TDS update killed Windows...I'm desperate (merged)

TDS update killed Windows...I'm desperate

Hello,

I've read a little on here about how the most recent update of TDS was corrupted and was causing false positives. I started up TDS on Monday and it did an update, at which time I did a scan and found many many live trojans (which I understand now were not really trojans). I deleted maybe 5 files before I realized that I had just deleted AIM, WindowBlinds, and I didn't check what else. I couldn't do anything besides alt tab between windows, and my taskbar was gone, so I manually restarted.

Windows now goes to a blue screen before it even loads completely, and restarts every time. I called tech support from my manufacterer and they had me use the Windows recovery cd and do a Repair, which took about 20 minutes and didn't work, and then had me do something called "fixboot", which didn't work either. They said the only option left to me is to reinstall Windows, formatting my hard drives (I have 2 hard drives on a RAID 0 configuration, so they act as 1). I was told that if I got an external hard drive I could back up my data, but I would like to avoid that.

The loss of formatting would hit me pretty hard, as I have many, many pictures on my computer that it would kill me to lose. Does anybody have any ideas as to what I could try? I know I couldn't have deleted many files and it boggles my mind to think that clicking delete a few times could force me to destroy all of my files.

Thank you,
Mike Heiby

 

Re: TDS update killed Windows...I'm desperate

Hi FlyMolo, Sorry to hear about your problems.
If you are using ME or XP have you tried booting into safe mode and runninig system restore?
To get to safe mode press F8 several times after your BIOS screens but before windows loads.

HTH Pilli

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN *&@$#*%!

I've been having this same problem. What exactly is lost and what is saved when you do a repair installation? Is it that the programs are lost but once they are reinstalled their data is still there?

Does this mean for example I would have to re-install DeadAIM, but all of my conversation logs would still be there? Or that any game I reinstalled would still have game saves? And most importantly, all of my pictures and videos and music would be intact?

Thanks,
Mike Heiby

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN *&@$#*%!

gotta bring this to the top...anybody have an answer?

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN *&@$#*%!

I have only had to do one repair install and that was with Windows 2000. It restores the OS. Everything else should remain intact.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

Nick

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN *&@$#*%!

Nick S, that is a very fine link! thanks a lot for that!

Flymolo, did you lose your windows because of deleting several files too and what is the current situation? I mean, bad enough for a repair install or could you do with the SFC option to put back a few missing system files from the install CD-rom or if you didn't reboot yet maybe from sytem restore -- with that i mean a system restore itself of course would be better and clean out possible nasties left.

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN me too

Yes, I deleted maybe 5 files before I realized something was wrong. When my taskbar dissapeared I thought it was because I had just deleted a windowblinds file, and then AIM dissapeared. I couldn't ctrl-alt-delete so I manually restarted to try to figure out what was going on. I never made it back to windows.

Tech support had me try using chkdsk (sp?) from the recovery cd, and that took about 20 minutes but didn't fix the problem. They also had me try a "bootfix" which didn't solve it either. Safe mode, last known settings that worked, and normal boots did not work at any stage.

Tech support said that my only option left was to reinstall windows and format my hard drives (I have two on a RAID 0 configuration so they act as 1).

It seems like a repair installation would work for me, as my biggest concern is the large amount of pictures I have on my computer with a lot of sentimental value. Ideally I would like to keep everything of course...and I don't know if RAID will complicate things. After doing the bootfix thing the computer doesn't seem to recognize that I have a hard drive hooked up at all.

I want to try a repair installation but I want to be absolutely sure that files will not be lost...because I would go as far as to send the drives away and have a specialist get the data off of them.

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN me too

Hi FlyMolo

Is there any way you can backup your data and pictures before attempting a repair install?

I am not sure how a Raid setup affects this method or repairing XP but do know on an ordinary setup that this repair will preserve all your settings and files, any previously applied updates to windows will be lost. It is vital therefore that if not already integrated with your XP CD, Service Pack 1 will need reinstalling followed by all the critical updates from Microsoft.

You will have to follow the repair steps carefully as I would not want you to hit the wrong key at the wrong screen and end up with a complete format and losing your data and pictures. In the normal course of events the only thing you should loose will be all the updates to XP including SP1. I haven't had time to read the link yet but I am sure it will tell you the exact steps.

I always keep a disc with the extra critical patches after SP1 on it and that way I would be safe to go to the update site to download the rest. If at all possible it would be a good idea to download the other patches and copy them to a disc, install them after SP1 so that you do not encount the Blaster or Sasser worms after your repair.

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN me too

I called tech support back for a second opinion on this repair business, and they told me what needed to be done with RAID and whatnot. I have now done a repair installation and am back in windows. This will give me the ability to back everything up before I have to format the drives and do a clean install. The only drawback now is I have to buy an external hard drive to back everything up to

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN me too

Hi,

Maybe a stupid reply from me, but alas. Is there a possibilty booting up with a linux CD and accessing your files?

 

Re: BLUE SCREEN me too

Hi, FlyMolo

The reason The FIXMBR or FIXBOOT is [did] not recognize any HDD [Array] by booting from the CD is because it did not have your Raid Controller.

You should have pressed F6 [loaded you Raid controller] as you did when you installed Windows.

Then when you run the FIXMBR or FIXBOOT it would have recognized your Array. [Raid0]

Your Tech support should have told you that as you are using a Raid Array.

Take Care,
TheQuest