My computer has been infected with a virus, can't get my data off of it. HELP!?

Question

Our desktop computer, which we have had for several years now, was infected with a virus a short while ago. Even though I have no idea how this happened, I need the data on that computer to get recovered. I can't get any programs to open, and the blue screen of death pops up at me after a short while. Does anyone know how to:

a. Recover the hard drive data
b. Kill the virus

Please keep in mind that I can't really get the computer to function outside of starting up and getting to the desktop.

Thanks!

Our desktop computer, which we have had for several years now, was infected with a virus a short while ago. Even though I have no idea how this happened, I need the data on that computer to get recovered. I can't get any programs to open, and the blue screen of death pops up at me after a short while. Does anyone know how to:

a. Recover the hard drive data
b. Kill the virus

Please keep in mind that I can't really get the computer to function outside of starting up and getting to the desktop. I have NO access to any of the programs on the computer.

Thanks!

Answer 1

A BSOD is not a normal viral pattern; you may actually have a problem with your hard drive itself or a corrupted system file. You can check to see if it's a corrupted hard drive by using a program like SpinRite:

http://grc.com

Having said that, if it is a virus I would do the following:

OK, there are several things you need to do; most of the first steps can be done from Safe Mode with networking enabled (see below for how to get into Safe Mode):

1) turn off System Restore. You do this by going to Accessories..System Tools..System Restore. Turn this off--it's most often not needed and is a place where viruses hide.

2) go to www.grisoft.com and download their AVG anti-virus package. After installation, make sure you have it updated with the most current definitions.

3) I assume you're running Windows XP. Turn off your computer and re-start it in safe mode (which you do by repeatedly pressing either F5 or F8 just after you turn the power back on--you'll get a menu asking you how you want to start up). Once you've booted into safe mode, run the AVG software. This is a *very* aggressive software package and can remove just about anything.

4) Reboot your computer normally. If you're still having problems, continue with the following:
5) Go to
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/progr...
and download HiJackThis. Run the program, which will create a log file. Go to

http://forums.spywareinfo.com/

and post your HiJackThis log. You will get an extremely rapid, very precise answer as to whether or not you still have any infections and, if so, exactly what to do.

6) After everything is all cleaned up I recommend installing SpyBot (it's free; just make sure to keep it updated):
http://www.safer-networking.org/

and SpywareTerminator (also free):
http://www.spywareterminator.com/

Good luck!

Answer 2

You may be able to boot the computer directly from your WinXP disc or Norton Antivirus. Best to start in Safe Mode

You may be able to access the drive with another computer via a USB enclosure. Make sure the other PC is Virus protected. Have Macaffee of Norton scan and repair your drive while it is in the enclosure. Tiger Direct and Compusa are cheap places to find these. Compusa takes returns, so you can use it and return it the next day saying you didn't need it.

Answer 3

Make the C drive sharable. Bring up the computer in safe mode. Log into another computer on the same network and have it grab the files from your infected computer. If no other computer, than you'll need to copy the files in question to a disk or USB drive.

You could, instead, run msconfig. Then, set only the programs you know are safe to run. Reboot. Then, run your virus scan to kill the bugger.

Best of luck.

Answer 4

Try booting from a Norton Internet Security CD. It may be necessary to enter Setup and allow the computer to boot from the optical drive if your computer insists on booting from the hard drive.

For what it's worth, the Norton/Symantec website is

http://www.symantec.com/index.jsp

but there may be a boxed package at Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

And of course there are other general security programs out there (like McAfee), but I don't have much experience with them.

And though there may not be good resources there for this particular issue, it probably wouldn't hurt to mention

http://www.bootdisk.com/

in case some items there may prove useful.

Good luck.

Answer 5

The Blue Screen of Death is just that...your operating system is shot...by doing a repair istall it replaces just the operating system...same as sfc /scannow
Start your computer
Put your windows cd in the drive
It will ask if you want to do a repair install or clean install
Chose repair install and follow the prompts
You have a 1% chance of losing data. If you chose to do a clean install you have 100% chance of losing everything.
As far as the virus is concerned I would need to know more about it.

Answer 6

here is what i would do , first off find someone who will let you install your hard drive into thier computer as a slave drive. then use their computer to access the files you need to save from your hard drive, and burn them to cd-rom. once you have backed everything up on cd-rom, reformat the hard drive while it is still in the friends computer, and shut it down after , take fresh reformatted hard drive put it back into your system, and reinstall windows ..

Answer 7

I think you have wild viruses, First, you need to go to
My computer, did you see the local disk C, right click and properties and do the clean up. Second scan your computer with avast antivirus, AOL antivirus or what ever you have there. well, good luck!

Answer 8

it ought to not be a virulent disease. it could additionally be a topic with the motherboard. as much because it pains you to accomplish that, you may would desire to place laptop in a restoration save to work out what the subject is. you're able to settle on if the preparation on the previous laptop is nicely well worth the money. pictures are frequently "effective", till you're able to pay to retrieve them. :{)

Answer 9

go to http://propcaid.com/ than go to computer help and tell them what is going on with your computer (just copy and past this info) and they will e-mail you a solution