Tom's Guide | Tom's Hardware | Tom's Games
 |
 |
 |
I recently got infected with a virus which according to Symantec was a low level threat. I removed the virus but the damage had already been done to Windows. I reinstalled Windows and noticed the web browsers were taking far too long to load pages so I fdisked my machine to do a clean install. Ever since then I cannot install windows without the installation locking up. I even tried installing Win98 and that said i had insufficient memory (2Gb) and to close any memory resident programs.
I have changed RAM and still Windows locks up during installation. i have cleared the CMOS but no difference. Also sometimes no drives are detected during POST.
Any ideas of what is going on?
You shouldn't use Fdisk at all with WinXP. When using Fdisk you need to choose Y for large disk support. Not doing that will result in a 2GB partition, which you have. The partition is storage, not memory. All you need to do is insert the WinXP CD into the CD drive and boot the computer. When a screen appears asking if you want to boot to the CD strike any key to start the CD. If you need to install SATA drivers hit F6 when prompted to and then supply them. You need to delete all partitions on the drive and create new partition/s as desired. Read the screens as they go by and respond accordingly.
0 
Yes...I know that. I fdisked so that I could destroy anything on that hard drive so i could start over with a clean partition.
Is there any way a virus can mess with BIOS? I have tried to enable virus protection in the BIOS and save settings. Whenever I go back in, virus protection is disabled.
I am able to format the hard drive but no successfully install windows
0
I think OtheHill has misinterpreted your 2GB situation. Your system specs show 2gb of RAM. Windows98 will not instal with that much ram. Maximum it will address is 512mb so that is your reason for being unable to instal 98.
Now as to the problems reinstalling XP. That's a different matter. It's not enough to say the installation is locking up. You need to tell us exactly at what point in the process it hangs, and what if any error messages you are getting.
without that info we are guessing as to the cause of your problem.I used to have a signature but it disappeared and I just couldn't be bothered writing another so please feel free to ingore this.
0
"I even tried installing Win98 and that said i had insufficient memory (2Gb)..."
Actually, you have too much memory. If you want to install 98 (I don't know why), you'll have to lower the RAM amount to 512MB.
"i have cleared the CMOS but no difference"
After you did that, did you go back into the BIOS & correct all the settings again? Default settings are not best performance settings...there are several settings that need to be customized based on your hardware. Since you didn't bother to list your specs, it's difficult to suggest any settings.
As was stated, FDISK was unnecessary...if you knew that, why did you do it?
0
Since you said your cleared bios you might wish to look over each page or try a premade selection like fail safe or default settings.
I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you goober.
0
There are ways to run W98 with 2G of RAM but it seems pointless putting it on that machine when it should run XP just fine.
Viruses do not attack the BIOS.
DerekW
0
Could have a bad CMOS battery if the BIOS keeps goig back to the default settings.
Check the date first.
If it's OK, then change a setting and then go back after rebooting and the setting is changed back it could well be a bad battery.
Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness
0
You can run WIN98SE with more than 512MB RAM but you need to change the setting for maximum memory cache. I used to run 1GB with my WIN98SE computers.
I don't think your virus infection is responsible for your computer's behavior now.
How good is your PSU?
0
I only wanted to put 98 on there so i could do an upgrade.
I have since managed to get XP back on but web browsers seem to take ages loading web pages. The Internet connection is fine becuase I have run speed tests but sometimes it will take several minutes to load a web page
0
When you remove a virus is it still somewhere on your hard drive even though the anti virus reports it has been deleted?
It just seems a bit odd that my PC was fine until i got that virus then everything seems to be slow and not behaving properly.
Like i said in a previous post that my web browsers are running really slow and even Outlook takes ages to display the first message in the inbox even though it has been downloaded.
I was just wandering if I used something like KillDisk and totally wipe the hard drive of everything and try reinstalling Windows again. I am not happy with the performance at the moment.
0
Your assessment may be correct. If you have a backup solution in place for your personal files then that would be a good idea. If you decide you wish to go that route you might want to perform a system repair first.
0
I have started my computer up in Windows 2k (got a dual boot) and the browsers run fine.
Why would browsers not run properly in XP?
0
Latest updates.
Known to cause problems in XP all the time.
The Yahoo Toolbar is a known killer of Internet Explorer.
However, I'm confused, originally you couldn't even see the drives or boot. Have you mad progress you haven't advised us of?
Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness
0
I eventually got windblows to install but ever since i had that virus things haven't been right.
I don't install any toolbars on browsers as i can't stand them.
I did think it was a hard drive problem so i may still wipe the disk clean and possibly change the cmos battery
0
If that virus is still lurking then there is no certainty it is cleared by reloading Windows, so maybe a clean install later....
CMOS battery might be why your drives get lost, so worth keeping an eye on the clock - as mentioned in #8. See if it changes time.
I assume you've got XP back on there again. Glad to hear you've at least got it back and thx for popping back to let us know.
DerekW
0
Back again :(
I used KillDisk to wipe that hard drive and in the end i took it out.
I installed Windows 2000 without any problems on another hard drive I had in the machine but now i have a really strange thing happening.
I have a 300Gb Seagate Barracuda hdd which has never been used. I connected it up and when i go into the BIOS, no ide drives are detected, not even cd-roms. If i disconnect it, all the other drives are detected. This is a pain as I need this extra hard drive as backup.
As for the cmos battery, every time i try and enable virus check in the bios and go back in, it's set to disabled. This happens even if i enable and it and save the changes. The weird thing is the time and date is OK....any ideas?
0
Sounds like you have jumper set incorrectly for one thing.
Check the Seagate for the correct jumper settings and it's position on the cable.
As for the BIOS resetting, the Date/Time thing are not the only indicators of weak CMOS battery.
Change it as it only cost around $4.00 US.
Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness
0  |
 Laptop sceen boots up whe...
|
423 socket processors....
|
This post is quite old and has been locked from receiving new replies. Please create a new posting instead.
| Ads by Google |
