Computer Hope
Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: m216beachhouse on August 18, 2005, 07:41:31 AM
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I know nothing about computer operating systems other than that we have Windows 2000 Professional on our computer, but no install CD. After downloading a virus patch from Microsoft two days ago, I cannot boot Windows. It goes to a blue screen with a stop error that says something like check drive for virus by typing CHKDSK F/. The only way I know to issue this command is to boot off of an old ME recovery disk, but it does not recognize this command when booted. I suspect the patch downloaded was for the wrong operating system, or contained the virus itself. All I really want is the data on my hard drive. I'm willing to load a new operating system if that would help. I'm sure this makes no sense, but can anyone help anyway?
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I suspect the patch downloaded was for the wrong operating system, or contained the virus itself.
Unless the patch was obtained not directly from Microsoft Windows Update than it may very well be a faulty or infected patch.
Where did you obtain it?
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http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E39A3D96-1C37-47D2-82EF-0AC89905C88F&displaylang=en
This was obtained through a company link to Microsoft, so we were not worried about the authenticity.
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Then there is no reason to worry.
Did you perhaps not restart the computer when you were prompted to?
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My husband did the download, but here is what I know. He did restart and it worked fine for that session. The next time the computer was started up, it failed to boot and gave us the STOP error message. I suspect that someone who knew more about working with the operating system would not find this difficult, but since we can't get to the Windows mode, we're stuck.
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can you get to a command prompt?
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Only can get command prompt by booting using and old ME CD. Without CD, we can't get to a prompt after the error message. If we do and F8 while booting we can get to the options menu, but not a prompt.
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What has changed in the session after the update?
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Sorry, I don't understand your question. I'm not sure what session you refer to. I apologize for the level of ignorance.
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Can you tell us what the boot options are, please.
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Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Enable Boot Logging
Enable VGA mode
Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)
Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)
Debugging Mode
Start Windows Normally
Reboot
Return to OS Choices Menu
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I have made a boot disk as suggested in the chat room. Any further advice is welcome. I will not be able to test any of the suggestions until this evening, but would like to be armed with some good prospects to tackle this problem. Thanks.
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Sorry, I don't understand your question. I'm not sure what session you refer to. I apologize for the level of ignorance.
He did restart and it worked fine for that session.
It were your own words.
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Gotcha - nothing appeared to change in the session, it just ran as normal. The patch was described as a preventative measure against the Zotob.A or W32.IRCBot virus, so we didn't expect any change to the operating system. At this point I wonder if it somehow altered the registry (possible that he downloaded a patch for the wrong operating system) or whether a virus has somehow gotten in anyway.
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You should not manually download patches. Let Windows update do it for you.
Has he installed programs or changed any settings during that time?
Can you give us the entire error message?
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choose safe mode with command prompt. then type the command the error tells you to type.
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After more thought, my husband has a vague memory that when he rebooted after installing the patch, he had to hit alt+ctrl+del twice to get to the administrator password prompt, and it took longer than normal to respond. Might be nothing, but that was the only change he noticed.
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points to last post. :)
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Raptor - no he didn't change anything after loading the patch, just logged onto Yahoo and played bridge. I will pass on the download advice. I will copy the error message down when I try some of the ideas later today and if still a problem I'll post it here.
Squirrel - thanks. We tried all of the options and every time it threw us over to the blue screen with the STOP error message. I plan to try again later because that should work and perhaps I missed something last night.
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Providing us with the error message may help us find a solution for you.
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Only can get command prompt by booting using and old ME CD......?
Is this pc setup for dual boot.............
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It can boot from hard drive, CD or disk.
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:D :D :D
Thanks to all who posted yesterday, I was able to fix th problem last night. For those interested in the issue:
The STOP error was an Inaccessible Boot Device error. As millerlogic suggested in the chat room, I downloaded the boot disks for Windows 2000 from bootdisk.com (very helpful) and used that to boot from my A: drive. Then I went into recovery mode as explained in the computerhope.com reference material to get a DOS prompt. I could not run CHKDSK from there though because the Autochk.exe file was not in the startup directory or on an available CD Rom. I rebooted and tried to run in safe mode, but the computer froze while trying to load Windows. I then rebooted again, hit F8 again, and went to last known good configuration. This had not worked the original night we encountered the problem, but with the boot disk, it did. I was able to run CHKDSK and it performed a substantial number of repairs to bad sectors and indexes. When it finished and rebooted, I was back in business. No files lost. I then backed up the registry and boot files and other sensitive files.
Thanks to all for the help. I'm glad I found this site. I'm sure a service could have fixed it, but it was much more entertaining to be able to learn how to do it myself.
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performed a substantial number of repairs to bad sectors and
Bad or lost sectors indicate a failing Hard Disk Drive.
Obtain diagnostic software from the HDD manufacturer and test the HDD.
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Interesting, thanks for the info. This computer, a Compaq Presario 1700T notebook, about 4 yrs old, has gone through quite a few hard drives (I think this is number 3), so your warning is probably on target. I have never been satisfied with its performance, so maybe it is time to go for a new one. We do have a spare hard drive, so that will keep us going for a while till we find one we like.
Do you have any general rules on why hard drives might fail at an alarming rate? Could it be related to environmental or usage factors? It rarely is used anywhere but in our home, either on a lap (go figure) or on a desk. No rough duty at all. Seems strange to me and I don't want to repeat a purchase mistake if its there are known bad models (the hard drive is a Toshiba).
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If you can get a loan of an XP CD you can boot to the Recovery Console and type: chkdsk /r
Missed page two... :(
Glad to see you got it repaired though. :)
Three drives in four years is ... ridiculous. My first computer's drive is still running after 17 years.
This is a new drive that replaced a four year old drive that failed.
Quality control checks quite often grade components into inferior grades which are then sold off cheap. Just bad practice really.
It might be better to buy direct from the drive manufacturer, or non-OEM agent and get a separate warranty just for the drive.
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It rarely is used anywhere but in our home, either on a lap (go figure) or on a desk.
Turn it upside down and make sure you are not blocking the fan ventilation holes with your lap. ;)