more problems

[gsquared817]

i had some problems earlier but they were fixed. all of a sudden- whenever my computer starts, the screen just goes to a black screen. i hit F8 and when i try to start in safe mode, the list stops at \drivers\isapnp.sys and doesn't go any further. any idea why? i can't even get it to run hijack this.

[Jintan]

Hello again gsquared817,


There could be many sources of a problem like that, so hard to know what to suggest first with no real info to go by. Have you tried booting using the Last Known Good Configuration, that should show there on the startup menu? Were there any warning problems that you can tie to this current problem?

[gsquared817]

there was no warning or anything. just came out of nowhere. if i try to restore to last known good settings, the computer just goes blank- a black screen

[Jintan]

Hmmm - do you have or can borrow a 2000 install CD? We might then use that to run a Repair Install there, and possibly correct enough to allow you to boot to Windows.

[gsquared817]

i am sorry for not replying sooner. i just got access to a Cd and a laptop to use in the meantime. the CD isn't loading- windows just stops into a blank screen or if i try and go to safe mode stops at what i said before. i will keep trying. any more suggestions?

[Jintan]

Newer info after your earlier postings indicate some poorly made newer rootkits can cause what you are seeing there now. We will need to access the Recovery Console, and swap out some files. Also there is a recent conflict caused by a Windows update (see here) and one type of rootkit that leaves a system unable to boot. I am only aware of the conflict existing on XP systems, but a chance it also effects 2K. We can uninstall that update as one correction method, but again need to access the Recovery Console.

Assuming that CD is a good, unscratched copy, looks like the current problem is changing the BIOS settings so the system looks to the CD-ROM for a first boot option. See the info at these sites on how to do that.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Here's some general instructions for changing the boot order

http://www.hiren.info/pages/bios-boot-cdrom

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/articles/bios/

If you succeed and can boot from the CD, do the following steps for now:

Load the 2K CD into the CD-ROM drive and restart the system. On reboot watch for and agree to any prompts to boot from the CD.

After the installation software inspects the system and loads all necessary device drivers you will see the the "Welcome To Setup" screen, with the following menu:

This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer:

To setup Windows X2000 now, press ENTER.

To repair a Windows 2000 installation using Recovery Console, press R.

To quit Setup without installing Windows 2000, press F3.

Press "R" to start the Recovery Console setup. After you start the Windows Recovery Console, you receive the following message:

Microsoft Windows(R) Recovery Console

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

1: C:\WINNT

Which Windows Installation would you like to log on to
(To cancel, press ENTER)?

After you enter the number for the appropriate Windows installation, Windows will then prompt you to enter the Administrator account password.

Then at the Recovery Console C:\Winnt\> prompt type each of the following, pressing Enter after each:

CHDIR $NtUninstallKB977165$\spuninst

BATCH spuninst.txt

exit

When you run that batch command you should see Windows copying files. When you hit Enter after typing exit your computer will reboot. Do Not press any key until the system has completely rebooted, then after the reboot be sure to remove your XP CD from the CD-ROM drive.

If you do then boot to Windows normally, do the RSIT and Gmer scan steps posted earlier please.