Danny's Angry

[Daniel T]

I turned my computer on this morning to find it was impossible to log into Windows. It boots normally to the login screen, but then when you login, it immediately logs off. After trying it in safemode, with no success, I phoned the local computer shop. They said they had a bunch of other computers in with the same virus.

Therefor, I am forced to use my old POS 64MB Ram machine until I can get the other one fixed. I have homework that I need to do on it for Wednesday, and the computer store says if I were to take it into them, they wouldn't get around to fixing it till Wednesday, since they're overloaded with other computers that have the same problem.

Anyone know anything about this and/or how to remedy this? There was nothing at microsoft.com and searching Google did not help. I found a site where they fixed it through the registry, but not being able to logon to windows means I cannot access RegEdit :mad:

Help?

Dan

[Stephen Philbin]

There's a few other people on an xbox forum I go to. I'll just nip over there now and see if they found a solution yet.

Edit: Bugger. I checked back and the only two solutions they seemed to have found were:

1) Full OS reinstallation.

and

2) "Fixing it with the CD". (Which I assume is the same thing as 1.)

Can you do something like slap the HDD in another PC, copy the files wanted over and then nuke the OS on the screwed one?

[chrismartz]

throw it out!

[soccer362001]

After trying it in safemode, with no success
No he can't. Have you tried booting with a boot disk? That is if you have one.

[Conor]

same thing happened to my parents computer, thank god their switching to Mac!. Heres how I fixed it at least.

boot from winxp disc
hit R for Recovery mode
hit 1 for installation 1
type in cd system 32
type copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe
reboot normailly and you should be able to login

[chrismartz]

if i were you dan, I'd switch to linux...the best/most secure operating system around....I have suse and love it!

[Daniel T]

Originally posted by sirhcchris3
if i were you dan, I'd switch to linux...the best/most secure operating system around....I have suse and love it!
It's a family computer. My dad would be pissed if he found a whole new OS on there, 'cause he only knows vaguely how to use Windows, and he doesn't like change :rolleyes:

And thanks Conor, I'll give that a try :)

[Cstick]

I've seen this happen when a pirated version of MS XP is installed and the 30day eval runs out. It happens when the home version is installed and a certain supposed hack. The hack seems like it works cause you don't get the dialogs asking for registration, but after 30 days it starts. You turn on the box and login, then it logs you right back out with no explanation and safe-mode doesn't work either. Did your supplier give you a MS XP cd with license info? Maybe that is why they have seen the virus so much lately! Anyway, sux that it happened, good luck.

[Stephen Philbin]

Originally posted by sirhcchris3
if i were you dan, I'd switch to linux...the best/most secure operating system around....I have suse and love it!

Yeah I'm on SuSE right now. I love it. KDE puts windows explorer to shame from what I've see of it so far. Just one major problem though. I can't install a C compiler because I don't have GNU make installed, and I can't install GNU make because I don't have a C compiler. :mad:

What a pain in the arse. Oh and my sound doesn't work on Windows or Linux now, since I installed Linux. Still love it, just having a few "teething problems".

[Daniel T]

Originally posted by Cstick
I've seen this happen when a pirated version of MS XP is installed and the 30day eval runs out. It happens when the home version is installed and a certain supposed hack. The hack seems like it works cause you don't get the dialogs asking for registration, but after 30 days it starts. You turn on the box and login, then it logs you right back out with no explanation and safe-mode doesn't work either. Did your supplier give you a MS XP cd with license info? Maybe that is why they have seen the virus so much lately! Anyway, sux that it happened, good luck.
Our copy is 100% legit (that is, if $150 in the box from RadioShack is legit :D).

[Stephen Philbin]

It's nothing to do with the legitimacy of your copy of the OS. It seems to be happening to quite a few people now. It would appear to be a worm of sorts. Possibly triggering some evaluation period style behaviour.

[PeOfEo]

The solution to any problem
Get knoppix -> run it and move all of your neccessary files over the network to another machine or to a third party drive. Once ont hat machine scan them for the worm, make sure it does not come too.

Reformat then reinstall windows

I love to reformat and reinstall windows, I mean the act is not fun, but it cleans your whole system. I have a reinstall zip that I move from hard drive to hard drive containing my nvidea drivers, my intel drivers, sound card drivers, usb2 drivers, dremweaver, adobe, some games, so on and so fourth.

[Daniel T]

Originally posted by PeOfEo
The solution to any problem
Get knoppix -> run it and move all of your neccessary files over the network to another machine or to a third party drive.
Then I guess I'm screwed... my only other computer that has 1GB+ is the one I'm using now, and it only has 5GB. I have atleast 10GB on that other computer that I need/don't want to get rid of.

EDIT Would it work if I were to just reinstall Windows without moving my needed files? I mean, it shouldn't delete any other files, because the files aren't stored on the OS...

[PeOfEo]

when you reinstall it gives you the option to leave the file system intact. You could try it, but there is always the chance of a screw up. I would say move the most critical files. Burn them to a cd if need be. You can do it through knoppix. I would say you could run the repair utility if you know which file it is, but you do not know which file(s) are effected.

[Neczy]

You have gmail right? hehe why not just email yourself all your files? :D *semi-joking*

Lol, yeah that happened to me too. I just did what Peo said and reformat + reinstalled. I back my files up regularly though, so I dont really worry about it.