Serious debilitating errors after virus

[tz742]

Unfortunately a virus got onto my computer and the AV didn't detect it (apparently it's a new virus and none do(did)).

I got rid of the virus but now my system has quite a few errors which are severly limiting what I can do.

- Unable to boot from DVD
- System restore not working
- Unknown amount of services not automatically starting (I've corrected a few but I don't know if more are wrong).
- Numerous minor errors.


System restore keeps saying that Volume Shadow Service Component isn't running, but I've made sure that they all are.

Similarly, when I try and run the OS setup off the DVD, it keeps saying "Windows could not retrieve information about the disks on this computer". I have set the Virtual Disk Service to running, but this error still exists.

For some reason pressing F2 to load bios setup isnt working either.



I've got no idea what to do know. This virus did a real workover on my computer, I need solutions fast.

Thanks

 

[cluberti]

It sounds like perhaps that virus isn't completely gone, or has completely damaged system components. I strongly suggest scanning your machine offline using a bootable virus scanner to make sure it is indeed clean and your steps have removed the offending malware. Bitdefender has a good (and free) bootable CD (ISO image download here) that you can use to clean your machine offline - instructions here (also includes USB key instructions if you wish to use that rather than a CD/DVD).

If everything comes back clean and you still can't boot, you can press F8 after the BIOS finishes but before the "Starting Windows" splash screen appears and use the "Repair my computer" boot option to try and restore to a previous restore point before you became infected. Otherwise, you're going to have to boot to a Windows 7 DVD, select the "Repair" link, and do a repair install to get your system back up and running.

 

[tz742]

I can't boot from CD or DVD.

A main problem I'm having is that Virtual Disk Service isn't running, despite me setting "Virtual Disk" on the service list to started.

I can't populate volumes, view partitions in disk management or reinstall my OS.

 

[cluberti]

Booting from removable media is a BIOS function, not a Windows function. A virus, unless it's a boot sector virus, should not affect your ability to boot. If you remove all HDDs and anything not critical for boot, can you boot from a CD or DVD, or reset your BIOS back to defaults?

 

[tz742]

On startup it won't boot from either USB or CD/DVD, only the Windows 7 OS. I've tried pressing all the F buttons to get the BIOS setup up but non work.


Has the virus corrupted my BIOS?

 

[gregrocker]

It's possible a virus has corrupted your BIOS. You'll need to run through the standard recovery steps to find out for sure, after which you may need to reflash your BIOS once the HD is wiped to prepare for reinstall.

I believe the BitDefender boot disk will autostart so you can do the bootable scan. Here are others: FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List

If not, scan using updated Malwarebytes, if possible from Safe Mode.

Then run SFC -SCANNOW Command to repair System files to see if you can gain back functionality.

More than likely you'll need to wipe the HD to clean reinstall, using your factory Recovery Disks if you made them. If not you can try making them or running Factory Recovery from Win7 or you'll need to order them or find a Win7 installer for your version to clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker. Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

You can wipe your HD using free Partition Wizard CD which will autostart on it's own. Then your Recov Disks or Win7 Install DVD will likewise autostart to do the reinstall.

Here are steps to get a perfect clean reinstall of factory OEM using a Win7 installation DVD: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[tz742]

Ok, I've managed to reinstall my OS, for some reason F2 seemed to work when I held it down (instead of pressing it repeatedly), but now it's telling me that my product key isn't valid.

So does this mean I am forced to crack this windows 7 despite actually paying for it?

It gives me this error:


0xC004E003

The Software Licensing Service reported that license evaluation failed.

 

[gregrocker]

How did you reinstall Win7? Did you use Recovery DIsks or Win7 installation DVD? What was it's source?

Did you reinstall the same version which is licensed on the COA sticker, and insert the Product Key from the sticker at the Computer>Properties activation link?

 

[tz742]

I got my laptop from dell who didn't supply an installation DVD, so I found an ISO for the DVD (for my operating system of course) and made my own. I used Magic Jellybean Key Finder to retrieve my product key before I reinstalled.

The OS doesn't say the code is invalid (as it shouldn't), but it simply fails when I try and activate it.

 

[cluberti]

Are you entering the product key from the COA sticker on the laptop?

 

[tz742]

Well I never... I can't believe I never noticed that before. Thanks, that made it work.

This is very annoying actually, I have the product key of my previous laptop that was stolen, I got it with that magic jelly bean key finder, I've kept it in case I needed it. S'pose that one won't work then...

 

[gregrocker]

The key audited from the HD is not the one you want when you are changing the activation from factory auto-activation (OEM-SLP) method to user activated (OEM-COA). You want the key on the COA sticker for that.

 

[cluberti]

Correct - also, the SLP key you get from JellyBean finder only works if you have the associated license file installed, which you won't if you install from anything but the recovery media. Also, the OEM product key is tied to the hardware it's installed on, so no moving OEM keys from one machine to another legally (even if it's stolen).