Computer won't start due to virus


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 64 - I believe it's an Ultimate, although it was originally purchased as a Home Premium
       #1

    Computer won't start due to virus


    So originally I had a trojan infection that Windows Security Essentials and other anti-virus programs identified after several blue screen crashes. For some reasons, these programs would not delete the virus, only quarantine it. I then had the issue where google redirects to a rando site when I would click a link, although copying and pasting a link worked fine. At times, igoogle wouldn't load. After watching many videos about how to remove a trojan and even attempting to manually remove it by using Autoruns in Safe Mode (I didn't end up deleting anything because I couldn't identify which was the corrupt file/application), I decided to use Windows Defender Offline, using the process you described to burn a cd of the program. WDO successfully removed the trojan after a quick scan. Alas, when I tried to turn on my computer a new problem arose: it wouldn't startup. I tried everything, but not even safe mode would startup and system repair alternated between not identifying a problem and not being able to fix it. I rebooted the WDO cd and ran a full scan, which found another trojan. I deleted it, too, but my computer still won't startup and system restore (which I tried twice, resetting to the earliest possible config- 2 weeks ago) continues to fail. What do I do now???

    *When the Startup repair comes up, it offers a restore (there are no restore points, odd that), and cancelling attempts repairs. Here are the results:
    (11/12)
    Problem Signature:
    Problem Event Name: StartupRepairOffline
    Proglem Signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385
    Proglem Signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385
    Proglem Signature 03: Unknown
    Proglem Signature 04: 0
    Proglem Signature 05: Autofailover
    Proglem Signature 06: 1
    Proglem Signature 07: No root cause

    OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
    Locale ID: 1033

    Also, I did not receive any reinstall cds with my computer... wierd, right? Bought it from CompUSA.

    Should I do this: System Repair Disc - Create ??

    Please help!!!! Thank you!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 338
    win7 home premium-64bit-SP1-IE10
       #2

    Welcome to the forum
    Maybe with another pass of WDO you can find another problem.
    You are right of making a system repair cause if WDO have removed an infected file the system repair will replace it
    with a new one.
    That's my opinion.
    Good luck
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 7,781
    Win 7 32 Home Premium, Win 7 64 Pro, Win 8.1, Win 10
       #3

    You can try to use a System Repair disk made from another matching OS. However if your system is compromised that badly, a clean install would be recommended. You may wish to contact CompUSA about obtaining a system disk. Also, see this post:

    Lost your Windows discs? How to get replacement media, legally

    Another option is to try to restore it to factory default. There should be a recovery partition, you'll have to look up the instructions to access it for your PC make/model. Provided the virus has not corrupted this, it my fix the problem. Note that this will return it to the state it was in when you bought the PC and you'll loose any personal programs/files on the PC.

    Also, you can try running a boot AV rescue disk. This will run at boot up and access the files before they have a chance to load. The following link has several listed.

    Free Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List

    Note: Kaspersky, in the past, has caused problems with Win 7, if they have remedied this, I do not know, but you may wish to try some of the other disks first.
    Last edited by Borg 386; 14 Apr 2012 at 14:17.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 64 - I believe it's an Ultimate, although it was originally purchased as a Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #4

    ......


    Luckily, I backed up all of my files on an external hard drive two days ago when I first realized that something was wrong with my computer, so I'm not worried about that. Also, WDO is not finding anything else wrong with the computer... luckily, I guess? Is it safe to assume that I'm at least virus-free? And as to restoring to factory settings, I thought about that, but I'm not sure how to do it, seeing as I can only access the Advanced Boot Menu right after I turn my computer on and my options are limited. I'll try looking it up online. And what's the difference between a clean install and repairing with a system install disk?

    Also, my computer has just been sitting turned off for now until I can decide what to do. I'm hoping that nothing worse can happen while it's turned off.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium
       #5

    I guess there is no time like the present to pop the proverbial cherry on this site 6 months ago(this is my 1st post) I would have laughed about bc i had no clue about computers. With that said Im like that Johnny#5 character(robot) in that 80's flick dubbed "short circuit". Need Input. Im a machine as Im obsessed over this new found interest in comps. Im come a long way and even bought 2 old Dells just to practice on. I have and lost a lot of sleep with this obsession

    With that said there is a ton of stuff I still haven't even heard of never mind explain it to you. With that said here is what I would do--->

    run ComboFix first and forth most(google it, DL the tiny app,+ run it). Read the manual prior to pressing start as there are things you may due that will make your task moot(i.e. move mouse or think its not working bc you don't see it). If you read the manual once done its gives a report. Save it and read/decipher the results. Make sure you run it through ALL files. The partition could still be infected so take extra care watching this because a recover to factory settings will reinfect your install causing remorse and regret due to tine lost. Do the same with the external because it could have moved into that as well.

    I speak from experience as I let AVG down for 10 mins to install something that interfered with it and Bam!!! I git a sweet trojan and nasty virus. I ran AVG, Avast, Avira, Makwarebytes, Defender, and Microsoft Internet Security and backed up to my 2TB external but didnt really look at ny D drive which held my factory settings. Long story short-->factory reinstalled, turned of net until it came time to install my Genuine AVG 2012 Internet Security and ut was the first thing I did. I did a through scan all the way and it found a little ******* in my D and a minor reg adware.

    Now I'm mad so repeat the above, and this time I did something against my religion which was activate the Norton trial(sorry Norton lovers but I hate everything about Norton and McAfee too). So I quarantine the infection in partition BUT it keeps coming back. Google was my best friend as I remembered so I googled info and name of kittle ******* and found a cool site with awesome help.

    This is how I learned about Combofix and Spybot search and destroy however these 2 are last resort types as they can ruin you if you misstep just once. I should also mention I ran in Safe Mode with internet before the Combofix and Spybot became a last resort. So they worked, I get little virus punk and factory reinstall. Life goes on.

    Hindsight is 20/20 but after burning some product keys, uninstalling all the crapware with Revo (twice) I would have just wiped clean and snagged a Windows 7 Home Premium OEM and used my key to activate. There is an awesome program called Hiren's boot disk that is a must have disk. It has more programs on just one disk then you ever imagine.

    Just google Hiren's boot and DL for free off the guys site. Its incredible!!! I haven't read site rules yet so don't want to link up here to find out its frowned upon but PM me and Ill give you what I have. Good Luck!!!!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7,781
    Win 7 32 Home Premium, Win 7 64 Pro, Win 8.1, Win 10
       #6

    Frustratedbycom said:
    And as to restoring to factory settings, I thought about that, but I'm not sure how to do it, seeing as I can only access the Advanced Boot Menu right after I turn my computer on and my options are limited. I'll try looking it up online. And what's the difference between a clean install and repairing with a system install disk?
    Generally you access the factory settings to reset the PC by either hitting F2 or F12 at boot up, sometimes there's a message at boot up telling you which key to hit. Like I mentioned, you'll have to Google your PC make/model to get instructions to access it since they do vary.

    A Repair using a sys disk will try to repair your existing system and replace any corrupted files with clean ones. With a Clean Install, you wipe the entire hard drive & start from scratch with a new installed Windows OS. More information is available here:

    Clean Install Windows 7

    Repair Install

    Given that you mentioned you backed up your files, and the amount of damage done by the virus, a clean install would be your best bet as it's unlikely you can trust your system again since it's been compromised that badly.

    Since you backed up these files when the trouble was just starting, it would be wise to scan each one carefully before putting it back on your system as some of them may be compromised and you may end up putting the infection back on your system through one of these files.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 16:08.
Find Us