Oh oh! Machine will not boot!

[Quacker]

Not sure what is going on. No slow-down, no signs of a problem, but possibly malware.

 

I was using Firefox and tried to switch to one of my tabbed favourites and was asked where I wanted to save to??? - I tried again and the same. So I thought I would try another (different) favourite and again the option to save.

 

I reset the PC and it never rebooted, though makes a clicking noise as though it is trying to boot. More worryingly, I am unable to boot in safe mode as that is the obvious first step.

 

Is there anything else I can try? This is a machine that was rescued by this very forum a year or two back, but I still think it is good for a few more until this odd behaviour.

 

Of course it might just be nature's way of telling me it is time I made a donation to the forum :)

 

Where do we start?

[RandyL]

Hi Quacker.

Why do you think it might be malware?

 

By reset do you mean restart?

 

You can't boot into safemode but are you presented with the option to do so? Was last known good configuration listed if you saw the options?

 

That clicking noise you mentioned concerns me. It might be hard drive failure.

[Quacker]

Hi Randy

 

Reason I think it is possible malware or spyware is because this is the machine that had problems a year or so back ans was "fixed" via these pages.

 

I briefly called into my local shop explaining the symptoms and was told to re-install - thye also kindly offered to do it for me for £50.

 

To answer you other points;

 

Yes, I meant restart.

As for safe mode, there is no option, and therefore no lst known good configuration.

The clickng/whirring noise might not be as bad as it sounds. I think I just notice it more when there is nothing happening on the screen.

 

Ironically, the laptop I am on is also acting very slow! - will need a whole new thread for this one.

 

Back to my main point, my fault I know, but as usual can't readily locate the usual disk which came with the machine - put somewhere safe, but so safe I cannot find.

 

Any other options? - will check back later.

 

Any significance that when I clicked on a favourite tab I was asked where I wanted to save to?

[Quacker]

Anyone? or should I pay to have it restored, or is there another way to restore it myself without the original disks (still not found 'em).

 

Most of the stuff on it is backed up - all the important stuff certainly.

 

Do I have to use the original XP disk that came with the machine or can I use any (registered of course).

 

Cheers

[Goku]

Quacker, I too assume that it is a hard drive problem. Because if it had been malware, you would at least have been able to get past POST. From your post, I gather that you are not able to do so.

 

Also, one of the symptoms of a failing hard drive is a slow PC. It might just be co-incidental but this being a malware problem has a very slim chance. :(

 

I would suggest you to run through any utility that could check the health of a hard drive but it might just do more harm than good. So please wait patiently till one of our hardware experts come online and advise you best. :)

 

By the way, do you have any data on your computer that needs to be saved / retrieved immediately?

 

-- Goku

[Dalo Harkin]

Clicking from the PC/Laptop would point to the HDD, if it is the HDD, then you need a replacement HDD and then do a reinstall, which would wipe the Malware out aswell.

 

You can use any OS disk, BUT you will need to source all your own drivers, well those that would not be picked up by windows update anyway.

You could try and do a reinstall with the present HDD, but I have a feeling it would fail after an unknown amount of time. (I have HDDs that click and have had some for months that still run, but I have also been on the other end of the scale where it clicked and was completely dead the next day)

 

Its up to you, If you have the time then do a reinstall on the current HDD (to rule everything else out) and if needed you can buy a new HDD at a later date

[Quacker]

Sorry for not getting back on this - I've been elsewhere on the forum. I replaced the machine with a newer one with higher spec, 13 processor 2.93GHz - Windows 7 64-bit. Hence all my questions elsewhere about no webmail browser and how to secure a new PC etc.

 

Despite the evidence, I don't believe the HDD is dead. I have the important I-tunes and photos safe and re-installed on the new machine, but had forgotten about favourites and especially email contacts. - The reason I think it is not dead (the HDD) is because a similar thing happened a year or two back and it was revived.

 

The favourites and emails contacts are not critical - after all many of them are out of date or seldom used.

 

I do know a couple of people who can take a look for me, as my major problem is not looking after backup disks that come with machines:mad: