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HDD Boot-sector virus question



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 19th 03, 06:25 AM
-ha-
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Posts: n/a
Default HDD Boot-sector virus question

Hi all

My Quantum 20G hdd has been infected in windows by a nice boot sector virus.
Could I erase that sh*t from there, or I have to get rid of my fave hdd?!

I would appreciate any help;
thanks in advance;

bye;
-ha-




  #2  
Old July 19th 03, 07:09 AM
Wheat Muncher
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

-ha- put me in my place by writing

Hi all

My Quantum 20G hdd has been infected in windows by a nice boot sector
virus. Could I erase that sh*t from there, or I have to get rid of my
fave hdd?!

I would appreciate any help;
thanks in advance;

bye;
-ha-








Use a clean boot disk (be sure you change the disk to read only with the
little shutter), then use the fdisk /mbr command. This will kill the MBR
and any boot sector virus that it refers to. Most boot sector virus' are
memory resident, so you will need to shut the machine off for a minute
or so before you boot into DOS.
Using fdisk /mbr you can at least save the data, but you will need to
reinstall windows. This is by far the best alternative. many AV proggies
claim they will remove it, but I have had a 50/50 success rate with
them.
Once you use the fdisk /mbr command, the MBR is totally erased and will
be reconstructed on the next boot up, but Windows will be lost
(probably).
Depending on the virus, you may be able to download a tool to help you
remove it as well. Many are small enough to run right from the floppy.
This is one of the very few ways I know of to kill a boot sector virus
besides a zero write. There was mention that there are actually two
types- a boot sector virus, and an actual MBR virus. I will assume that
you are generalizing. Knowing the virus name would help a bit.


--
Wheaty...


Just one moment please...the mother ship is calling me on my microwave.
  #3  
Old July 19th 03, 07:56 AM
-ha-
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Thank you very much,
really!

bye;
-ha-
"Wheat Muncher" wrote in message
...
-ha- put me in my place by writing

Hi all

My Quantum 20G hdd has been infected in windows by a nice boot sector
virus. Could I erase that sh*t from there, or I have to get rid of my
fave hdd?!

I would appreciate any help;
thanks in advance;

bye;
-ha-








Use a clean boot disk (be sure you change the disk to read only with the
little shutter), then use the fdisk /mbr command. This will kill the MBR
and any boot sector virus that it refers to. Most boot sector virus' are
memory resident, so you will need to shut the machine off for a minute
or so before you boot into DOS.
Using fdisk /mbr you can at least save the data, but you will need to
reinstall windows. This is by far the best alternative. many AV proggies
claim they will remove it, but I have had a 50/50 success rate with
them.
Once you use the fdisk /mbr command, the MBR is totally erased and will
be reconstructed on the next boot up, but Windows will be lost
(probably).
Depending on the virus, you may be able to download a tool to help you
remove it as well. Many are small enough to run right from the floppy.
This is one of the very few ways I know of to kill a boot sector virus
besides a zero write. There was mention that there are actually two
types- a boot sector virus, and an actual MBR virus. I will assume that
you are generalizing. Knowing the virus name would help a bit.


--
Wheaty...


Just one moment please...the mother ship is calling me on my microwave.



 




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