Guest Mike Posted September 8, 2007 Posted September 8, 2007 I am trying to figure out why a computer won't boot to XP. After the POST messages, I just get a blank screen. After booting with a bootable NTFS cd, I see that the Windows directory is empty! Is there any type of virus that would/could have wiped out the contents of the windows directory? -- The intelligent man wins his battles with pointed words. I'm sorry -- I meant sticks. Pointed sticks.
Guest Malke Posted September 8, 2007 Posted September 8, 2007 Re: Virus question... Mike wrote: > I am trying to figure out why a computer won't boot to XP. > After the POST messages, I just get a blank screen. > After booting with a bootable NTFS cd, I see that the Windows directory is > empty! > Is there any type of virus that would/could have wiped out the contents of > the windows directory? Yes, but failing hardware could also cause this. There is no way for us to know what caused your problem. If any data was left, back it up using a Bart's PE or Knoppix. Scan it with a current version antivirus before putting it on any clean machine. Then test your hardware and if good, clean install Windows. http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What you will need on-hand Malke -- Elephant Boy Computers http://www.elephantboycomputers.com "Don't Panic!" MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
Guest Shenan Stanley Posted September 8, 2007 Posted September 8, 2007 Re: Virus question... Mike wrote: > I am trying to figure out why a computer won't boot to XP. > After the POST messages, I just get a blank screen. > After booting with a bootable NTFS cd, I see that the Windows > directory is empty! > Is there any type of virus that would/could have wiped out the > contents of the windows directory? First - are there any other directories that could be the Windows system directory? What does the BOOT.INI in the root of the system partition say it should be? default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS <- that is something like what you would be looking for. As for 'is there a virus that would/could have wiped the contents of the windows directory'... I cannot say I know of one offhand - but I don't see too much trouble in creating one that would do so upon a reboot of the system. However - it is highly unlikely that is what happened. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
Guest Mike Posted September 8, 2007 Posted September 8, 2007 Re: Virus question... "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message news:eNO1mai8HHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl... > Mike wrote: >> I am trying to figure out why a computer won't boot to XP. >> After the POST messages, I just get a blank screen. >> After booting with a bootable NTFS cd, I see that the Windows >> directory is empty! >> Is there any type of virus that would/could have wiped out the >> contents of the windows directory? > > First - are there any other directories that could be the Windows system > directory? > What does the BOOT.INI in the root of the system partition say it should > be? > > default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS > > <- that is something like what you would be looking for. > > As for 'is there a virus that would/could have wiped the contents of the > windows directory'... I cannot say I know of one offhand - but I don't > see too much trouble in creating one that would do so upon a reboot of the > system. However - it is highly unlikely that is what happened. > > -- > Shenan Stanley > MS-MVP > -- > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html > boot.ini points to Windows
Recommended Posts