console.

I am not sure what I can do with that, however I did find
a tool called FIXMBR, ran that and it reports that I have
a non standard MBR or I could have a corrupt MBR, and if I
choose to run FIXMBR I will lose my partition records...
NOT GOOD! What good is that tool?

I have to chuckle at this because if I dont I will most
likely break the computer.

I dont want to have to reinstall XP PRO from scratch, but
I cannot seem to get this to work out.

OK, first take a Cleansing Breath. Now, probably what happened is that
the virus either broke the antivirus program (there are quite a few
viruses that do this) or the virus was one of the unpleasant ones that
mess up the entire Windows installation when you try to remove it.
Since you didn't give the virus's name, I can't guess. This has nothing
to do with your Master Boot Record, so running fixmbr isn't going to be
useful at all. What you need to do is get that computer cleaned up. You
might want to scan with a different antivirus program in Safe Mode.
Start with something standalone, like Stinger from McAfee. Get it here:

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

Stinger scans for about 30 of the most common viruses. Of course, if you
have a different one, it won't do you any good. Since you can get in
Safe Mode, you can also look around in there for the virus.exe, which
will tell you which one it is. There might be a standalone specific
tool for it. This obviously takes some knowledge and skill. There is no
need to panic - if you have data on the drive you neglected to backup
(insert lecture here), it can be rescued. Frankly, I think your best
bet is to take the machine to a good local computer repair shop (not a
Best Buy or CompUSA type of store) and have them sort it out for you.
Post back if you need more help, and please include the name of the
virus if you can and what av program you were installing.

Malke

 

[Jim Macklin]

It is OK to say the name of a product, often there are known
issues and the name of the application would be very useful.
Log on in safe mode, run "sfc /scannow" to check system
files. You will need the XP CD in the drive when you do
this.

If that doesn't fix the problem, try booting to safe mode
and use system restore back to a point before the problem or
boot to last known good condition.

You can also do a repair install
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q315341&ID=KB;EN-US;Q315341


message | Hello and HELP Please...
| I have a disaster I think. I attempted to install a virus
| protection product. There was virus and wham, the computer
| went down. I can boot up in safe mode which tends to make
| me think that the problem may be fixable.
|
| I cannot log on in regular mode, I get a couple of
| different things occur. The computer either, allows for
| the login, then is says loading your personal settings,
| that dialog box stays on the screen and my desktop wall
| paper displays but I never get past the dialog that tells
| me the system is loading my personal settings.
|
| Other times all I get is the light blue screen that
| usually shows up prior to the system loading.
|
| So I tried to repair the computer by using the install
| disketts, which brings me to the recovery console.
|
| I am not sure what I can do with that, however I did find
| a tool called FIXMBR, ran that and it reports that I have
| a non standard MBR or I could have a corrupt MBR, and if I
| choose to run FIXMBR I will lose my partition records...
| NOT GOOD! What good is that tool?
|
| I have to chuckle at this because if I dont I will most
| likely break the computer.
|
| I dont want to have to reinstall XP PRO from scratch, but
| I cannot seem to get this to work out.
|
| Can someone that knows what is happening help?
|
| I am at a loss and after two days of messing with this I
| am at my wits end.
|
| Thank you so much in advance.
|
| mdooly