Windows XP will not Boot Up

Not sure where to post this: I have an Everex desktop machine running Windows XP. Can't get past the black screen: Can not Boot in Safe mode and do not have a boot up disk. The last line on the black screen says Boot Failure Insert System Disk and Press Enter. The OS came loaded on the machine so I have no disk. I have everything backed up and just want to restore or reforemat the hard drive to it's to original settings but can't get to the restore option.

Hello and welcome to GeekPolice.Net My name is Dave. I will be helping you out with your particular problem on your computer.

1. I will be working on your Malware issues. This may or may not solve other issues you have with your machine.
2. The fixes are specific to your problem and should only be used for this issue on this machine.
3. If you don't know or understand something, please don't hesitate to ask.
4. Please DO NOT run any other tools or scans while I am helping you.
5. It is important that you reply to this thread. Do not start a new topic.
6. Your security programs may give warnings for some of the tools I will ask you to use. Be assured, any links I give are safe.
7. Absence of symptoms does not mean that everything is clear.

If you can't access the internet with your infected computer you will have to download and transfer any programs to the computer you're using now and transfer them to the infected computer with a CD-RW or a USB storage device. I prefer a CD because a storage device can get infected. If you use a storage device hold the shift key down while inserting the USB storage device for about 10 secs. You will also have to transfer the logs you receive back to the good computer using the same method until we can get the computer back on-line.
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What exactly were you doing prior to this happening? You're giving mixed messages in your thread. You say you don't have the OS disk but yet you want to reformat which will require an OS disk. Do you know what version of XP you have on that computer? If you know it, you may be able to borrow a disk from somone.

Thanks Dave. What I meant is the machine came with the OS already installed, and I don't have a disk. I just rebooted tapping F10 and got the Boot Menu is asking to select a device

Removable
Hard Disk
CDROM
NVIDA Boot Age

If you can't borrow an XP disk from someone to do a repair you have no other alternative than to re-install the OS. This will be a problem since you may not be able to find an OS to install. Your other option is to look at an OS such a linux. I can show you how to boot the computer if you need to save anything on it. Let me know.

Dave: I think the problem is the hard drive is full, like maxed out. If I could just get the thing to boot up even in safe mode I could just remove everything, all programs and files, then buy a new Windows XP and install it. There is nothing on the machine I need to save, but would just like to get it running again. I don't even care if it is Internet capable, just want to use the machine viewing pics, videos and storage.

I know nothing about Linux, but if it will run on this machine it might be a good option. I've been meaning to learn about Linux, now might be a good time.

This will allow you to boot your computer and remove stuff from your harddrive.Windows requires at least 15% free space your harddrive to operate efficiently.

We are going to be using a Windows Recovery Environment to help disinfect the system so it may boot again.

Download the OTLPE Standard REATOGO Windows Recovery Environment.

• Place a blank CD-R disc in to your CD burning drive.
  
• Download OTLPEStd.exe and double-click on it to burn to a CD using an ISO Burner. One can be found here.
  
• Reboot your system using the boot CD you just created.
  
• Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps here
  
• Your system should now display a REATOGO-X-PE desktop.
  
• Double-click on the OTLPE icon.
  
• When asked "Do you wish to load the remote registry", select Yes
  
• When asked "Do you wish to load remote user profile(s) for scanning", select Yes
  
• Ensure the box "Automatically Load All Remaining Users" is checked and press OK
  
• OTL should now start. Change the following settings
  
• Change Drivers to Non-Microsoft
  
• Press Run Scan to start the scan.
  
• When finished, the file will be saved in drive C:\_OTL\MovedFiles
  
• Copy this file to your USB drive if you do not have internet connection on this system
  
• Please post the contents of the OTL.txt file in your reply.
  

Dave:

I went to the site you linked for the ISO burner and picked a lot of Adware and Maleware.  Now my clean laptop appears to be infected.  I'm typing this on my wife's machine.  

I ran Malwarwbytes on my laptop, and it found 171 pups, which I deleated.  I also removed about six new programs that SHOULD I REMOVE IT brought up. I'm running a WebRoot scan on that machine now.  There is something MBAM missed because when I click on FireFox, it redirects to a page with a WOT warning, and I get one of those SCAN REQUIRED IMEDIATLY flashing boxes. When I choose Google as my home page it always redirects the WOT warning.

I did get the ISO burner, but now the Everex this is the least of my worries.  I need to clean up my Toshiba laptop.  My life is in that machine.

What do you suggest?

Tried to post the WebRoot log, but it says it's too long.  WebRoot found more malware and now says it's clean, but I'm still getting the redirect to the WOT warning page whe I try to open Firefox.  Maybe I'm getting a false positive.  I forgot I also have Microsoft Esentials on this machine.

MS Security Essentials show machine is clean on a quick scan. The malware is still in history folder in MABAM, but I don't know how to print a log. I'm still getting the redirect.

Okay: Here's the log. Should I delete the threats held in Quarinten?

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 419296
Time Elapsed: 1 hr, 37 min, 16 sec

Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Enabled
PUM: Enabled

Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files: 5
PUP.Optional.Trovi.A, C:\Users\Mikel\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\8zb8mxm6.default\searchplugins\trovi-search.xml, , [23d17de4661620162690d5a2bb480ef2],
PUP.Optional.Trovi, C:\Users\Mikel\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\8zb8mxm6.default\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.search.defaultenginename", "Trovi search");), ,[955fb8a95d1f9f97412ab3f028dd22de]
PUP.Optional.Trovi, C:\Users\Mikel\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\8zb8mxm6.default\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine", "Trovi search");), ,[a351362b1b615fd78be19c076c99867a]
PUP.Optional.Trovi.A, C:\Users\Mikel\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\8zb8mxm6.default\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://www.trovi.com/?gd=&ctid=CT3324775&octid=EB_ORIGINAL_CTID&ISID=MD0B6A11F-072D-4748-A85E-ACA2A138A492&SearchSource=55&CUI=&UM=8&UP=SP6ECC028C-5591-4C98-9CB8-EB8AF7FCB4F1&SSPV=");), ,[fdf762ff1a62b383f60381223dc89967]
PUP.Optional.Trovi.A, C:\Users\Mikel\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\8zb8mxm6.default\prefs.js, Good: (), Bad: (user_pref("browser.newtab.url", "http://www.trovi.com/?gd=&ctid=CT3324775&octid=EB_ORIGINAL_CTID&ISID=MD0B6A11F-072D-4748-A85E-ACA2A138A492&SearchSource=69&CUI=&SSPV=&Lay=1&UM=8&UP=SP6ECC028C-5591-4C98-9CB8-EB8AF7FCB4F1");), ,[bf35b4ada7d5b77f4cae9f0460a58c74]

Physical Sectors: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)

Okay, Toshiba appears to be okay now.  I booted the Everex with the Reatogo boot disk and I get a blue screen that says:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down'  It's asking me to run a diagnostic utillity.  But it is frozen on the blue screen.  Tried tapping f8 for safe mode, tried hitting del, tried tapping f9 and f10 during boot up, but always get this blue screen.

Should I delete the threats held in Quarinten?

Yes, you can clean the quarantine folder.

I went to the site you linked for the ISO burner and picked a lot of Adware and Maleware. Now my clean laptop appears to be infected.

All the site I provide are safe. Perhaps the laptop was infected before.

I booted the Everex with the Reatogo boot disk and I get a blue screen that says:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down' It's asking me to run a diagnostic utillity.

If you're getting that message it is not booting from the Reatogo disk. Have you changed your BIOS to have the boot order?

Dave:

I think this machine is about ten years old> I don't see the BIOS screen option. I think it is Windows XP 2000

I can't get to the boot screen, but the boot order must have CDROM first because that's where it hangs up, with a prompt that says insert CD and hit Enter. When I do this the CDRW runs and loads the REATOGO and I see the Windows XP trying to start, then it goes to the Blue Screen. The blue scree makes some suggestions but I can't get to the diagnostic screen or even safe mode.

How hard would it be to just install a new Windows XP. I'm sure I could pick up a copy cheap or maybe even Windows 7. Would a new OS be able to install over or replace the one that won't work, or will that one have to be uninstalled and space freed up on the hard drive.

There appears to be a problem with some hardware on your computer, most likely with the harddrive. If you can find out the make of your hard drive you can create a disk to run the diagnostic on the drive.

Run hard drive diagnostics: tacktech.com
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: imgburn to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.
For Toshiba hard drives, see here:

Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps here