Laptop computer booting issues?

Question

My brother gave me his laptop to look at. It boots up to the desktop screen but comes up with a message saying that there are spyware and infections in his computer. Apparently this only happened when he installed Norton. No programs will open and after about 4 minutes, the screen starts to dissappear from the top down until there is nothing to see on desktop except his background pic.

I have started laptop in safemode with prompts but am not sure of what commands to type to:

1. Remove Norton so i can work the problem out on desktop and install a program to destroy the infections.

2. Type commands to completely reformatt the HDD on the laptop and start all over again.

Would be appreciated if anyone has any differnt ideas too on this topic.

Answer 1

unfortunately, you can't format the hard drive from within windows. you have to either do the system recovery, or boot from the windows disc to the disc and format that way. go to symantic.com and get the removal tool, install it on the hard drive and remove it while in safe mode if it will let you. if not, try from windows booted normally

Answer 2

First, Norton wont allow you to remove it in safe mode, it sounds though your computer is infected, badly.
If you have another PC, download a copy of Avast from www.avast.com, put it on a CD, install that on the infected computer (with internet disconnected), chose to scan when next restart, this may help to isolate most of the virus from it for you to do more cleaning,.

Answer 3

hmmmmmmm
i don't recommend complete format for the hd
first try to re install windows
but clean installation
i mean , only format the c:\ partion
, and install mcafee07
it will be great for spyware
and if the problem continues
format the full drive
i hope this will help
if not , i will be glad to hear more questions