Malware·2,759 discussions

xp safe mode problem

Locked

I tried booting from safemode by making change in msconfig,so that I could run an anti-virus removal program from nortons. When I rebooted it told me to press ctrl alt del to enter password when I do this it locks up my laptop I can see it is trying to go into safemode.
I ran a password removal program and removed the password but it still goes to that screen.

Topic

Clarifications

In reply to xp safe mode problem

Clarifications

A couple of checks

In reply to xp safe mode problem

You could remove the Drive and add the Drive as a Slave to another PC or a USB enclosure and then run MalwareBytes.

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, install it and update it.

Malwarebytes

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download them from here and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.
mbam-rules

I would keep scanning with it until it is clean by closing out and rebooting and running it again.

Download Spybot – Search & Destroy and install it. Update it and run it.

Spybot

Also run this Rootkit Revealer GMer
http://www.gmer.net/index.php

FAQ
http://www.gmer.net/faq.php

Just to be on the safe side when you finish do an online scan with Bitdefender or Google for an online scanner.

http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

Removal using the W32.Downadup Conficker Removal Tool

Symantec Security Response has developed a removal tool to clean the infections of W32.Downadup. Use this removal tool first, as it is the easiest way to remove this threat.

http://www.symantec.com/business/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2009-011316-0247-99

Virus alert about the Win32/Conficker.B worm

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962007

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance. 😉 😀

I’m aware that it’s a notebook

In reply to xp safe mode problem

that’s what makes it harder to fix if it has an infection. The normal user doesn’t have access to the tools that a Technician would use when these problems occur. If you want to do it yourself try this.

You could add the Drive as a Slave using a Notebook IDE Hard Drive Adaptor or a USB enclosure.
Or you can use either of these connectors.
USB 2.0 to IDE / SATA Adapter Cable 80cm (Supports 2.5″ & 3.5″ IDE)

The Data connectors can be either IDE 40 pin or Sata. IDE is a wide/flat ribbon cable with either 40 or 80 wires where Sata is a thin plastic cable with thin connectors.

change bootup

In reply to I’m aware that it’s a notebook

I have accessed my hard drive using a usb enclosure and plugged it into another laptop. what do i need to change so that when i put it back into the original laptop it doesn’t boot in safemode. Thank You for all your help.

Put it back

In reply to change bootup

in the notebook, start it up into Safe mode and run msconfig. On the General tab, click Normal startup, and then click OK.
Click Restart.

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance. 😉 😀

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safe mode frozen

In reply to Put it back

when it boots up in safe mode it is saying press cntrl alt del to enter password but when i do that it locks up. I thought by connecting it as a usb drive on another laptop I could access the files that i need to change so it boots up normaly.

Did you run

In reply to safe mode frozen

the AV tests on the drive when you had it connected to the other System.
You could take the opportunity to back up your Data and wipe the drive with DBAN
for a fresh start.
You could also test the memory WinDiag

av test

In reply to Did you run

I could not run the av test when it was in the original laptop could not get around safe mode to boot up.

You were

In reply to av test

supposed to run it from the other System while it is connected.

While you have it connected

In reply to xp safe mode problem

to the other System run chkdsk from a command prompt. Check the drive letter in explorer and press WinKey + r and type cmd and press enter.
Now type chkdsk e:/r

substitiute e: for the drive letter

no winkey

In reply to While you have it connected

the laptop I conected through the usb is an IBM thinkpad from 2000 and it doesn’t have that key.

thanks

Click

In reply to no winkey

Start, Run, type in cmd and press Enter. Don’t forget to run the AV scans on the drive.

done

In reply to Click

I have done this everything checked out ok.
Still locks up while trying to boot in safe mode and I try to enter my password.

Try a Memory test

In reply to done

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

I thought that you removed the password. Why would you be trying to enter it. Just make sure that the name is correct and hit Enter when your at the logon screen.

I really think that you should Backup your Data and rebuild the Notebook.

thank you

In reply to Try a Memory test

I wanted to thank you for all your help.
Can you tell me since I can access the hard drive is there any way I can change the boot up so it doesn’t boot in safe mode by editing the boot up file through dos?I thought about partioning the drive and coping the data to that partition and reinstalling windows in the original partition would that work I have plenty of memory on my hard drive.

Thanks Again for all your help

dwayne

See if you can do this

In reply to thank you

Reconnect your Notebook drive to the working System. It should show as E: open a command prompt and navigate to E:

Type attrib -h -r -s boot.ini

Open the boot.ini file with Notepad and remove /safeboot:minimal

Example:

Before
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=”Windows XP Safe Mode” /fastdetect /safeboot:minimal

After
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=”Windows XP” /fastdetect

Edit: reconnect the drive to the Notebook and see what happens.

[Author]

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