Friends Computer, Wont Boot

[orcutt989]

When my friend boots up his computer, it goes to the Windows XP logo screen, with the bars underneath, moving as if it is loading the operating system, but it just goes on forever, forcing him to boot into safe mode. I am telling him to run a virus scan, and maybe even a spyware scan, but I really dont know what to do. Can you guys help out?


EDIT: He might not even have an Anti Virus software installed on his computer.

[orcutt989]

*Bump

He scanned with his SBC internet safety whatever virus program, and it found a few viruses but doesnt get rid of them. I dont now how he is going to get rid of them as he is not computer literate.

[peat moss]

Sounds like SBC internet safety is provided by his ISP , probably powered by Norton or Mcafee . What virus is it ? Find that out and your half way to fixing it ,mabye its in quarantine .

[orcutt989]

Sounds like SBC internet safety is provided by his ISP , probably powered by Norton or Mcafee . What virus is it ? Find that out and your half way to fixing it ,mabye its in quarantine .

I dont know, he dissappeared today. He said quote "It only deleted one thing, and the rest it sent me to some site telling me about the virus which made me angry".

[malyo]

A:>format c:
this one is always a clean, easy and sometimes fast solution

[peat moss]

A:>format c:
this one is always a clean, easy and sometimes fast solution

My friends bring me virus riddled computers about once a month ,I try to fix them but useually a:/ format c too .

But mabye orcutt989's friend has an easy one to repair.

[Smith]

A:>format c:
this one is always a clean, easy and sometimes fast solution

My friends bring me virus riddled computers about once a month ,I try to fix them but useually a:/ format c too .

But mabye orcutt989's friend has an easy one to repair.

Bah, a computer thats easy to fix? Never heard of such a thing

[tesco]

Ask him what the virus was called, and then search google to find removal instructions.

After that if it still doens't boot he can doa repair isntall.

[Master$hake]

I use winternals at work for this sort of thing but for your friends case installing a recovery console should be sufficient.

Recovery Console

Follow the troubleshooting directions on that page.

You can format if you want to but don't do it via 98 or me floppy disk. Start up from xp cd, delete the partition and then do a low level format. You will lose all data on partition.

Even if he does get the virus out it seems like the damage is done and it would be a big task to repair any damage done to the filesystem, registry, and system files.

Good luck

[orcutt989]

I use winternals at work for this sort of thing but for your friends case installing a recovery console should be sufficient.

Recovery Console

Follow the troubleshooting directions on that page.

You can format if you want to but don't do it via 98 or me floppy disk. Start up from xp cd, delete the partition and then do a low level format. You will lose all data on partition.

Even if he does get the virus out it seems like the damage is done and it would be a big task to repair any damage done to the filesystem, registry, and system files.

Good luck

Oh great. So you guys think there is actual damage to the file system itself?