can a hdd be cleaned without running Windows?

Hi there,

I'm trying to help a friend with her computer. She brought it to me hoping I could help her recover some files because it would no longer boot Windows.

I tried to boot Windows. It showed me an error message saying missing file "msvcrt.dll". Then when I tried to boot in safe mode it said there were multiple missing files.

Then, using advice received in a different forum on majorgeeks, thank you , I used a newegg adapter to disassemble the hdd from the computer, then attach it to my laptop using the adapter, so I could view the files and help her find the specific ones she needed right away. That whole process worked well, I didn't need the mini-tool data recovery software to read the drive, just the adapter. What I discovered when I read it is that the hdd has no available space left on it. Less than 50 bytes if I'm remembering correctly. I scanned the drive with Comodo Security before transferring files, and it did find 10 trojans and 1 malware. Comodo cleaned them.

Now, she has purchased an external hdd and wants to transfer the contents of her entire computer to the external hdd. I'm concerned about possible viruses being transferred along with the information and wanted to know if there's a way to use the Read & Run Me First information and tools on an external hdd connected through my laptop via the adapter? That way I can clean it before I move the information over.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you. And if I'm in the wrong forum could you tell me which one to post in please? I didn't know if this should go in malware, hardware, or software. Thanks again,

 

Thank you for the advice. I will scan it entirely with Comodo Internet Security free version. I'm unclear regarding what type of scan would constitute an "online scanner". Could you recommend one please?

Also, once I'm done transferring the files to the external hdd she bought, would it be ok to reinstall her hard drive in her cpu, reinstall Windows XP and start fresh again with her computer and have the files on the external hdd? I guess what I'm asking is if I have to first reformat her hard drive before installing Windows again, and if that will erase the BIOS settings? And can I transfer programs back onto her cpu once it's reloaded with Windows? How do you know if you're getting all the "pieces" you need when you transfer a program? Do I need to move these questions to the software or hardware forum?

Thanks again for the advice regarding cleaning the external hdd while it's connected to my laptop. I look forward to learning what is meant by an "online scanner".

 

Thank you for the advice. I removed the hdd from the cpu and then attached it to my laptop via the sata/ide to usb 2 adapter. I scanned it with Comodo Internet Security and Malwarebytes. I then backed up all the files I could onto an external hdd, not all files would transfer over, I assume they were the system files and the program files. I reinstalled the hdd into the cpu and started it up. Eureka! It started Windows. Now I wanted to run the READ & RUN ME FIRST steps on it, however, when I go to control panel, it won't open the System folder, it says: "C:\Windows\sysstem32\rundll32.exe Application not found". It only offers Ok as an option. Same message when I try to open add or remove programs.

This computer is not connected to the internet, I was going to download all scans off my laptop and transfer them over via usb. The other thing I was going to note about this computer is that it has a 38.2 GB hdd, with only 542 MB of free space. I was hoping to free up some space by deleting programs and antivirus programs that she doesn't need, however without being able to get into the control panel or the add or remove programs spot, I'm unsure how to proceed.

Should I shut it down and restart it using the Avira method mentioned before? Should I use uninstall programs for various antivirus programs through usb and hope it uninstalls any it finds? I also have the original disk she used to run Windows, a shared copy from her brother, I try not to judge. Should I reboot with that in place instead? Will that delete everything from her system or only replace the missing files?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the advice so far, I wouldn't have gotten this far without the team at Majorgeeks!