Windows XP forum: can't start XP

I see XP is at SP2 when SP3 has been out for over a year. SP3 contained many security fixes and by now that issue with the HP AMD machines is one we know how to deal with. You held back and got hit with malware that may have done less damage but what may be interesting is why no SP3?

I also see a very outdated Ubuntu. Isn't it up to 10.x?

Try running 10.x Ubuntu from CD to see if you can save your files. OR the cheap fix of installing a new blank drive to install XP and Ubuntu fresh then add your old drive later to reclaim files that are not on your backup.

==> Here's my thought. System Restore was not a known method to repair that malware. You appear to have tried something new and it's done some deep damage to the OS. Next time, research how others are dealing with the malware.

Bob

My advice was to boot and run from an Ubuntu 10.x CD.

IF THAT LOCKS UP then we need to look at the hardware. Cleaning the dust off the heat sinks is a good start.

Reading your posts I missed what machine this is, age, make, etc.
Bob

I can only guess that subtle hints that what machine this is and more is not clear enough that you should tell more. Also I wrote about running Ubuntu from CD yet you installed it.

Maybe a shop counter can fix this for you?
Bob

If you didn't backup your stuff then it would be a bad idea.

The rather terse list you gave puts this machine right at the time period of when BAD CAPS were found. You can research that and inspect the machine.

It's a shame we are at this many posts you it appears you will have to take it to a shop. I can't guess why you didn't try my suggestions.
Bob

It is your choice on how to repair or start over.

-> You may wonder why there is no "correct way" to repair your system. In your case there are two reasons.

1. Windows (and Microsoft) never provided a sure fire way to repair the OS short of installing it again.
2. Your system is a dual boot. This means that odd things happen that the maintainer of this system would have to create systems and procedures to cure what happens when it all goes south.

If it's malware, and the name of the malware is known you can use google to see if there is a known fix.
Bob

Is an option that you can control. I can only guess and apologise in advance that you are new to XP's logon options. If so most of this is easy to research with google and this phrase "Change how XP lets me log on".

About the virus. I can't say that logon options is something a virus we know affects. Given we can change this, why not change it to your preference?

As to restore system files in all other drives, that is not normal. But you may have a reason to do that. Please tell why you want that?

Bob

You'll have to find out where. It's not from anything I read in your posts but the worst virus I came across was someone's XP CD. I didn't think anything about when the owner supplied a copy of their XP CD but later we scanned it and found a pest on that CD. Turned out it was a cracked copy.

Not much we could do for them. They felt entitled to a free XP so they downloaded it from some torrent.

Go figure what the lesson here is.
Bob

For one, as Bob stated, this would likely come from a cracked CD. On the other hand, you state you've used it many times prior.

Since it's only word against word currently, and you've already installed, I suggest doing another reinstall but this time use DBAN.

Don't use the beta, just the top choice where it says, looking for latest version, right above the two folder choices.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/dban/files/

read about Dban here...

http://www.dban.org/about

It's fairly simple, it will thoroughly wipe the drive. Download the iso, burn to disk, run it from boot then reinstall XP clean.

Let us know how it goes.

After formatting the drive and installing a fresh copy of windows. I switched off the pc. After 2 hours I ran the pc again. When the pc starts it asks from username and password inside XP. As fas as I remember this message was not shown when I used to format the drive and install fresh copy. THis awkward events seems like virus is not going away even after formating and then installing a fresh copy.

Can I use DBAN to format only c drive? I don't want to wipe my other drives even if I have a backup.

formatting the drive, I would also like to hear your answers to Bob's questions.

I don't use any anti-virus may be that's why my pc got infected.