Adware removal --> Bootup failure

[lilo]

Hello, I am troubleshooting for a friend's computer. She accidentally downloaded the Liam.x virus/adware. I ran Malwarebytes to scrub the adware, but on restarting I'm now unable to get to the login page. The screen displays "Logonui.exe bad image", and when I press enter, it just goes to a black screen with the mouse pointer and basically stalls.

I'm unable to get to Safe Mode by pressing F8 on start up (tried holding it down, tried tapping successively). I can get into F12 Boot Options but am not sure what I can do with that. Any tips appreciated!!!

 

[GokAy]

Try F8 again but not just at startup, but right after BIOS POST and before loading Windows. Better to just keep tapping it until you see Advanced Boot Options.

 

[lilo]

Sorry for my ignorance...what is BIOS POST?

 

[GokAy]

first thing that comes to screen when you start the computer (perhaps your laptop's manufacturer logo for you).

POST is Power On Self Test, counts the RAMs, checks that CPU HDDs etc

 

[lilo]

Thanks GokAy. I just tried that again but still no response. Computer does the same thing of proceeding to the logon bad image screen and goes black when I dismiss the dialog box. Would you have suggestions for other fixes?

 

[GokAy]

Well, we have this tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

Since F8 is not working, you can make the bootable CD/DVD/USB "Repair Disk" for the same bit version of Windows. Should say how to in the linked tutorial.

 

[lilo]

Being an amateur I feel iffy attempting any elaborate fix, I'm mostly worried I might lose my friend's files (since I can't get to desktop to back them up), but I will give the post a read and see what I can figure out. But thanks again!

 

[GokAy]

If you don't wish to make any attempts then you can still backup the files first. You will need the Repair Disk and an external drive.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

or download and make a bootable DVD/USB for Linux Mint MATE (no installation needed, it will run from the RAM). Main Page - Linux Mint

 

[lilo]

Thank you thank you!!

 

[gregrocker]

Have you even attempted Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start?

If you have questions about to perform any step just ask back. But don't just reject it out of hand since it offers everything possible to start Win7. You'll also learn a lot so that next time you won't mess up your friends computer when trying to clean it up for them.

If you don't have access to another Win7 PC of the same 32- or 64-bit version to make the System Repair Disk then read about how to find the Win7 installation disk which has the repair console, in Step 1 of Clean Reinstall Windows 7