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Virus or hardware fault?

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Shape
New Member

Date Joined Nov 2008
Total Posts : 4

Posted 11-27-2008 7:23 (GMT +1)

Hi all am new and kinda out of my depth. I have read some of the posts which have symptoms similar to mine but not exactly.

My old computer running XP with SP2 would not boot at all, not in normal, last working configuration or safe mode. It just kept restarting getting to the initial windows screen then it displayed an error screen then it would go in an endless loop. I thought the computer was broke.

I took my old hard drives out fitted them in drive cases ready to be added to the new computer running Vista 64 bit home premium. I set up the computer validated windows downloaded all the updates and it worked fine for four days.

Now I am getting the same endless loop of flash up, error screen, then restart. I don't know what to do now? The computer will not even run the Windows Vista disc to allow me to try and repair windows.

It just seems strange that both computers from different manufacturers have the same fault within a fortnight.

Hopefully someone will be able to offer an opinion.

Thanks in advance

Shape.

Touch
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 14325

Posted 11-28-2008 4:47 (GMT +1)

Hello Shape

You have (of course) checked in bios that cd/dvd drive are set as First boot ?

Do NOT post your problem in someone elses thread.

Member of - Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals

A non-profit, volunteer network.

Shape
New Member

Date Joined Nov 2008
Total Posts : 4

Posted 11-28-2008 2:41 (GMT +1)

Hi Touch, yes reset the boot options yesterday to boot direct from the Windows CD. Am now going to low level format the two hard drives then try to reinstall Windows Vista. I am just not sure how I picked this virus up and why my antivirus sofware missed it on both machines.

Someone at work mentioned they had a virus in their RAM. Is this possible and how can I disinfect the RAM if that is my problem?

Sorry for all the questions still trying to get my head around it all :)

Shape.

Touch
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 14325

Posted 11-28-2008 5:41 (GMT +1)

No problem smile

I´ve never heard of virus in ram (sticks). There can be virus in memory yes, if it have something "to live of" such as a operating system or programs.

If you really want to be sure that you remove everything from HD, I´ll suggest you use killdisk:

http://www.killdisk.com/

Do NOT post your problem in someone elses thread.

Member of - Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals

A non-profit, volunteer network.

Shape
New Member

Date Joined Nov 2008
Total Posts : 4

Posted 11-30-2008 1:09 (GMT +1)

Hi Touch, got kill disc and wiped the first drive. This problem ocurred when I was only four days into setting up my new computer and I have not yet made a boot disc, will I be able to load up windows straight from the disc? Thanks again inadvance :)

Shape

Touch
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 14325

Posted 12-1-2008 9:00 (GMT +1)

I´m not sure I quite understand your last question - Will or try to load Windows from a Cd ?

Do NOT post your problem in someone elses thread.

Member of - Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals

A non-profit, volunteer network.

Shape
New Member

Date Joined Nov 2008
Total Posts : 4

Posted 12-4-2008 12:36 (GMT +1)

Hi Touch, I would just like to say thanks for helping. A virus was only part of the cause the other part was down to a Windows Vista update. The rest was to do with the fact that Vista does not want to install while 4GB of RAM is fitted.

I learned a few new things on the way and lost a hard drive.

Thanks again ;-)

Shape.

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