XP - MS DOS After Sasser Virus

[Guest]

Can anyone advise me houw to get to MS DOS out side of windows XP, so you are
at the root of the directory.
I have reformatted the hard drive twice though MS XP but it is leaving the
viruse on the computer.
Can anyoen tell me how to get to MS DOS prompt outside windows XP.
I cannot think of any otrhre way to ensure that the hard drive is clean.

Thank you everyone for you help

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Cheryl;
Boot to a floppy with MS-DOS since there is no DOS in Windows XP.

If you reformatted the computer what makes you think Sasser is still
there?
If you connected the unprotected computer to the network without a
firewall even for a few seconds, Sasser and others can get in.
See this link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/sasser.htm

 

[GTS]

You can't be formatting the system drive through XP - it won't allow it.
Nor should it be necessary to reformat to remove Sasser. Note that Sasser
will often reinfect a newly installed XP machine within minutes if your go
online without a firewall. Also, if you're on a network where a machine has
it. The first step in a new XP installation is to enable the firewall going
online and then process your critical updates and antivirus software updates
before doing anything else.

Suggest you clarify your situation for better advice. Are you sure it's
sasser that you have? Did you run the removal tool and install critical
updates? Are you using a firewall and up to date anti virus software? Why
do you think you reformatted the system drive in XP. Are you actually
running repair reinstalls, etc.

 

[Kelly]

Hi Cheryl,

Which virus? In the meantime, it may still be stored in your system volume
information. To rid of it:

Create a restore point and then use the Disk Cleanup to delete all but the
last restore point. The virus will be gone, if your virus checker already
deleted it from your system.

Right click your Root drive/Properties/Disk Cleanup ... let it run. Then
click on More Options/System Restore/Clean up.

As for the root directory outside of Windows, boot into the Recovery
Console.

Good luck!

 

[Kelly]

My bad on which virus. (

 

[Guest]

I rebooted the hard drive though XP CD start up. It began to load and then
came to a window that asked if I wanted to reformat of repaire. I choose
reformatt. Once it had done that it continued to load XP. I thought that
seeing as it booted from the CD and then continued there must be an area on
the hard drive that could not have been formatted. I realise that I must
load any updates before I do anything else, but as soon as I go on lineI
start getting pop ups and messages saying that files are missing etc. Any
other suggestions.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Cheryl;
Physically leave the network cable disconnected until windows XP is
installed and firewall enabled:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=283673
AFTER the firewall is enabled, connect the network cable and get the
Critical Updates.
Sasser will not be able to get through the firewall.

However if windows is installed and you have Sasser, IMMEDIATELY
enable the firewall.
Follow this to get rid of Sasser:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/sasser.htm

Then get the Critical Updates.

 

[Anonymous]

Can anyone advise me houw to get to MS DOS out side of windows XP, so you are
at the root of the directory.
I have reformatted the hard drive twice though MS XP but it is leaving the
viruse on the computer.
Can anyoen tell me how to get to MS DOS prompt outside windows XP.
I cannot think of any otrhre way to ensure that the hard drive is clean.

Thank you everyone for you help

Because XP is not based on DOS, there is no MS-DOS prompt outside of XP.
You can start XP in command prompt mode, but how do you think you'd be
able to format the drive that XP is running on? Why don't you just get
the Sasser removal tool from Symantec?