Flashing Underscore of Death????

[John Klyne]

Okay well I just noticed x10Hosting has a thread on Computers and Technology

So I guess I might as well as for some help..ANY HELP AT ALL...if it works to fix my problem I will give you all my credits "I SWEAR"

I have a desktop computer, compaq. Best computer I have had in my life. And I've owned a lot in my life so I've probably tried more things than you all might have.

It is a Desktop Computer,

Compaq Presario SR2038X AMD 64 AthlonX2 Dual Core
Processor 3800+
Memory 1024 MB
250GB Hard drive
Graphics NVIDIA GeForce 615o LE
Womdpws XP, but Windows Vista Compatable.

I really have no idea what other computer information you may need.

The day before, or the day of the computer breaking, there was a virus, I used Malwarebytes to destroy it...then WAM...

When I go to turn on my computer, it doesn't start normally it sends me to a black screen with a blinking underscore at the top Left corner of the moniter...

I tried all those pretty buttons at the top of the keyboard, f1 f2 f3 f4 and all of those...at least once every time I turne the computer on before the blinking white underscore at the top left corner, and right after the windows xp sign that you get when the computer turns on.

I will give all my credits to fix this problem I have. I remember in the past, I was able to press one of those f1 or f2 or f3 or fsomething buttons and it let me restart the computer back to the way it was BRAND new, with nothing on it as if I just bought it...but I can't do that now?..

Any help, or tips on fixing it, would be great...I looked online didn't find anything that helped.

I swear, if you can help me, and I do it to the computer and it works, I will give you all of my credits...I am not sure how much that is, but all of them.

Thank you for your time and your help or consideration.
From John Klyne.

[Francis_J]

Mmm I can't tell for sure but my guess is you deleted some sort of malware/virus that was integrated into your OS. It would be good if you could give the type of malware it was.

For an example situation there's this family of viruses: win32\Sality
These types of viruses infect program files, meaning they get inside(alter/change) these programs. They become part of the program.

Now since Windows is also made up of a number of EXE's then there's no question that a number of very important exe's could have gotten infected.

So considering these facts there's the possibility your AV could have detected an exe, but it so happens that that particular exe was required for windows to run properly. You're AV deleted this(there's even a good chance your AV asked you to reboot to be able to do this). After deletion the exe was missing hence windows could not properly boot.

I'm not saying that this is what happened to your System. It's just one of the many ways we can get into the kind of situation you are in now.

Solution:
Best solution would be is to do a format of your System drive(usually C:\). If you keep your files in a different partition then you're good to go. If not, you have a lot of work to do because you have to find a way to transfer these files to a partition where they won't be affected when you do a format on your System drive.

In a nutshell do these:
1. Format system drive. Install Windows there.
2. Install Good AV before everything else (Do not! Do not run other programs yet).
3. Scan other partitions to make sure to get rid of other possible infections. (If you're AV has the ability to clean, use the clean function. Otherwise you're probably going to lose a lot of other exe's).
4. After all that you should be good to go.

If you know how to do these things then you're all set to go. If not just ask for directions.

[John Klyne]

Actually what you mentioned is probably, 99% of what really happened.

I'm not sure if it was

win32\Sality, to be honest I do not know anything related to viruses other than the fact that they messed up my computer hehe.

I don't really know how to format the system drive, as for the information I had on my computer it was payroll records and such for my employees that work in my construction company which is located in NJ. Immediately after the flashing underscore showed up at my computer I sent it over to this computer technician/cop and he saved everything on a cd.

I will do a search for formating the disk drive, but if that is the same thing as ...going to go buy another Windows XP operating software...when I had paid for it, when it was installed on the computer at the store I bought it...do I really have to buy another one?? Paying for another Windows XP is not what I wanted to do, and hope that formatting the disk drive, has nothing to do with it.

Thank you for your help. I appreciate the help you given me, I will see what I can do, if it works/if I find out how I'll definitely send over all my credits to you.

Thank you,
John Klyne.

[steronius]

Assuming Windows...

It may not see the Master Boot Record
boot the Windows CD and choose repair prompt or command prompt or whatever it's labeled.
try the "fixmbr" & "fixboot" commands.
if that doesnt work, you may luck out and have a cd version that has the "repair install" option. it can reinstall windows keeping your current settings intact, but you will have to run all updates again:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repa...sting%20Setup:
CAUTION, pay vvery close attention and use the "To run a Repair Install Press "R" at this time." option.

[John Klyne]

I guess, I should buy another Windows XP CD?

Thank you for your help, I will try to buy one...may take about a month or so, but I'll do it. Thank you. If that doesn't work, I'll revisit this thread.

[Sharky]

Why do you need to buy another CD? You either have one, or if it came with it, as Windows is licensed, if you have a legit license key... Surely you can do what you want to .... 'make it work'? If you catch my drift......

Not sure on the legality of it. You're not getting it for free if you own a license key.

[carl6969]

Close friend of mine had a copy of XP which was purchased with the license key at a major retailer several years ago. Not long ago the disc, due to age, became scratched and unusable. They went to a local computer repair shop where they obtained a replacement XP disc (copied from an ISO or something), for $1.00. This disc was then used with the original license key (purchased at the major retailer years ago), to to install XP. My understanding that this is all completely legal because the license key used with the replacement disc was a legally purchased / obtained license key. It is also my understanding that the license key can be used X number of times (5 or 10 - not sure) before it "expires" and will no longer work, this system being in place to allow legal licensed owners of the software to reinstall a reasonable number of times in case of catastrophic computer failure.

[steronius]

You can also call Microsoft with your legitimate key for a reset if you've triggered the "limit". As long as it's legit, they'll reset the activations.

[John Klyne]

Why do you need to buy another CD? You either have one, or if it came with it, as Windows is licensed, if you have a legit license key... Surely you can do what you want to .... 'make it work'? If you catch my drift......

Not sure on the legality of it. You're not getting it for free if you own a license key.

I bought my computer at a store known as Comp USA, in NJ. On the computer was windows xp installed when I bought it. On the back of the desktop there is a tag. It says liscense key, and seriel number and all those or numbers and letters.

When I got the computer, no cds came with it, nothing came with it, except the actual installation of windwos on the computer.. I sent it to this guy whos job is to fix these things, he says you need to get another xp cd. This guy is also a cop as well as fixes computers and such.

The only way I can get one is to buy one legally...?

I have already called Microsoft they said I have to call the place I bought the computer from. Thing is, Comp USA went bankrupt..and closed operations on the streets.

[steronius]

XP came out in different versions. if you are lucky to find an "image" ('iso', 'bin', etc.) of XP on the internet (torrent), burn to cd, then use it with your legitimate "key" then it should still be legal.

The cop should be able to do this also, without breaking laws. I think you could easily do this yourself of course.