I pressed to heal my virus, then my computer shut off and will not start. Can I save my comp w/o losing data?

Question

Yesterday I ran a scan with the free version of AVG anti-virus and once I began the scan, it said it found a virus. A list of choices came up and the highlighted one was to heal it, so I pressed that. However, my computer then shut off and now it just loops during the startup phases, and cannot just restarts after the page that says Microsoft Windows XP. I cannot get onto safe mode or last known good config either. My guess is that when I clicked to heal, it actually activated the virus. My computer was working just fine before this. Is there any way to save my computer without having to reformat it?

Answer 1

Just because the computer will not start, data is not necessarily lost.

First, try to use the Windows XP CD to repair the windows installation. You will not lose any data this way.

Another way to back up data is to use an Ubuntu live CD. Boot from the CD and then you should be able to access files in Ubuntu from the hard drive. Ubuntu live CD has USB support so you can use a USB flash drive to backup files.

Answer 2

download a live CD of a linux distro that can access your data and copy them to a portable hard drive, I dont exactly remember which linux distro(it may be Red Hat) but there is more than one, and also you can just burrow a portable hard drive from a friend you dont have to buy it

and next time buy an AV the free ones aren't that good, any commercial AV does the job

Answer 3

sounds to me like ur computer has completely crashed!!! erm... avg probaly cocked up as it probably found a bad virus and to stop it harming ur comp it has shut it down but now u carn't start it again!!! erm... best thing would probably be to get a computer techys advice... before u reformat!!

gd luk!

Answer 4

You will need a recovery disk. insert your windows recovery disk try to repair the OS. If no good try to recover your data from a 3rd party recovery tool I use Bart-PE (since the dude who wrote it got sued it's hard to find). if successful then use a prog like DOD wipe to wipe the HD. then re-install the OS. Good luck!!

Answer 5

AHH!! i had the same problem. i dont think there is away. i just reformated the computer. how did you get the virus man. im still tryin to figure that out. cause it happened to me like 2 times

Answer 6

turn ur computer on and when it askses you what you wanna do push the start windows when its was working fine

Answer 7

Do a repair install. A repair install should not erase and data. If you accidentally run a reinstall by accident all you files will be lost forever.

Repair install. (should not lose data)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

After your computer is running again, back up your files. You then can decide to reformat and reinstall Windows or not.

OS Reinstallation vs. Virus Removal
http://safecomputing.umn.edu/guides/rebuild_repair.html
=================================
Reformat and Reinstall

Run Belarc Adviser: Print out results.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Locate all your drivers and software disks and keys.

Read the following prior to reformatting:

Pre Flattening and Reinstall Checklist
http://blog.angrypets.com/2006/01/ultimate_prefla.html
http://www.thefuhrmans.com/reformat_hd.htm

Reformat and install. (Cleans drive. You loses all data)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313348
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/install.mspx
http://www.whitecanyon.com/reformat-the-hard-drive-in-windows-xp.php
http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/l0910/32l10/32l10.asp
===========================
Spyware and Virus Protection

In addition to a firewall you must have full time (active) virus protection and full time (active) spyware protection.

All the following programs are free.
---------------------------------------------
Full Time (Active) Virus Protection
If you do not have active virus protection, install only one. All are excellent.
Try AVG first.

AVG Antivirus 7.5 Free Edition
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10669237.html?tag=lst-0-1
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
or
AOL Active Virus Shield (powered by Kaspersky)
http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivirus/freeav/index.adp
---------------------------------------------------------
Full Time (Active) Spyware Protection
Start with Windows Defender.

Windows Defender
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

or
AOL Automatic Protection Against Spyware and Malware
http://daol.aol.com/safetycenter/spyware
http://daol.aol.com/safetycenter/
---------------------------------------------------------
Install the following four programs and run weekly or at least monthly. You need all four. They will greatly increase your protection. They are not a substitute for full time spyware and virus protection.

Ad-Aware SE Personal (update + full scan)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Spybot Search & Destroy (update + immunize + scan)
Do not enable Tea Timer and SDHelper
After installation: update + scan + immunize
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

SpywareBlaster: Update then open and click “enable all protection”.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SUPERAntiSpyware free version: (update + scan)
http://www.superantispyware.com/
--------------------------------
Install The following:

CCleaner: Do not install toolbar option
Removes tracking cookies, unneeded files, history
In options.
Set to run when computer starts.
Place cookies you want to keep in save list
http://www.ccleaner.com/
============================
Install either one not both:

McAfee Site Advisor: Internet Explorer and Firefox
http://www.siteadvisor.com/
McAfee SiteAdvisor helps protect you from all kinds of Web-based security threats including spyware, adware, spam, viruses, browser exploits, and online scams.

TrendProtect™
http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/free_security_tools/trendprotect.php
TrendProtect is a FREE browser plug-in that helps you avoid Web pages with unwanted content and hidden threats.
========================
Monthly Run

Microsoft Update:
Run in "Custom Mode". Install everything, reboot and repeat until nothing is left to install.
http://www.update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Microsoft OneCare Live, run “full service scan”
Updates windows, virus and spyware scan, disk cleanup, disk fragmentation (if needed), backs up registry and then cleans registry, and checks for open firewall ports
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

Malicious Software Removal Tool (run “full scan”)
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
================================
Online Free Scanners:
Run Trend Micro, Kaspersky, and Panda Scan now.
Run a different one each month.

Avast! Online Scanner
http://onlinescan.avast.com/
BitDefender Online Scanner
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
CA eTrust® PestScan
http://pestpatrol.com/pestscan/index.htm
eTrust Antivirus Web Scanner
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
F-Secure Online Virus Scanner
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml
Kaspersky - Free Online Virus Scan
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
McAfee - Free Scan
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs
Panda Software - ActiveScan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/activescan/ascan_2.asp
Symantec (norton) - Security Check
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp
Trend Micro™ HouseCall
http://www.trendmicro.com/hc_intro/default.asp
------------------------------
Rootkit Removers
Pick any 2 and install and run one each month.

AVG Anti-Rootkit
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/products-avg-anti-rootkit-update-app-art/?ver=1.1.0.29
F-Secure BlackLight
http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/
Panda Anti-Rootkit
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/antirootkit/
Sophos Anti-Rootkit