mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Im having problems with a laptop, it's running windows, though can't remember off hand which version. I turn it on and it says something about the hdd, I'll find out for sure what it says, so I click the ok box (there's normally about 8 of these) then it shuts down and restarts, I've tried opening files during this time and it won't do anything, I can probably do a reboot from the rescue disc but could do with getting pics off it first, is there a way of doing it? Hopefully someone on here can help as I need to use this to do the megasquirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 The contents of the error message would be a help. I guess the fact that you're clicking on the OK box means that you do actually reach the Windows environment before this issue occurs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Mike, whereabouts are you based? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Based in Manchester. I'll go and try it again an get the exact message, and some screen shots if I can. Yep I get to the desktop part but there are no icons Cheers guys, back in a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Ok tried it again and these are the messages that are comin up First one is this Then shortly after this comes up Any ideas please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcc1979ian Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Could possibly have contracted a virus. Either that or your hard disks packed in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Looks like malware to me, not aware of any Windows error message like that. Does it force restart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Not sure if it's any use but just tried the ctrl/alt/delete thing to get the usage box up and it' says "task manager has been disabled by your administrator" there's only me used this and I've definitely not done anything about administrator functions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Looks like malware to me, not aware of any Windows error message like that. Does it force restart? I've left it on and 3 of those IDE/SATA boxes have come up, if I press ok on them all it restarts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Can you try booting into safe mode? As the computer is starting up, before you get the Windows loading screen press F8 and it should give you some startup options. Safe Mode should be one of them. You might need a few goes to work out when to hit F8, or just keep hitting it just before the Windows loading screen shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Can you try booting into safe mode?As the computer is starting up, before you get the Windows loading screen press F8 and it should give you some startup options. Safe Mode should be one of them. You might need a few goes to work out when to hit F8, or just keep hitting it just before the Windows loading screen shows. I think I got into safe mode last time I tried getting it going but wasn't sure what to do when I got there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Sounds pretty much like the malware that this guy had http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110620125239AA0fZ2C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I think I got into safe mode last time I tried getting it going but wasn't sure what to do when I got there! The idea is that in safe mode the malware won't start up, and so the problem won't present itself. These things can be a bugger to get off the system once they're on. If you can get into Safe Mode then we can try running Spybot S&D which might be able to clean it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 That is unless someone else knows a better program that Spybot S&D, it's been a while since I've fiddled with this sort of stuff and things do move on now and then! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I normally use malwarebytes and if that doesn't work I'll try a few others or remove it manually .... I don't recommend removing manually unless you are a total geek and interested in how the malware works .... ok I'm sad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Ok tried again and it won't let me open in safe mode, I press enter, and it just starts at the beginning again. I've got spybot, if I can ever get to it. According to that link if I can't sort it I have to remove the hdd and connect it to another computer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Yes, that would be the final option.Rig the HDD to another machine as a slave drive and copy your files across. Then format it and re-install Windows. When you say starts at the beginning again, do you mean the PC reboots when you choose "Start Windows in Safe Mode"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 You can also connect the HDD to another machine and scan it like that, don't always need to reinstall. Or you can boot from a live cd like the trinity rescue kit to try cleaning it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Rescue_Kit Most of the options are quite involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Yes, that would be the final option.Rig the HDD to another machine as a slave drive and copy your files across. Then format it and re-install Windows.When you say starts at the beginning again, do you mean the PC reboots when you choose "Start Windows in Safe Mode"? I wouldnt have a clue how to connect it to another pc! Yep the choices that come up are safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode command prompt and one that says something about the last know good setup. If I select the first two safe modes it just goes back to the start, loads up and then comes up with the screen with the safe mode options again, hopefully that makes sense. So if I use the recovery discs will that delete the info on the computer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Depends what they have provided as a 'recovery disk' but often the OEM disk is simply a Windows install disk that's hard-coded to wipe the drive and install the OS again. Found that out the hard way a few times! There are other boot disks you can use that will load a live (usually Unix-based) OS and enable you to run diagnostics on the drives. But really you're getting into needing to have the machine in front of you to advise further I'm afraid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
task Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Don't click "OK" on any of the boxes, ignore them. Create a new user account Start > Control Panel > Users > New User (you may have to set control panel to "classic" view) log in with the new user account and see if the messages still come up. Unfortunately the only sure-fire way to eradicate the malware/virus/infection is a rebuild. Pressing F1, ESC or some other key (possibly detailed in instructions or on-screen) may allow you to boot a recovery partition on the HDD. Shame you're not closer, I'd have fixed it for you. If you can get it into a stable environment then someone you trust can connect using "remote assistance" and poke around to see if they can fix the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 This is why I love my iPad no prattling about with stuff like this Ok cheers for the help guys I'll have to take it into my local shop, I can see it getting flung about anytime soon if I carry on with it tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Ask them beforehand how much it's going to cost, you may find it expensive going to a shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete3000 Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 classic virus, albeit a nasty one. You need to copy any work/pics off to another drive before messing with it too much. I use hirens boot cd ( about rev v15.4 by now. Need to download and burn the iso on another pc though? You can then boot from cd with this to a mini xp enviroment. and copy your files to another hdd using total commander or explorer. Then run the antimalware products one above is antimalwarebytes which is good and uvk which will sort out most infestations. If all else fails once you have your docs then try a reinstall after you have checked to make sure your recovery cd and licence key are to hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikec Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 classic virus, albeit a nasty one. You need to copy any work/pics off to another drive before messing with it too much.I use hirens boot cd ( about rev v15.4 by now. Need to download and burn the iso on another pc though? You can then boot from cd with this to a mini xp enviroment.and copy your files to another hdd using total commander or explorer.Then run the antimalware products one above is antimalwarebytes which is good and uvk which will sort out most infestations.If all else fails once you have your docs then try a reinstall after you have checked to make sure your recovery cd and licence key are to hand. I'll be honest mate I've no idea what you just said, I think I've got my pics sorted, somehow the virus keeps turning the folders into hidden files, so once I've clicked the view hidden files I can see them. When I go into program's, all it shows is open office, is there any way of getting my program's back in a similar way to run spybot? Or is that not going to work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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