Can't even get XP to run...

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by kelnav, Sep 15, 2008.

  1. kelnav

    kelnav Private E-2

    For stupid reasons I am the proud papa of a crappy malware situation. I think it's the Virtumonde and/or XP 2008 anti-virus pretender.

    When I got it three days ago I ran Superspyware, PC Tools AV and that seemed to take care of it; there were 78 or so trojans/malware and the like detected and taken care of.

    Then I noticed that Ctrl-Alt-Delete would'nt bring up Task Manager (admin apparently had denied me access). Then it showed (occasionally) a slpash screen of the XP 2008 anti-virus garbage. I disabled it using CCleaner's startup page.

    Today at first startup the screensaver had changed to some bogus anti-spyware image. I tried to go into "Properties" but the right click on desktop>properties only brought up "Themes, Appearance, Settings" options.

    Then I downloaded Ad-Aware and installed it, started to run it and the computer rebooted about 4 minutes into it. Then it got to a point (now) where I can't even get to Windows. It starts up normally then gets to the page where you can run safe mode or what have you and then no matter what choice you make, you go back to start. Looks like no soup for me!!

    The only thing it lets me do is go to Setup (?) where I can access C drive (DOS) and look at it like a moron.

    I'd Format and reinstall XP but the wife's got her CV and I'd like to recover some pictures in there as well.

    I'm not very technical savvy so keep it in mind please.

    Thanks in advance.
     
    kelnav, Sep 15, 2008
    #1
  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Unbootable PCs are really more of a topic for the Software Forum. Once they are bootable, we can help you with malware removal.

    At this point, if you cannot boot in safe mode or normal mode, you only have a few options:

    If you are really concerned about getting files off of this PC, you may want to take the harddisk out of it, and put into another PC as a slave drive and copy files from it. This is also not a topic for the Malware Removal Forum.

    Another possibility is making a disk like below and using it to boot your PC with network support and then copying necessary files to another PC via the network. Again not a topic for this forum and I'm not sure if this is within the realm of your technical abilities.

    UBCD4Win
     
    chaslang, Sep 16, 2008
    #2
  3. kelnav

    kelnav Private E-2

    Ok thank, I'll start with that. I looked at it again this morning and on the opening page if I do F10 for System recovery, it ends up with "recover log not found" and goes back to reboot.
     
    kelnav, Sep 16, 2008
    #3
  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Again you should be posting an additional questions on this in the Software Forum. Be careful what you do before trying to backup any important data because you may loose it. A System Recovery would restore your PC to the way it was shipped and you will lose information.
     
    chaslang, Sep 16, 2008
    #4
  5. kelnav

    kelnav Private E-2

    Removed the HD and hooked it up to another computer.
    Scanning for virus/spyware, so far C drive has winhlp.pluma.a on it.

    All the files are there though. Will post further if can't fix it.
     
    kelnav, Sep 18, 2008
    #5
  6. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Drive C is normally the main drive in a PC. So in the PC where you put your originally hard disk in as a slave, what drive is the Windows OS on and what drive is your "infected drive"?
     
    chaslang, Sep 19, 2008
    #6
  7. kelnav

    kelnav Private E-2

    It was E and F, I wrote C for simplicity.
    Anyway, formatted the drive (C and D), reinstalled Windows Vista and wouldn't work: Hardware Error.
    Bought another hard drive, installed Windows Vista, same thing: Hardware Error.
    In both cases, Windows couldn't complete install.

    I have little patience, I bought another computer for 300$.
    I suspect BIOS issue, if you can tell me how to fix it I will.
     
    kelnav, Sep 19, 2008
    #7
  8. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You would be better off posting this in the Hardware or Software Forum. You should describe eactly how far you are getting and what the exact word for word error message is. For example: Are you getting the message during the installation, after the installation, during Windows bootup, during login,....etc?
     
    chaslang, Sep 19, 2008
    #8
  9. kelnav

    kelnav Private E-2

    chaslang, I will do just that. I thank you for all your help, it's very much appreciated.
     
    kelnav, Sep 19, 2008
    #9
  10. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome. Surf safely!
     
    chaslang, Sep 20, 2008
    #10

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