Re: Fixing broken XP install on XPS machine


In article <gopc0v$ms0$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, BillW50 <BillW50@xxxxxxx> wrote:
In news:gop7q2$f9l$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Mike S. typed on Thu, 5 Mar 2009 19:05:38 +0000 (UTC):
In article
<b81ce894-b570-4318-9b1e-eba0d71c17c7@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
William R. Walsh <wm_walsh@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
[...]
1. The NTFS file system on the C: drive seems to be messed up. When
the system boots, the pre-desktop screen displays a text message
saying that AUTOCHK is not available for disk type RAW. Running
Norton Disk Doctor from a Live CD, it complains that neither NTFS
boot sector is readable (how, then can the system boot and run?)

This sounds like the virus that hit may have some features that make
it "ransomware"...software that somehow denies you access to your
data (by encrypting it, most usually) and then asking you to pay up
within a certain time or face losing the data.

Yes, except the system boots and files are accessible. This is why I'm
leaning towards:

- failing hardware
- residual malware
- damaged storage drivers not replaced by the repair install

The first thing I thought of was the MBR (main boot record) has a virus,
malware, or something else attached to it. I would simply rewrite over
the MBR and give that a shot.

Booted the XP install DVD and ran FIXMBR. It gives a dire warning that
there is a non-standard partition and re-writing the MBR may cause loss of
all data. I panicked and stopped.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Fixing broken XP install on XPS machine
    ... saying that AUTOCHK is not available for disk type RAW. ... except the system boots and files are accessible. ... The first thing I thought of was the MBR has a virus, ... Booted the XP install DVD and ran FIXMBR. ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Fixing broken XP install on XPS machine
    ... saying that AUTOCHK is not available for disk type RAW. ... except the system boots and files are accessible. ... The first thing I thought of was the MBR has a virus, ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Fixing broken XP install on XPS machine
    ... message saying that AUTOCHK is not available for disk type RAW. ... neither NTFS boot sector is readable (how, ... except the system boots and files are accessible. ... rewrite over the MBR and give that a shot. ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Fixing broken XP install on XPS machine
    ... saying that AUTOCHK is not available for disk type RAW. ... except the system boots and files are accessible. ... The first thing I thought of was the MBR has a virus, ... Same AUTOCHK error at startup, ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)
  • Re: Fixing broken XP install on XPS machine
    ... saying that AUTOCHK is not available for disk type RAW. ... except the system boots and files are accessible. ... The first thing I thought of was the MBR has a virus, ...
    (alt.sys.pc-clone.dell)