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Ah, now we have limited the issue.
It appears that the corrupt boot files prevents the system from reaching the point of starting the OS. The other possibility is that the OS files the boot loader should call are corrupt. In either case, your only two choices are to use the WinXP CD-ROM to recover the OS --but you don't have one-- or remove the HDD and place it in another computer that has an up-to-date AV program.

The first thing that must be done after placing the HDD into the other computer as a secondary drive is to run an antivirus scan on the drive. Then you can back-up the data on that drive to that system.

Once this is safely done, you may have corrected the problem anyway --if the virus was infecting the boot files or other OS kernel files. I doubt it but we can hope. wink At this point, return the HDD to the original computer as the primary drive and attempt to boot. This will likley fail but we can hope.

If it does fail, then you will need to reinstal an OS of your choice. This may mean buying WinXPSP2 retail or your prefered retail Linux Distro or download Linux from the web. I have no suggestions right now for a user friendly Linux Distro --I use Gentoo whose installation can be tricky. Any suggestions from the fans? There are also the BSD's which come highly recomended by me. I used to use NetBSD and loved it. Any recomendations concerning NetBSD, OpenBSD and FreeBSD?

If you do use Llinux/BSD, ensure that you get the free OOo (OpenOffice.org) or the commercial StarOffice to read your MSOffice files, and the free WINE (Windows Is Not Emulated) to run any Windows software you may have.

If you are extremely used to Windows, you might want to buy a good Linux/BSD book. Linux/BSD is not hard at all but getting used to something new does take time.

If you do use a retail WinXPSP2, ensure that it is legitimate so that you will continue to get updates from MS.

Get a good AV program. For Linux/BSD you can buy AVG from Grisoft. For Win?? you can get a free version of AVG or buy a commercial version. McAffee, Norton's, Panda, Trend-Mirco,... all good but people have there preferences. Any suggestions for Pixel?

Good luck with that.
Posted by: The King's Servant   Posted on: 04/05/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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By and large, this is not a big deal  Real World | 04/05/05
Re: By and large, this is not a big deal  Mack DaNife | 04/05/05
Sorry, I should have been more clear  Real World | 04/05/05
turning away from eCommerce TRUE  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
That's a raw deal  Real World | 04/05/05
thanks  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
Video problems?  lcates@... | 04/05/05
vacuum time  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
A Couple of Good User Forum Sites  t.e.sumner@... | 04/05/05
Get Your Data Back  brian.giordano | 04/05/05
Assuming it is not a virus.  lcates@... | 04/05/05
Childs is even older than mine is  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
Which Window? XPHome, XPPro, 2k, Me (God, not Me, please!)  The King's Servant | 04/05/05
XPHome  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
Ah, now we have limited the issue.  The King's Servant | 04/05/05
Thanks to all for your help  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
Sugestions  Real World | 04/06/05
if your trying the bios...  jdahs@... | 04/05/05
F8 does nothing  Pixel_dust | 04/05/05
just a suggestion  lapwizrus | 04/05/05
Vacuum  lcates@... | 04/05/05
Vacuum addnedum  Linux User 147560 | 04/05/05
Dead PC  flan4u | 04/05/05
Reboots?  Real World | 04/06/05
Call DELL Tech support  johns_z | 04/05/05
Dell hangs on boot  paule4@... | 04/06/05
Dell hangs on boot  johnrich | 04/11/05
put it back in the box  afterbrnr | 04/05/05
Don't put it back in the box  johnrich | 04/11/05
Not a software problem?  danag42@... | 04/06/05
Another suggestion: memory  feskridge@... | 04/06/05
Therin lies the problem...  BitTwiddler | 04/05/05
Without foreign ISP action, there's no solution.  sdgreen42 | 04/05/05
Small correction  douglen@... | 04/05/05
Correction agreed...  sdgreen42 | 04/05/05
Small correction  johnrich | 04/11/05
What about Comcast?  JMusto | 04/05/05
RE:What about Comcast?  flan4u | 04/05/05
Domestic zombies, asian, So American links  Hsbarney@... | 04/05/05
Browser flaw helps phishers  mikew_z | 04/05/05
Try this  phobos | 04/05/05
Use two browsers for security  Wagadonga | 04/05/05
Security of communications  stevem_001 | 04/05/05
What is with ASP?  JMusto | 04/05/05
Or,...  The King's Servant | 04/05/05
MS couldnt scan your system with high security  NotMSUser | 04/06/05
What is it with ASP?  johnrich | 04/11/05
Nothing to see here- VIRUS=MICROSOFT  Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/05/05
HSBC deluged by viruses  ncawthray@... | 04/05/05
Phishing  ydnas | 04/05/05
viruses  kemcrest@... | 04/05/05
viruses? you mean phishing  johnrich | 04/11/05
Dell laptop will not boot  ardlur@... | 04/05/05
a virus is a WINDOWS problem  JV711 | 04/05/05
virus attack does not equal virus infection. the virus laden email that is  wessonjoe | 04/06/05
Who's really at risk?  clazaam@... | 04/05/05
the biggest security risk is writing a password down for anyone to read.  wessonjoe | 04/06/05
That is what you pay for using Microsoft platform only.  systemcleaner | 04/06/05
HSBC  Tomchance | 04/06/05
Bugs Viruses and Worms  pgbev | 04/06/05
Bank Security  jack@... | 04/07/05
HSBC - Surprising??  nicari | 04/14/05
eCommerce Security / Virus  dlwz3@... | 05/02/05

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