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Another Windows virus?

By WhatThe? ·
I have a Dell P4, 1.2 Ghz, PC with two HDDs. One is formatted with NTFS and the other with Linux Ext3. The machine dual boots Windows XP/Linux. When I boot to Windows, as soon as the OS starts, the NIC is disabled. When Windows finishes loading, I see "Network Cable unplugged" when looking at Network Connections properties. When I boot to Linux, the NIC works properly without errors.

I have done the following without success:
1. Changed the NIC
2. Removed the CMOS battery for 10-15 minutes, then replaced and re-flashed the BIOS (BIOS floppy was created on another "uninfected" PC.)
3. Disconnected the LIINUX drive, booted from clean, write-protected DOS floppy, ran FDISK, deleted ALL partitions on the Windows disk.
4. Did a "clean" install of Windows XP from a licensed Windows XP CDR.
5. Booted to Windows, and
6. Watched the NIC light go out as soon as Windows began loading.

I have also scanned the drive with the trial version of Rhino and a licensed copy of BITDefender, but neither found a virus. I suspect the virus is in the BIOS, but, other than the symptoms mentioned above, Windows works fine. No blue screens, no slow response, no other problems other than the NIC. And the really puzzling part is that Linux works flawlessly.

I know there are numerous sites on the Net that have downloadable virus removal tools. However, these all require that one knows which virus he wants removed and I have no idea.

Except for the need to use Windows for work purposes, I would just as soon give up on Windblows and use Linux. But I can't, so if anyone has experienced similar symptoms and knows what virus this might be, I'd appreciate a heads up. I don't really want to download all the removal tools for all known viruses in the universe.

Thanks!

OK, guys, I appreciate all the input. But this is important - the NIC works with Linux but not with Windows. If it was disabled in the BIOS, then it wouldn't work in Linux. If the PCI slot was bad, it woudn't work in Linux. And, if the NIC was bad, it wouldn't work in Linux.

Thanks!

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All Answers

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Have you updated the Windows NIC driver? < nt >

by boxfiddler Moderator In reply to Another Windows virus?
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Have you updated the Windows NIC driver?

by WhatThe? In reply to Have you updated the Wind ...

Yes, been there, done that, too. Still no good in Windows.

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After your 'clean' install, did you re-run ...

by OldER Mycroft In reply to Another Windows virus?

Network Wizard.

Or did you just assume that Windows would figure out the network on its own?

You might also compare network settings between Windows & Linux.

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Network wizard

by WhatThe? In reply to After your 'clean' instal ...

No, I re-installed the NIC driver and setup the network connection.

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Have You

by willcomp In reply to Another Windows virus?

verified network connectivity in Linux?

I'm rather sure it's not a virus.

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Verified network connectivity

by WhatThe? In reply to Have You

Yes. The Linux side of the PC works great. Internet connection speeds are in the 14Mb range.

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Bios

by patb071 In reply to Another Windows virus?

Have you checked to see if the NIC was disabled in the bios? When windows loads and you go into network places can you Right-click on the network connection? It seems like the Nic is just getting disabled.

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Disable NIC

by WhatThe? In reply to Bios

Have not checked, but if it was disabled in the BIOS, then why does Linux work?

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When you changed the NIC

by Jacky Howe In reply to Another Windows virus?

were you able to move it to another slot. If you have one spare try that.

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Moving the NIC

by WhatThe? In reply to When you changed the NIC

No, I did not. But I have an open PCI slot, so I'll give that a try.

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