Friend is bringing over a PC tomorrow to connect HD alone to rescue data, test for infection, run Hitachi Drive Fitness Test and whatever else will confirm its status.
You think bootable Windows Defender is good enough or should I use another?
Not sure. Best to ask Jacee or A Guy or one of the other security peeps.
Last edited by TVeblen; 20 Jan 2014 at 10:45. Reason: Spelling
I remember reading some threads here where running Windows Defender offline caused problems.
I agree with TVeblen to check with Security experts as to what might be the best/safest bootable security cleanup tools.
Here's a list too Greg. Best Boot CD Antivirus?
Defender uses the same definitions, and engine, I think, as MSE, so I'd try something more robust.
PSU found by PO at 8 am this morning. Installed, same BIOS post then nothing. Ran Win7 Repair disk to get data and it repaired Windows in one go. Started to decent performance but obviously heavily infected with Trojan, spyware including Condit and other browser hijackers. Cleaned up now with fast performance.
Crystal Disk Info says the SMART status is Caution, but it's only the frequently-seen Pending Sector Errors count of 100 each. I see this a lot and it never seems to get worse. Will run Hitachi DFT to be sure though before sending back the reserve HD.
Thanks for your support on this!
Last edited by gregrocker; 21 Jan 2014 at 12:49.
Good to know Greg. I did not think this was an infection case, but you suspected that right from the start. Nice work!
HDFT CD will not detect drive even if I change SATA controller to IDE as suggested online. Running WD Data Lifeguard from Hiren's Boot CD now. Will run Seatools bootable off Yumi after that.
Question is: I dont' really need repair since I would just replace drive if it finds problems. But will I get just as accurate diagnostics for a Hitachi HD from bootable WD and Seatools? That's all I care about now.
The hairy part on this one was the PSU going out just as I got it home and plugged it in. That is way above my installation/OS repair pay grade so am really thankful I had you guys to steer me.
Today I was so nervous plugging in the new PSU in the cramped Slimline case I had Gary on the phone with me for support after I reached around to power it up with no response. We traced the wire from that switch to the DVD drive so I thought I had it plugged in the wrong place. Then I realized I was reaching for the DVD drive button.What an amateur!
That's great to know Greg! Nice intuition on the infection too, Conduit has caused a lot of grief.
Try this too, download this: CrystalDiskInfo - Software - Crystal Dew World and open the program and follow the steps in this snip.
If you can get the button to change to "Good", this may give you a little bit of time, but the drive should be replaced soon.
Way back when, replacing a PSU was my first experience with any PC hardware work, a few months after that I put all the hardware from that PC into a new case, basically my first build. You are on your way to tinkerer-dom now.
Will do, thanks Gary.
WD Data Lifeguard just finished, found reparable sectors, wants me to back up disk first.
I'll use Macrium from this same PE disk to back up another image since I wouldn't trust just the Windows one copied out of its partition.
I wonder if WD can truly repair a Hitachi HD. We shall see.
Looking more like I'll use the replacement HD after all. Maybe I'll just apply the image and be done with it?
Isn't it a rule of thumb that even if drive diagnostics claims it repairs sectors that the drive is not to be trusted again?
Quote