Missing hard disk came back - how should I secure it?

  • Thread starter Thread starter zorro
  • Start date Start date
Z

zorro

Hello,

About 6 months ago I was having boot problems on my laptop because some
files were damaged (by a virus I assume). On each reboot the problem
got worse and I tried things like running the recovery disk. But it
didn't help and it got to a point where I had a message saying that
there was no hard disk.

Since then I have been using a second laptop but today I dusted off the
damaged one and started it up just to see and, surprise, surprise, it
booted up with no problems. The OS is running and my files are intact.
So now I don't want to shut it down because I have a feeling the
problem might re-emerge on the next boot.

So what should I do? I don't know what steps should be taken first. I
remember 6 months ago I had run CHKDSK and it didn't stop the system
from deteriorating. So if I do it again now and reboot, the problem
might be back.

My system:
IBM ThinkPad T-21
XP Pro with SP2
 
Hello,

About 6 months ago I was having boot problems on my laptop because some
files were damaged (by a virus I assume). On each reboot the problem
got worse and I tried things like running the recovery disk. But it
didn't help and it got to a point where I had a message saying that
there was no hard disk.

Since then I have been using a second laptop but today I dusted off the
damaged one and started it up just to see and, surprise, surprise, it
booted up with no problems. The OS is running and my files are intact.
So now I don't want to shut it down because I have a feeling the
problem might re-emerge on the next boot.

So what should I do?
Click to expand...

Throw it in the bin. Its knackered. It'll just do the same again.


--
Conor

If Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened
rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic
music.
 
zorro said:
Hello,

About 6 months ago I was having boot problems on my laptop because some
files were damaged (by a virus I assume). On each reboot the problem
got worse and I tried things like running the recovery disk. But it
didn't help and it got to a point where I had a message saying that
there was no hard disk.

Since then I have been using a second laptop but today I dusted off the
damaged one and started it up just to see and, surprise, surprise, it
booted up with no problems. The OS is running and my files are intact.
So now I don't want to shut it down because I have a feeling the
problem might re-emerge on the next boot.

So what should I do? I don't know what steps should be taken first. I
remember 6 months ago I had run CHKDSK and it didn't stop the system
from deteriorating. So if I do it again now and reboot, the problem
might be back.

My system:
IBM ThinkPad T-21
XP Pro with SP2
Click to expand...

Before you do anything else copy everything off it that you might want to
keep.

Conor may be right (see his posting) - the disk may well be defective in
which case bin it.

If you don't want to bin it then I would suggest a complete reformat (not a
quick format), followed by chkdsk /r.

Hope this helps,

Brian.

www.cryer.co.uk/brian
 
Zorro

Backup your data and replace the drive.. Acronis TrueImage is a candidate
for cloning your data..
 
pcbutts1 said:
Start by installing antivirus updating it and running a full scan.
Click to expand...

Ok it's done. I had 14 critters but them's fried now.
Since everyone's saying trash the disk I'll just run
chkdsk...in about an hour...stop me if you got a better idea.
 
Now download, install, update and run all of the following.

Ad-Aware
http://www.pcbutts1.com/downloads/aawsepersonal.exe

Spybot search and destroy
http://www.pcbutts1.com/downloads/spybotsd14.exe

Ewido Security Suite Trial version
http://www.pcbutts1.com/downloads/ewidosetup.exe

Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta1)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...A2-6A57-4C57-A8BD-DBF62EDA9671&displaylang=en



--


The best live web video on the internet http://www.seedsv.com/webdemo.htm
NEW Embedded system W/Linux. We now sell DVR cards.
See it all at http://www.seedsv.com/products.htm
Sharpvision simply the best http://www.seedsv.com
 
zorro said:
Hello,

[About 6 months ago I was having boot problems on my laptop because
some
files were damaged (by a virus I assume). On each reboot the problem
got worse and I tried things like running the recovery disk. But it
didn't help and it got to a point where I had a message saying that
there was no hard disk.]

You wouldn't think so from my desparate plea today but I have had a
similar problem to you before. I don't know if this will help you but I
reformatted my c drive, installed all my software again, and never had a
problem since. Could be the guys are right, so bin it. But if you do
keep it get the latest anti . spyware, a decent firewall and pray. Good
luck.
Click to expand...
 
zorro said:
Hello,

About 6 months ago I was having boot problems on my laptop because some
files were damaged (by a virus I assume). On each reboot the problem
got worse and I tried things like running the recovery disk. But it
didn't help and it got to a point where I had a message saying that
there was no hard disk.
Click to expand...
What Conor said. You can't trust it.

Cheers,

Cliff
 
pcbutts1 said:
Start by installing antivirus updating it and running
a full scan.
Click to expand...
I don't agree. The disk is dodgy, so I would avoid
exercising it. I'd get the data off first and then I'd
probably bin it, like Conor said.

Cheers,

Cliff
 
Okay here's what's been happening:

I've rebooted many times, ran chkdsk a few times and everything's fine.
But a bunch of trojans keep re-appearing after I disinfect with AVG. I
guess that's a matter for another newsgroup but I'm hoping that if I
can get rid of them then my disk will be saved. These are my trojans
and where they lurk. ;-)

Trojan horse IRC/BackDoor.SdBot.48AR
Trojan horse Downloader.Purityscan.M
Trojan horse Downloader.Purityscan.Q
Trojan horse Downloader.Agent.ID
Trojan horse Downloader.Agent.AS
Trojan horse Downloader.Small.9.X
Trojan horse Downloader.Dyfica.2.AK
Trojan horse Downloader.Dyfica.2.AA
Trojan horse Downloader.Alchemic.A
Trojan horse Clicker.AJ
Trojan horse Dropper.Delf.3.BC

C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053242.exe
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053243.dll
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053244.exe
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053245.dll
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053246.exe
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053247.exe
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053248.dll
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053249.exe
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053250.dll
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053251.dll
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053252.exe
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053253.exe
C:\System Volume
Information\_restore{DBF793AB-CE8C-409E-81997-DE8C42474766}\RP129\A0053254.exe
 
It worked. I think i got rid of everything.
I guess the reason people trash their disk is that it takes a long time
to fix so it's just easier to but a new one...
 
zorro said:
It worked. I think i got rid of everything.
I guess the reason people trash their disk is that
it takes a long time to fix so it's just easier to
buy a new one...
Click to expand...
You are still taking a risk. Firstly, you may not have
managed to clear everything off your computer, and you still
may have a flakey disk. It's not that it is difficult to
recover a disk, but it is a risk to assume that everything
is OK after the fix up.

Cheers,

Cliff
 
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