[pauli999]

Hello,

I have been visited by a virus of some sort. Unable to open computer without multi-threats appearing on screen relating to 'virus/es on computer..do you want your friends/family/etc knowing where you have been..your credit card details are being accessed as we speak yada yada..'My virus protection inaccessible (ESET 32).I assume overwritten by this virus which keeps suggesting I should download 2009 version of a security suite!!!

I really want to wipe this hard disk clean but i have no restore disks whatsoever. Any ideas what to do. I have another laptop if it requires making disks to do this. Can anyone help as I am totally pi**ed off with these visitations. Just to note my laptop is a toshiba qosmio F2-136 running on Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

Your advice would be most appreciated
Thank you

[abkTech]

Download and burn any anti virus rescue disc image like Kaspersky Rescue Disc. Use it to boot your computer and do a complete system scan. That should clean your PC.

If the above method doesn't work, you can either repair your Windows or install a fresh copy of Windows either replacing the original or as a separate install on a preferably different partition using Windows setup disc.

[pauli999]

Many thanks for your prompt reply. I have downloaded and burnt to disk (kaspersky rescue disk). I will try this when i get home this evening. Can you advise what i should expect in the way of screen prompts,reponses etc when i start to load this ?
Thanks again

[abkTech]

I haven't used it but I don't think it will difficult for anyone to run a scan using it. Just boot and follow the on-screen instructions. Its designed only for virus detection and removal so it will be just like using any anti virus scan but out-of-windows.

If for some reason you are not able to boot from the CD, make sure that CD/DVD drive is selected as the first drive in booting priority order in BIOS.

[pauli999]

hi,
i think i still have problems.Rescue disk failed to boot.on toshiba qosmio front screen having pressed power button and f12 together it allows you to nominate hard drive start or cd drive start or floppy start.will not boot fom nominating cd start.will also not start in safe mode.it justs scrolls a long list of file names and switches off.it will also not start from last known safe restore point,again it just switches off.i fear im totally wiped out as when virus first reared its head i switched off and on again and immedieately the creen displayed a microsoft xp logo and stated itw as doing a chkdsk routine which was in 3 parts.sadly it was a very quick routine but im sure now with hindsight that some of the spelling and grammar on the screen was incorrect .any suggestions to start all over again.im not bothered about losing what i had on hard drive,i just want my computer back !!!(the name and address of the perpetrator would be very useful too!) thanks for your help

[abkTech]

I can suggest four options for you:

1) You could try some other rescue disk. Many factors contribute for a failed boot and trying other ones may work. Check this link if you want to follow this option.

2) You could also try to repair windows using its setup CD. Following this procedure will save you from installing all your programs again. Also your files should be safe but can't be sure as it depends on the type of virus(es) your PC is infected with. But be sure to install an anti virus software, update it and run a complete system scan as soon as you boot into Windows after install (before running any other programs). Check out this link (or this link) for details.

3) Make a completely new install of Windows without formatting your hard drive preferably on a different partition. This way your files should be there but all your favorite and required programs have to installed again. Scan after installation will be required to clean your PC. You have to manually delete the old Windows files. Choose this option if you can't repair but want your files.

4) Completely format your PC and make a fresh install. All your files and programs with settings will be lost. All virus infection will be removed too. This link might be helpful here.