asked on

Screen display unstable sometimes, booting problems sometimes - Virus? Can it be in the registry?

I think my laptop got hit with a virus. The screen display sometimes diffuces, sometimes goes into jittery, unreadable patterns. It is often very difficult to get Windows XP Pro running, and it takes a long time to start it. However, sometimes it comes up and stays up for many hours. In the first case this happened, I loaded Norton AntiVirus 2004 and ran a virus check on the entire system and it repaired about 100 files. I ran it again an all files on the hard drive seem to be clean. Virus definitions are the latest. But it hasn't stopped the funky display and booting problems. Could it be in the registry and it is not checked by anti-virus software. If so, are there any tools to repair the registry to stop this from happening again? Any other ideas fo0r me to repair my laptop? Thank you.
Patrick

ahmedbahgat

i would say a fresh OS install that includes formatting your hard disk will be your best and garaunteed shot

backup you files, format the hd, install the os, install any patches, install NAV2004, update nav difintions file, install all programs and finally restore your files

cheers

ravisimpi

As you have said you have latest norton antivirus.. why dont you create a emergency boot disk and have a boot scan.

I don't use norton.. I use McAfee.. In Mcafee.. we will have to download seperate dat files for Emergency Disks..

Just check that your Emergency disk has latest virus defnitions

pmuldoon

ASKER

Well, in one of the few times I was able to get my laptop to boot properly, I booted to DOS and ran FDISK to remove the existing partition and create a new one. I still cannot boot properly to be able to format the hard drive, so that did not solve the problem. Does that mean the virus could have affected my BIOS or my motherboard in some way? Am I then left to the very expensive mercy of sending it back to Toshiba to get fixed? Are there any other solutions to get this laptop up and running again without the virus? Thanks.

Patrick

nomi17

If you're running Windows XP, boot from the WinXP Installation CD. It will prompt you to select a partition for installation. I recommend you format the partition using NTFS. After this is done, it will automatically begin installing your OS.

If this process completes successfully you should be able to boot up normally with a clean slate.

pmuldoon

ASKER

Thanks - I have partioned and installed Win XP Pro from the CD, including formatting in NTFS. Although the long delay in booting is gone, I am still having the screen display problems. Does this mean the virus has actually affected BIOS or motherboard or something off of the hard drive and there is no way to fix it except replacing the parts? Please help. Thanks.
Patrick

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Shattuc

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial