Project Reality Forums

About a week ago now I had a virus appear on my computer. I have no idea where or how it got there, all it did was periodically BSOD my PC and stuff around with some registry settings, including changing things like making System Restore unaddressable so I couldn't revert to get rid of it. I could run in safe mode occasionally, other times it would just BSOD me.

After getting some help and making SysRestore (rstrui.exe) usable again, and using rkill.exe to stop the processes running, I managed to delete them and my PC was running fine. I did another system restore about 4 days behind just to be sure, and everything seemed to be alright.

About 3 days ago now it happened again. I was simply surfing the intertube when the virus came up (in the form of a fake AV listing fake viruses and asking me to dl some random ****) and then about 4 seconds later I had another bluescreen.

Since then I've tried everything including system restores, and trying to put on a new copy of windows, formatting my C drive in the process. None have worked, most likely due to the fact that I was installing them off a USB key as my netbook (only other PC) doesn't have a DVD burner.

Its been unsuccessful everytime but somehow I've managed to stay in safe mode, but in normal windows just after I enter my password, it bluescreens saying there is a missing/corrupted file in \Windows\system32\

Note that I don't have the Windows install disk and cannot run the repair tool.

I'm at a total loss of what to do. Malwarebytes can't even pick it up nor can Avast, with the latter having serious problems including not even being able to start up properly in safe mode, let alone use its features.

I'd appreciate any form of help, but remember whatever it is it has to work in safe mode, I can't get on normally at all.

tl;dr PC BSOD's when logging in on normal mode, safe mode works occasionally, what do?

Specs:

4gb Kingston HyperX RAM
Seagate 320gb
Asus P5KPLC-1600
Intel E6850
Sparkle GTS280
Vista Home Basic

When in safe mode:
Open Console ("Start" -> "Run" -> "cmd.exe")
Run CHKDSK with "/r" option on all drives. ("chkdsk c: /r" - might ask if it should scan after reboot)
This is a more thorough scan so you should try it even though you have seen it scan several times before.

On a side note: This might be your time to upgrade to Win7. I prefere it - its running generally more stable on my laptop. Make sure you get an OEM .

Btw. you should get AV-Software. Free antivirus - Avira AntiVir or AVG are quite common.

[R-COM]SnipingCoward wrote:This might be your time to upgrade to Win7.

Told you so!
Sorry tacs, if you can't boot windows normally the virus has messed with and corrupted something (same thing happened to me except it was just bad luck, not a virus).
Try and find a Vista disc off of someone you know or even ask a computer shop for a favour?

'[R-COM wrote:SnipingCoward;1480939']When in safe mode:
Open Console ("Start" -> "Run" -> "cmd.exe")
Run CHKDSK with "/r" option on all drives. ("chkdsk c: /r" - might ask if it should scan after reboot)
This is a more thorough scan so you should try it even though you have seen it scan several times before.

On a side note: This might be your time to upgrade to Win7. I prefere it - its running generally more stable on my laptop. Make sure you get an OEM .

Btw. you should get AV-Software. Free antivirus - Avira AntiVir or AVG are quite common.

Had to restart to do the chkdsk however it brings me the same 'select safe mode' screen, so I select SM with networking however it just loads without doing the chkdsk.

I'm working on upgrading to Win7, should have the disk in a few days. I've been offput by it as I've used multiple copies none of which worked.

Edit: Disregard actually, its doing the chkdsk now, hopefully it comes up with some results.

Just an update the CHKDSK didn't really do anything (should I have expected it to?), it restarted after it did it but just BSOD'd again in regular Windows.

Still open to any form of help or suggestions.

If u are lucky chkdsk with /r might eventually repair damaged system files, I think its always worth a try. Saved me a few reinstalls already... but not always.

If you have the equipment and are willing to risk an infection of your other pc you could try and directly hook up the hdd to the other pc (make sure it has some kind of AV).
You could then try to save some data.

In desperate situations like this I usually resort to using linux to back up my valued data and then wipe the hdd (repartition and reformat with gparted).
There are alot of different linux derivates to choose from. Alot of them will supply a "life" and/or USB variant. I like Ubuntu live CD or INSERT (from "inside security").