The Furious Angels
FA Discussion => Off Topic => Topic started by: Anonymous on December 27, 2006, 11:17:42 pm
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So recently my computer has been heavily infected with spyware, adware and trojans. No matter how hard I try I just can't seem to rid my computer of it all... I've gone through 3 anti-adware/anti-spyware programs and 2 anti-virus programs. System restore failed to work... so I was forced to perform a full system recovery. Now here comes the fun part. Formated my HD... reinstalled windows etc. I go through the setup etc. Windows loads... loads... loads... loads... please wait... loads... loads some more... ok 30 mins later... something is wrong here... no activity in the hard drive... restart the computer... windows loads up... black screen with the error that says something along the line of windows in not fully installed please go back to setup... i've gone through this process 3 times now and am fresh out of ideas. any help would be great.
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Run /chkdsk?
Repair installation?
Err...I'm kinda in same boat. My computer still gives me random bluescreens about memory parity, despite passing every diagnostic I can throw at it.
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errr... if it's not too much of a hasle could you explain real quick how i'd go about doing those
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This should help: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
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Run /chkdsk?
Repair installation?
Err...I'm kinda in same boat. My computer still gives me random bluescreens about memory parity, despite passing every diagnostic I can throw at it.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but chkdsk and repair installation will do nothing 1) if a OS isn't installed 2) if Windows was recently installed.
I though chkdsk only looks to see if the OS files exist in the state they should. Plus if you are going to use chkdsk you should use it with the option /F.
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He did install it. If you press Fn on startup, it should boot up the repair
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So you formatted... did you do a quick or full format? From which boot disk and in which format? (FAT32? FAT? NTFS?)
Any hardware changes?
Any messages in the BIOS? Did you reset that to its defaults? (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061219105402AAMTpc2)
Did you reset your MFT? (http://www.ntfs.com/quest14.htm)
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Ok I have a theory of my own. My computer doesn't use a cd to do a recovery... windows is backed up on a secondary hard drive... So is it possible that the files on the secondary harddrive have somehow been corrupted. When i start up my computer and hit f10 it goes straight to compaq system recovery. The only other thing i've found i can do at start up is go into the option by hitting f1 or try to boot up in safe mode by hitting f9.
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Are you using a Compaq recovery image or an actual set of Windows files?
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i think it's the actual windows files... cause there is a second hard drive with a second set of the windows files and whatnot as backup
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Windows does sometimes have issues with backed up installation files, but that almost sounds like a mirrored drive. You definitely did a full wipe?
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yup... twice... then a partial... then a full again...
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at least the program said it did a full wipe
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Do you have the CDs tha came with the computer?
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nope... it didn't come with any recovery CDs i know that for sure... the recovery is built into the computer.
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So my friend is suggesting that I grab a new harddrive(he can supply one) and a new copy of windows... what do you guys think?
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I think all you need is a copy of the windows disc. If I read what you said correctly you are trying to recover your files from another hdd, if this is true then I suggest just getting the windows xp disc and install it.
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Is there a difference between windows xp update and just windows xp... cause windows xp update is $99 while windows xp is $199
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You have to have a copy of Windows XX in order to update from. Since you don't have the CD that came with the computer you would have to get the normal version for $199. Now to me this is where it get fuzzy, you could just download a copy of XP (from torrents/etc), when it tries to activate itself, it should say this key is bad, would you like to input a new key, when you click yes, you can use the numbers on the sticker you already have (the one that is normally on the side of your computer) Microsoft will accept that one and everything will work perfectly. And techinally all of this is legal, because you are using your liceses to Windows, and not the license that came with the download, and you agree to the End User LICENSE Agreement, not the End User CD agreement. (Basically the $199 is to purchase a license to XP, you should be able to call Microsoft and ask them for the Windows XP CD and get a copy (but your license won't pass the install, because it won't)).
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well... i just took a look... there is no sticker with a key for windows anywhere on my computer... dunno what happened to it. My luck with computers lately has been horrible... =/
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wait... the sticker was hiding in the back top of the case... tricky sob... well i'm bringing my computer case to a friends tomarrow he has a pirated copy of windows i can install and we'll just enter my key and I should be all set... sweet deal... thx for the help guys.... again lol
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You shouldn't be able to enter that key until your running in Windows, at which point the WGA (Windows something advantage) should say that key fail and will promt you for a new key, the one on your case should work at that point.
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Ugh, I am sorry I didn't get here quick enough. Well first questions first. If the computer is still less than a year old first people you should call is your tech support. So I would call compaq first.
My experience with compaq machines is you have an option of doing a destructive or non destructive restoration. Choose the full blown destructive blow out your machine restore.
If you are getting errors on a windows install that's a tell tale sign of hardware failure. It's HIGHLY unlikley and DOUBTFUL that your restore image became corrupt. Windows can't even tough that partition so it's not like malware infected it. Before you go and nuke all the partitions on your harddrive you should run some hardware tests to make sure it's not a hardware issue first. Once you blow out your partition you just tossed 100 bucks out the window. That product key sticker will not work with any other copy of windows.
I highly recommend staying away from pirated windows if you are sitting on a perfectly good copy of legit windows.
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How the hell can you test for hard drive failure?
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Just to update you guys on the situation... I left my computer in the hands of a few friends... they've fixed it... i am happy... yay... and uhh... i'll be getting it back this weekend =p
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How the hell can you test for hard drive failure?
Who said testing for hard drive failure? I said hardware failure. Motherboard, CPU, PSU, RAM etc
Ven:
Glad to hear it works. What was the issue?
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I dunno... maybe something in the restore files was corrupted... But I got hooked up with a fresh install of windows XP and everything seems to be working fine. The key is working fine and everything. So I should be getting my comp back tomarrow and things will be back to normal for me in no time.
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How the hell can you test for hard drive failure?
Who said testing for hard drive failure? I said hardware failure. Motherboard, CPU, PSU, RAM etc
Ven:
Glad to hear it works. What was the issue?
Isn't hard drive hardware?
FM, Fracking Magic.