start up

  • Thread starter Thread starter Grace
  • Start date Start date
G

Grace

when my computer started up, it seemed to be stuck on a
page which read something along the lines of b drive :not
found and so on, usually it stays on this page for a
moment then continues but this page stayed for 5 minutes
and everytime i shut the computer down and restarted the
problem persists. Not so long ago my old computer just
kept restarting itself trying to find a 'safe mode', and
inturn I lost a drive, the cause of this is unknown, and
I also lost all my work. Is the way in which my computer
is starting up a problem? is there something wrong with
my computer? because this has never happened before.
 
You might be able to find some useful information at
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;326841&Product=winxp

Other things to consider would be viruses, spyware,
trojans, etc.

Do you have an anti-virus program and do you update and
run it weekly? If not then get one asap! Until then you
can get an on-line check at one of the sites listed below,
but it's better to have the program on your computer so
you can use the auto-protect feature.

http://security.symantec.com
http://housecall.trendmicro.com
http://www.coledata.com/virusalert.htm
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/misc/av.php

Have you installed the applicable updates from Microsoft?
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp
Note: when this page first appears you sometimes have
to 'refresh' to get the scan button to appear.

If you are not already behind a firewall have you
activated the one that comes with XP? Run 'Help and
Support' and search 'firewall'. Another option is Zone
Alarm (their basic firewall is free).
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp

Have you protected yourself from spyware etc.? Run Google
searches for SpyBot, Ad-Aware, and SpywareBlaster. I
currently use all three. Update and run each program
daily.

Test your security
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/

Further information:
http://aumha.org/a/health.htm
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/Security.htm

*** ***
The following is courtesy Kent W. England, Microsoft MVP
for Windows Security

Trojans are stealthy and not always found by anti-virus
software. If you find suspicious processes running or task
manager or regedit is being killed after opening, you
might want to try one of the following tools to check for
trojans (after scanning with at least two anti-virus tools
to get rid of the easy stuff).

DiamondCS TDS-3 - Trojan Defence Suite (TDS), leading anti-
trojan system for Windows: http://tds.diamondcs.com.au/

Agnitum: Products: Tauscan: Home:
http://www.agnitum.com/products/tauscan/

Mischel Internet Security - TrojanHunterT: Finds and
removes trojans: http://www.misec.net/trojanhunter.jsp

MooSoft Development Presents The Cleaner:
http://www.moosoft.com/thecleaner/

Hacker Eliminator. - Advanced Hacker Protection:
http://hacker-eliminator.com/

Hope this helps.
Bill
 
Back
Top