Virus from Hell. Windows XP reboot loop. Can't use safe mode. Can't use recovery console?

Question

I woke up to find that my Windows XP laptop has contracted one of those virus that pops up a window on your cpu and tells you that you have a virus and that you should clean it with this program. Computer is non functional now.

I tried to reboot into safe mode but that just goes into an endless loop. Tried all the options from the safe mode screen. Nada. Same behavior.

I then placed the XP install disk into the cd drive and booted. I get to the repair option. That takes me to the recovery console. 5 seconds after it loads the recovery console it reboots! Can't do anything from the recovery console command line.

I've checked to make sure that it isn't the memory. I'm able to stick an Ubuntu Live CD into cd drive and boot off of that with no issues.

I know that this is a virus. Would love to hear any solutions.

Regards,
Dee

Answer 1

Boot from Windows XP CD and follow the prompts, follow all the prompts and after you hit F8 to agree to the license, try to perform a repair install after it searches for versions of windows on the drive. You'll hit R instead of Enter when given the choice. Remember this is not the recovery console but a repair install. Your installed programs will still be there, but you will need to run Windows Update or Automatic updates as all patches will have been lost for your operating system.

You can also just Format and reinstall Windows...

Answer 2

Currently having the same error. This started when Service Pack 3 was installed. It seems that it had a glitch and so went through hell to get it restored. Event the MS Support tech hinted that maybe the computer croaked after we could not get it out of the F2 Screen. Point: recovered, rebooted from scratch. Problem, when doing so, you have better have the original CD that came with the PC. Otherwise, you are out approximately $299. The current XP update CD is no longer recognized by the computer, it runs and I have full access to computer and it runs like new, yet I cannot view Word, Excel, Powerpoint or Spread. Can no longer view DVD, or playback cds for this drivers have since been replaced and CD no longer available. Fact: It seems the system hajacked itself, you may want to check what service pack you are running on computer. If SP3, - good luck. I am still trying to get DELL or MS Support for assistance. Consider a repair instead, click on f8 and try that. Otherwise, you are sol, for MS Support is telling me that my CD purchased 2/08 is expired.

Answer 3

Circumvent the whole thing. Do a complete reinstall from the onboard BIOS: forget about recovery. You need to wipe the entire HDD and start from scratch. Yes, you lose all your data, but I'm afraid to say there's not much else you can do, other than hire a profession to try and take it out, which is big bucks. As to how, go find an online manual, as I will not try and describe the process here. I guarantee you it will work, but you have got one serious problem.

Answer 4

ultimate boot cd for windows works wonders if you have a clean pc to burn it on.



google UBC4WIN



it lets you boot from the cd and it has a few anti virus/spyware programs you can run lots of videos how to on youtube etc.

Answer 5

Three weeks ago i encountered the exact same virus im sure of it. After two weeks of corresponding with bleepingcomputer.com I had to just re-install windows clean install.