Lost... virus, can't boot, can get command prompt with disk

richnem · Mar 17, 2008

Hi,

Competent using computers to the most basic of levels, but rapidly spiralling down a road to doom, so would be ever so grateful for some expert help.

Lack of specific information is for a reason - please read to end before raising questions!

Noticed AVG wasn't running yesterday, so went to click on icon and got a message along the lines of "invalid.exe file". Uninstalled AVG and tried to reinstall, but kepy getting the same message. copied and pasted the message into google, and it linked the message with a trojan horse, and mentioned the name "downloader.generic7".

I followed the guidance on te AVG website and downloaded Cwshredder, spybot s&d, ad-aware, rogue remover, avg anti spyware and anti virus. I was going to install them in safe mode in case the presence of a virus affected their installation.

When I tried to start in safe mode (via F8), the computer kept resetting and going to the "We apologise for the inconvenience, but windows did not start successfully…" screen. I started in normal mode, went to msconfig, and selected safe mode. Now, the computer will not start in any of "Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, Safe Mode with Command Prompt, Last known good Configuration, or Start Normally". Keeps resetting, and going to the "We apologise for the inconvenience, but windows did not start successfully…" screen. F8 brings up a wider range of options, but I wouldn't have a clue where to start. I do have a recovery disk which allows me to get a command prompt.

The recovery disk also allows a reinstall, but I have not made a back up for a long time and really can't afford to lose everything - before you all tell me, I know, I know, I've had the lecture already

So, I'm sort of completely stuck. What I CAN tell you is that I'm running XP, was running AVG 7.5 (uninstalled, can’t re-install), and Windows Firewall.

Can anyone please tell me what I need to do (a) from the command prompt (safely), and (b) to clear whatever the virus is?

Many thanks for your time.

chaslang · Mar 17, 2008

Welcome to Major Geeks!

If you cannot boot in either normal or safe boot mode, then their is nothing we can do for you in the Malware Removal Forum. Your problems are thus within your OS and you would be better off working this in the Software Forum. Once you can boot again, we can help you with any malware issues that you may have.

I suggest you find yourself a Windows XP CD (with the same Service Pack level you are at) to be able to boot from. As in the Software Forum, they may suggest you use it to boot to the Recovery Console to do some repairs or to do something like what is in the below link which may be necessary:

How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

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Lost... virus, can't boot, can get command prompt with disk

richnem Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member