pc - big trouble

susy_2

NO! it was deleting my files.

Have run trend micro scan and although it was showing 1 infection while running, when it had finished it said there were no problems.

looking into your links, thanks

susy_2

p.s didn't really get anything on screen when running chkdsk/r, other than it whizzing through each file and telling me it had deleted it. It MUST be a virus and I assume I need to find it before I attempt any recovery.

Mr_Skint_2

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;831375#kb2

This may have been posted before.

susy_2

Thanks Mr Skint

That line applies to Windows 2000 and I should have mentioned that I am running XP.

Mr_Skint_2

susy wrote:

Thanks Mr Skint

That line applies to Windows 2000 and I should have mentioned that I am running XP.

Yeah I guessed that but maybe it could be applicable?

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/831374

susy_2

Thanks again Mr Skint

I am not sure about this. The symptom example does not reflect what happened. It did not tell me it was cleaning up minor inconsistencies on the drive or that it had made changes to the file system (although this may be because it didn't finish). It just launched into the rapid deleting of my files. Also I don,t know what in-use security descripters are?

Mr_Skint_2

Gotta shoot but here a meaning of a Security Descriptor

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/secauthz/security/security_descriptors.asp

Toxteth_OGrady

Hopefully the virus infection will not have damaged your data files just your ability to select them.. If that's the case probably the best you can hope for is to recover your data files using a utility like that mentioned in post #6. Alternatively you could try a Linux live CD distro to access your valuable data files and copy them to your spare hard disk.

Or you could try Ultimate Boot CD for Windows. It has a good range of diagnostic and recovery utilities.

After you've recovered your data files your best course of action would be to format the problem drive and do a fresh install of Windows.

:cool:

TOG

susy_2

Thanx Toxteth_OGrady

I am really busy with work at the mo (bad timing) and I am trying to sort this mess out in between, so have not really got the time to have a good go at things. Not sure now that it is a virus, don't seem able to find anything on what I have managed to run so far. Don't really know what is going on, but I would be happy to recover my 'missing' data and programs if nothing else and copy them to another drive and then do a format on my hard drive. Which was #6? are you refering to pcinspector? I don't know what a Linux live CD distro is? Can you explain? I am grateful for all the information given, but am a bit worried that if I try this and that, I might make the situation worse and so I would like to concentrate on getting my data and programs back. Thanx again

Toxteth_OGrady

Which was #6? are you refering to pcinspector?

Yep.

I don't know what a Linux live CD distro is?

The operating system of your pc (in most cases Windows) is usually installed on your hard drive. As you have found out you need an operating system to allow your pc to work and access your data.

The problem with having the OS and data on the same hard disk is that if your OS fails to load you cannot access your data.

The OS can also access data on other disks, such as Windows using a second disk drive as

However the OS doesn't always have to be Windows and the OS doesn't have to be installed on your main hard disk.

For example you can have the OS DOS on a floppy diskette and this is sufficient to boot your pc and you can use DOS commands from the floppy to access files on your hard disk.

A Linux live CD distro (distro = distribution and it's just a nerdy, geeky way of saying OS) will allow you to do exactly the same kind of thing. The Linux OS runs from the CD and will boot your pc. Providing your hard disk isn't damaged you will be able to easily access and retrieve the data files on your hard disk and copy them elsewhere e.g. burn to CD/DVD.

Why Linux? It's a very capable OS and is usually bundled with lots of desktop applications with an easy to use GUI.

If you take a look here you will see lot's of recovery live CD distros. I quite like the look of INSERT but I haven't actually tried it myself.

It's real easy. Just download the .iso file (CD Image) then in Nero or something similar select 'create data CD' then select 'create from image' then just pick the iso and burn.

When you have the CD just pop it in your problem pc and boot from it - I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

:cool:

TOG