Re: Windows Won't Start

Thanks for your reply, Poprivet. I thought that I did answer your questions
in my original message, but I shall do so again:

-- Are you using UPDATED AV files? Yes, they are automatically updated. I
also do a manual LiveUpdate for all of my Symantec protection daily.

-- Running any type of malware detector such as adaware, spybot, etc..
Norton won't catch malware, only a virus. I run Spysweeper and keep its
definitions up-to-date.

-- Whether or not your are firewalled. If not, you need to be. I have
Norton Personal Firewall installed on each machine, and also have hardware
firewall protection in my router.

As for the Spysweeper -- do you know whether Adaware or Spybot checks for
different types of malware?

Is there a malware software that can be run from outside of Windows (ie.
under DOS possibly), that would catch malware that is hidden below XP?

Thanks,

--
Mark


"Poprivet" wrote:

Mark W wrote:
Hi,

This started three weeks ago. I have two computers, both running
Windows XP Service Pack 2. One morning, Windows refused to start on
the first machine (a Dell 8250). The Windows logo screen would
display, then nothing. If I requested that it start in Safe mode, it
would quickly list a whole bunch of file names, then nothing. I
attempted to run a Windows repair which appeared to run okay, however
when I tried to start the machine, I got a blue screen (sorry, but I
don't have the details on it anymore). I restored this machine to
its most recent backup using the Norton Recovery CD and Ghost.

Two days later, the second machine (a Dell XPS 600) refused to boot
as well. I restored it to its most recent backup.

Eight days later, the first machine again refused to boot. I
restored it back a month. I contacted Symantec and had them analyze
the second machine, to see if they could determine if it contained a
hidden virus. After a very frustrating 8 hours, they claimed that
the machine was free of viruses. They didn't seem to know if it had
had any viruses to start with and they wouldn't tell me what they had
done. Some existing programs now refused to run and the machine
crashed when I attempted to uninstall the problem programs. I
restored the machine back a month.

Four days later, the second machine again refused to boot. I
restored it back a month.

Today (10 days after its last restore), the first machine refused to
boot.
I have again restored it from backup.

I have the latest signature files for Norton Anti-Virus and am
currently running a full scan daily on both machines. I have run
full scans, using the latest signature files, from the Symantec
Recovery Disk against each machine. I have Norton Firewall up-to-date
on both machines. I have Webroot Spysweeper on both machines. Its
definitions are up-to-date and I am doing full scans almost daily.
All three of these utilities are started automatically at signon.
Tonight, I ran a web-based scan using Panda software against both
machines. I cannot locate any viruses or spyware (other than the
usual cookies).

Has anyone encountered a similar problem to this or know of any virus
that affects the computer in this manner. I have a third machine
that runs Windows 98SE and it has not been affected. It also runs
the above protection applications.

A couple things you didn't mention:

-- ARe you using UPDATED AV files?

-- Running any type of malware detector such as adaware, spybot, etc..
Norton won't catch malware, only a virus.

-- Whether or not your are firewalled. If not, you need to be.

UPDATE ALL, even if you just downloaded them.




.

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