Sorry I am so late to the party. I was out with the family this evening. However, I am still pinging the list to show that the poster has received what looks like a fix and the solution is in the thread.
Posted on 03/02/2008 3:52:23 PM PST by Chickensoup
Help!
Came home last night. Turned on the trusty computer and up came a long message, white on black saying: We apologize for the inconvience but Windows did not start successflly... with several option to start.
None of them work.
It then loops to the windows xp screen
Then to an ad for the mainboard
then to a scan devices screen
then to some sort of listing
This morning there was a listing that on each line named had a number of the programs I run at the end of each line. It has not come up this time.
The hard disk comes on for the main board screen and the listing screen
Anytime at all. Always glad to help. Backup and Recovery plus information management is what I do.
What’s a command mode?
Dos prompt C:>
Sorry I am so late to the party. I was out with the family this evening. However, I am still pinging the list to show that the poster has received what looks like a fix and the solution is in the thread.
That’s a command prompt indicating you are currently in the root of the C drive.
You would do better to shut the box off, rather than leave it run. There is still a fair chance that you are losing the hard drive, and leaving it spinning is to invite disaster, especially so if the box is making weird noises, or if the OS is operating in a slow or erratic way. I doubt that you have further problems, but safe is better than sorry.
Is it possible for you to purchase an USB external hard drive? They run circa 120-150 US$. Would prefer a Maxtor or Seagate solution. If so, then tomorrow is another day. Purchase the ext drive, back up your stuff, then continue on course. If not, does your computer have the ability to burn CD or DVD? if so, this would be cheaper than the ext drive option.
After the full boat drive check, THEN you could most certainly scan for viruses. I would also recommend that you download and use "AVG Anti-Spyware", which is different from AVG Anti-virus. A very good companion to any anti-virus.
Now get a "one touch" USB drive to transfer all your important files to so that you won't ever be totally stranded again. Be sure to use the "export" functions on your browser for your favorites, and on your email program for your address book. Also backup the 'user' data in the windows subdirectories.
Yes, I believe that is what the poster was referring to when he typed ‘command mode’. Then again, I could be wrong. ;o)
With your permission .... I would like to contact you tomorrow on this subject matter.
That's where you can run the diagnostics, such as chkdsk. You could also do a reformat, but it would only be by actually running the command "format" or "fdisk." It doesn't run without issuing the command.
It’s always interesting to see someone giving advice for trouble shooting a machine, and find out that he doesn’t even know what command mode is.
A hardware firewall is also known as a router, a gateway, a NAT (network address Translation - all computers in the household have a single address known to the net; local address' are hidden). A router with rules. Rules that try to hide your household's existence on the net. It doesn't respond to pings, ports are closed, logs (incoming and outgoing) are kept, and blanket domains (sites, or domains you don't want the young ones to visit) can be blocked, etc.
Computer security, as in any defense; is layered. The more layered the better. And while layers do add a level of complexity or inconvenience to your system; once learned, layers are good.
But even that, is no substitute for smart browsing. If you use a browser such as Firefox, another layer would be something like "NoScript". An extension that allows you to temporarily or permanently allow, or disallow the execution of Java, JavaScript and Flash plugins, depending on the sites you visits. White list and black listing.
As I mentioned previously, IE and Windows, by default, are not security friendly. It is up to you to secure them through the mechanisms available to them. <
If you don't feel what is provided it good enough, look for alternatives.
I figured that, but was just funnin’ him. In either case, most recovery CD’s don’t boot to a drive. Rather, they allow you to install/reinstall OEM software, drivers, etc, and reformat reinstall the OS.
You must be confused. There is no such thing as command mode on a PC. What you are probably referring to is the “command prompt”. And, again, your confusion is obvious, you might be referring to the repair console when stating that a recovery CD boots to a command prompt.
I saw your smart azz post about me, you should really make sure your azz can cash your mouth’s checks before you write them.
Damn....do you also get on the internet with this machine?
I suggest this website for a look concerning malware and viruses
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/index.php
You will need to register. Then you want to go to the cybersafety forum. There you can start a thread.
Describe the problem, what you have done. Also download “Hijack This” (from link at the site.) Run a scan, which will create a log that you can post in your thread. That will get you started
I have used that site a couple of times and they are very good. It’s a bit slow - they are all volunteers.. But, they helped me get rid of several problems that had cropped up.
In fact, my AVG was infected.
Backing up "important" data is always a good thing. And while whole system backups are good for drive failure, important (personal only) data backups are also good in case you have to wipe a system because of virus infestation.
Better to rebuild a system from the ground up and just restore the important data, rather than risk restoring the whole system restore that might have hidden dangers.
Layered defense.
My $0.02
I will turn it off tonight and get what I need tomorow.
I will do what you say tommorow
Thank you so much
Also just for clarification how to you connect...thru dialup?
Thank you!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.