computer crashes when running CHKDSK

jazzycatbristol

Hello,

I think our computer has got a virus and I'm trying to run CHKDSK, but it crashes after about 30 seconds half way through the scan. In fact, that was the original problem - the computer kept crashing straight after booting up. Is there anything I can do?

Thanks for your help.

aliEnRIK

Download MALWAREBYTES
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&!!!!!button
UPDATE and FULL SCAN

If it finds anything then DELETE everything it finds then post the log here

RobertoMoir

jazzycatbristol wrote: »

Hello,

I think our computer has got a virus and I'm trying to run CHKDSK, but it crashes after about 30 seconds half way through the scan. In fact, that was the original problem - the computer kept crashing straight after booting up. Is there anything I can do?

Thanks for your help.

Ok two issues here
1) Why do you think you have a virus? And how is running chkdsk supposed to help you find and remove one? It's about as good at removing viruses as a virus scanner is at checking your hard disk is in good working order.

2) How are you running chkdsk, and what happens exactly when the computer "crashes" during it? Oh and what OS are you running? XP presumably?

jazzycatbristol

Sorry, I don't really have enough technical knowledge to answer.
I'm running CHKDSK because the computer does it automatically on boot up now after previously displaying an error message.
Computer just turns itself and yes, OS is XP.
Thanks.

aliEnRIK

Reboot the computer
as soon as it begins to power up keep hitting the F8 key
Select SAFE mode

Run your anti virus program and FULL scan with it (What do you use?)

If this doesnt work then go back into safe mode but this time WITH NETWORKING
Then download malwarebytes as per the link

jazzycatbristol

I'll try and do the things suggested, but the difficulty is that the computer doesn't stay on long enough to be able to do anything, least of all connect to Internet. Thanks anyway.

SJames_3

By crashing do you mean resetting or freezing? Could possibly be a power issue. Any recent upgrades?

aliEnRIK

jazzycatbristol wrote: »

I'll try and do the things suggested, but the difficulty is that the computer doesn't stay on long enough to be able to do anything, least of all connect to Internet. Thanks anyway.

Not even in SAFE mode?

RobertoMoir

jazzycatbristol wrote: »

I'll try and do the things suggested, but the difficulty is that the computer doesn't stay on long enough to be able to do anything, least of all connect to Internet. Thanks anyway.

Pretend none of us can actually see your computer from where we're sitting for just a moment. Crazy, I know, but just pretend.

Now describe exactly what you mean by "crashing" and "won't stay on".

Conor_3

YOUR HARD DRIVE IS DYING OR YOUR CPU FAN HAS FAILED.

Chkdsk is running because there are errors on the hard drive caused by it failing. XP is crashing after booting up because the dodgy hard drive component or CPU has got hot and is crashing. chkdsk is failing 30 seconds in for exactly the same reason.

Any error which happens at roughly the same time after restarting is usually hardware failure as a faulty component gets hot enough to fail.

Firstly you need to take off the lid on the PC, turn it on and see if the fan on the large lump of metal sticking out of the big circuit board is spinning. If it is, it's not that and the hard drive is kaput.

I hope you've backed up your data.

jazzycatbristol

Firstly, thanks for all your helpful suggestions. Apologies for not replying yesterday, but it involved switching from one computer to another.

I'm pretending......it's as though the power supply has gone I suppose. One minute it's working, the next it's switched itself off, and the screen is black. It doesn't freeze or restart, simply dies.

I fear there is a hardware problem, so will take it to be repaired. Thanks again.