Reformating issue with XP

[billiegirl]

Hi there I hope someone be able to help me :)

I am currently on our spare old computer at the moment and boys its very slow, but my other computer got itself a worm of some kind where all my ram is taken away and I cant open anything and when I try to run the virus protector it wont let me even in safe mode.

Anyway best thing to do is to wipe the whole computer lucky I could save everything I wanted to problem is having a bit of issue reformating.

I have xp home edition sp 2, I have the xp cd with me, I found a great webiste saying howto reformat with windows xp cd but problem is my BIOS does not reckonise my cd driver.

I go in there and only gives me the opition to choose the HD or the Floppy drive how do I make it notice I do have a D drive which is my CD rom.

Any help would be great as I have no idea and I am still learning.

Cheers :D

[lmnobs]

Check your BIOS by noting during boot up the Key Commands needed to access the BIOS, this will be a text message usually at the bottom of the screen. If your system has a splash screen with the OEM logo hiding the boot up screen, press ESC as soon as you start boot up. When you get to the BIOS, access the screen that allows you to change the boot sequence. Set it to boot from CD before hard drive in the boot sequence. If you still can't boot to the CD then w will try sumpin else.

[lmnobs]

but my other computer got itself a worm of some kind where all my ram is taken away and I cant open anything and when I try to run the virus protector it wont let me even in safe mode.

You may just have some bad memory you can replace it and or try doing a system restore on it before you wipe every thing out...
System Restore: from Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tools> System Restore. Look for the last program; update; etc. you installed before the problem occurred and select a restore point accordingly.

[lmnobs]

http://www.nerdlabs.org/bootdisks/diskimages/wbootess.exe Go here and download wbootess.exe save it to your computer and if you still can not boot to CD after you try all the other suggestions it will allow you to make a bootable floppy to get your CD drive to work on your xp since you stilll have a Floppy ?

[billiegirl]

Thanks Imnbos, I know it cant be the memory its only new, I cant get on the net with the computer and the old computer floppy broken. (the joys) I called my aunty she a bit of a expert in computer so hopefully she can figure out what to do.

We did a boot disk and when you put in D:/ never reckonise it or any other letters like E, F, G nothing so dont know seems odd. But my aunty going to look into it for me and hopefully she will figure it out.

Cheers and thanks for your help.

[lmnobs]

New memory can be bad and or not the right match for your mobo, did you try a system restore, and get your aunt to make the floppy for you from the posted link then load it in the one you are having trouble with as it has the drivers you need ....

[billiegirl]

I get my aunty too look into the website to make a boot copy for me (good idea) I brought the ram about three months ago never had an issue with it but I get her to look at that too just incase. It should be good with my motherboard as my book said it should be.

Thanks for the ideas and I get my aunty have a look at them.

Cheers :D

[vantim]

you said it doesn't work in safe mode either. This doesn't sound like a worm or a ram problem. It sounds to me like you have a bad setting somewhere. Like maybe, your virtual memory is disabled or set too low. If this is an arrant program like a worm and it's eating all your ram, then you can add more ram to the machine to compensate.


What happens when you boot to safe mode? Does windows load at all?

[billiegirl]

When I am in safe mode I could save some things, I could use by cd burner to burn a few things I wanted to keep which is odd cause if I put a cd into either my burner or rom the computer does not reckonise it. Keeps telling me to place cd in that drive. Whats even more odd when I click on Nero express to burn the data its said it couldnt open the program but then it did anyway and work like a dream.

I use my spyware ran that but didnt find anything, I cant use my virus protector and do a scan (Trend Micro Pc-cillien) everytime I try and run a virus scan its says "cant intinalize scan engine, scan aborted"

Seems very odd but nothing normal with computers anyway lol.

Cheers :D

[vantim]

Try doing a system restore. click start> all programs > accessories> system tools> system restore. Find a date before all this started. The dates you can restore to are in bold on the calander.

[billiegirl]

Cool I think I will try that sees like a good idea...what else do I have to loose hay :) Its here 11pm here in Australia so I try it tomorrow morning and I let you know if it works ok.

Thanks for you help

Cheers :D

[vantim]

Ok, I'm in the states and this is the time of day or night to you that I'm on. Good luck and let me know. I'll try and check back in 8 or 10 hours. keep me posted and we'll get to the bottom of this. just hang on

[lmnobs]

:confused: Is this thing on???? or an echo about System Restore???

Here are a few ways to \\Running System Restore

If you can boot Windows:

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore. Click the Restore My Computer to an earlier time, next.

If you cannot boot Windows:

Boot into safe mode. Click the System Restore link. Click the Restore My Computer to an earlier time, next.

Note: Current documents, files and e-mail are not affected during a restoration.

Undoing a Restoration

Reversing Restoration if you can boot your computer:

Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore. Click "Undo my last restoration", next. Click Ok to the
screen message after the reboot.

Reversing Restoration if you cannot boot your computer:

Boot into safe mode, follow the help screen and choose, "Undo my last restoration".

Note: If you have chosen the wrong restore date, follow the steps under, "Undoing a Restoration".

[vantim]

LOL She musta liked the way I typed it better. :rolleyes: I didn't notice you typed it earlier otherwise, I would have said like lmnobs suggested.

Sometimes you just can't see the forest through the trees

[lmnobs]

LOL She musta liked the way I typed it better.
Well you do have Pretty typing but all in al I think they should try a System Restore if that has not been Typed yet or do a system Restore maybe...... :D

[billiegirl]

OK not looking good, I tried system restore in 'safe mode' first and it would not allow me any date, there was no date in bold and I could not even go back a month or anything. I tried in normal windows but cause its sooo slow I cant open the section. I get to start, accessories, system tools then nothing. Cant seem to get to the next table to open, cause the computer so busy with the bloody bug. Its basically froze on me really.

And sorry Imnbos I feel bad I did notice about the system restore when you mention it sorry :)

I have not heard back from my aunty yet she said she look into it and call me back she doing a bit of research on the net.

Bloody computer or should i say bloody virues.

Cheers and thanks for the help :D

[lmnobs]

No worries try the other options posted for the System Restore and see what ya get....

[billiegirl]

Dont want to sounds like dumb blonde (sad as I am blonde :) ) um what otherways can I do a system restore? I did in both normal windows and safe mode and neither worked.

If you know another way let me know ok.

Cheers :D

[lmnobs]

OK ,there are no Dumb Questions and Blondes are usually Highly Inteeligint as Iknow a spew of them lol... here is a link to walk you through most of the ways to do a system restore .It requires some reading ,so please read through it befpre you try anything as it will truly help you understand the options available to you .
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_restore.htm

[billiegirl]

Thanks Imnobs :) I read and give it ago and I let you know.

Cheers :D