Major Problem - Need help

Ltcellis · Oct 5, 2008

WinXP Professional
Service Pack 3.5
PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.1
Intel Core 2 Extreme CPU X9000 @ 2.8 GHz

Main Problem : My laptop will not load windows at all. When I try to load windows normally, it'll get to the point where the welcome screen should be displayed but the screen remains black. Safe mode won't load either.

What makes me think that it is malware related is that whenever I try to load the computer in safe mode, my laptop just randomly shuts down at some point.

The only mode that I can run windows in is "Directory Services Restore Mode"

Before this happened, I ran a scan with AVG which came up with 2 cookies from m.webtrends.com. I deleted them. just before this whole mess, i ran an internet scan at Kaspersky and it came up with a Backdoor.Win32.Hupigon.dsx. I googled that and it said it was Kaspersky related.

And then my problem happened.

I tried to do a Repair Install, but I couldn't. When I boot up the Winxp setup CD, it just gives me the option to install Winxp onto the partition.

I have a lot of things on this computer and I really don't want to format the whole harddrive. I just don't have the time to spend days bringing the laptop back to the current condition.

Is there anyway to fix this?

chaslang · Oct 5, 2008

Welcome to Major Geeks!

I'm sorry but this does not sound like a malware problem and even if there were some malware at play, we cannot help you if you cannot boot up. Your best bet is to work in the Software Forum where I'm going to move this thread in a moment. Before I do that, I just want to point you to the below which may be of use:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307545&sd=tech

musksnipe · Oct 5, 2008

This is how to do a proper Repair install:

If you have your Windows CD, you can do a Repair Install. It can be done without destroying your personal files or applications, but it is safer to back up any personal stuff to CD.

Make sure you have your valid Windows XP key.
The whole process takes about half an hour depending on your computer.
You may have to change your Boot Options in BIOS to get your PC to load from the disk.

1. Insert and boot from your Windows XP CD.
2. Press a key when you see the Boot from CD window.
You will see a new screen that says, “Setup is inspecting your computer’s…………….”
After a minute or two, you'll see the "Windows Setup/Setup is starting Windows" screen.
Finally, you will see the "Welcome to Setup" screen.
3. To get to the Repair option you want, you must choose, "To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER."
DO NOT choose the "To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console..." Option.
Don’t worry nothing has been changed yet.
4. The next screen is the Licensing screen, choose F8 to accept.
5. The next screen searches for "a previous version of Microsoft Windows."
Again, don’t worry, nothing has changed yet.
6. Finally, you will come to a screen that shows your XP installation. If you have more than one, you will need to highlight the one you want to repair.
7. You will also see, “To Repair the selected Windows XP installation, press R”
This is the real Repair option. Press R

The Repair process then selectively deletes system files in the Windows folder and subfolders and copies undamaged replacement files from the setup CD to their proper locations. Then it works on the current setup's Registry, leaving much of it intact and rebuilding the rest. Then the repair process needs to reboot and will do so automatically. If your setup CD is still in the drive, remove it so that the system won't try to boot from it.
It will take a bit longer to reboot this time. Then Setup will start again.
Don’t worry, if you have followed these steps it is doing a repair only, not a re-install. You will see the same screens as a regular install.
First you will get the Regional and Language screen, then the screen asking for your Product Key.
Next it will do the actual Repair. When done (20-30 minutes) there will be another reboot bringing you to a “Welcome to Windows” screen.
You'll be asked if you want to register and you may or may not be asked to reactivate the copy of Windows.
Next, the setup completes the final networking details and then you will see a "Thank You" screen.
There should be one more reboot (a normal one) and if you did everything correctly, all your User Accounts, Passwords, Personal Data, and software will be intact.
Click to expand...

Ltcellis · Oct 5, 2008

Well theres the problem, It doesn't give me the option of repair install. When I go into the setup, its like it doesn't detect a current windows OS on the partition and it askes me to install windows onto it. However, I am still able to load safe mode running under the "Directory Services Restore Mode" which is similar to safe mode.

Something isn't allowing me to run under safe mode. And something is preventing the setup to detect an existing windows OS.

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Major Problem - Need help

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