Virus trouble/boot trouble

[huskyfur]

Okay.. so it seems every time I post on here I have some huge problem threatening my PC. Well... this post is no different. The damage has been done.. now I'm trying to restore it. So here's the sitch..

I got a virus on my pc that deleted all of my boot files. When I started my computer it said they weren't in my PATH, and couldn't find them. I tried looking for them.. but they're long gone. So I got a Win98SE boot disk! Should have all the files I need on it.. right? Anyway.. the directions on the disk said to pop it in, turn on my PC, and follow the prompt. But... it didn't do anything.

I'm trying to use the boot files on the floppy, to start my existing Win98SE. Can you even do this? .. Is there some kind of command I need to enter in order to access my floppy drive?

I had some problems with my Floppy drive a few months ago too... honestly, I'm not even sure that it works. Would there be a way to get an external floppy drive, and be able to use it, without being able to go into my windows? ... all I have is DOS

[eidenk]

Which virus was it ? Did you catch it ? If not, it's certainly still on your system.

What files did it delete ? Do you know exactly ?

I suggest you reinstall Windows from the 98CD in a new directory such as Windows2 or Newwin.

From that new installation, scan your drive(s) for viruses. Once this is done and cleared, you can reinstall windows again in it's original dir on top of the old one so you shouldn't lose most of your settings etc...

Edited September 19, 2006 by eidenk

[Andromeda43]

There are boot floppies and then there are GOOD boot floppies.

A good boot floppy will allow you to boot into DOS only and maybe even do some fixing and troubleshooting of things on the hard drive. But that's all. It will not run Windows.

The best way to fix windows is reload it right over itself. You will need the original Windows disk that came with that PC or an OEM setup disk.

In either case, it will refresh itself and accept the old registry and all the Driver files.

Sometimes, I've been able to recover windows 98 or ME, by running scanreg.exe /restore

from the boot disk, to rewrite the registry back to an earlier time.

Unless the hard drive itself is damaged, Windows can be restored.

Good Luck,

Andromeda43 B)

Edited September 19, 2006 by Andromeda43

[huskyfur]

I couldn't catch the virus, only because I can't get to any of my virus-catching software stuffs.. Honestly, I don't have any clue where it came from, or what it's called. Someone just told me that there was a virus going around that deleted peoples boot files. That's what seems to be going wrong here. .. anyway... I might just buy a new **** computer. I have so much trouble with this one... It's old... it wasn't even a decent computer to start with.

freakin' aye... I'll see if I can fix it. Thank you all for your help. If you can think of anything else, please post!

[eidenk]

The best way to fix windows is reload it right over itself. You will need the original Windows disk that came with that PC or an OEM setup disk.

What happens to your reinstall windows on top of itself if the virus is started from one of the run keys in the registry for example ?

Or if it is a registered dll ? Shellex, BHO or so.

Answer : It strikes again immediately.

Edited September 19, 2006 by eidenk

[LLXX]

You can start Windows from a MS-DOS 7.1 boot disk, ensure WinBootDir and WinDir are set correctly in MSDOS.SYS. Boot to the prompt, change to the windows directory, and enter WIN command.