Need computer help. Virus destroyed system folder and damaged bios.

S

Sundsvall

Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Messages
1,559
Hi,

I have an older ACER computer laptop (Ferrari Edition). I ran into some virus online and it deleted a bunch of file from the system folder.

The harddrive is 3 years old. The computer is pushing 8 years.

Heres the problem. When the HD crashed a while ago, I was able to replace the drive and pop in a windows xp cd to bring it back up.

This time, the virus damaged the computers ability to boot up with a Windows disk.

I want to save the laptop for a backup browsing machine as it has filled that role nicely. This old ACER is made with quality parts (not like the newer ones) and I would like to keep it running.

Should I buy a new harddrive and try into install Windows? Or is there another protocol I could try?

Is it possible to reflash the BIOS?

Thanks!
 
Yes, you can reflash the bios, if you get the version that is compatible with your computer. You will have to copy it onto a disk, or a floppy 3.5" in the case of an 8 year old laptop. Acer should be of assistance in explaining how to get this done.
 
I had something hit my desktop a few weeks ago.
Windows would not boot up.I just trashed it and bought a laptop.
 
Sundsvall said:
Should I buy a new harddrive and try into install Windows? Or is there another protocol I could try?
Click to expand...
There's no reason to buy a new hard drive unless the old one is physically damaged. Reformat the old one and re-use it.

Keep in mind the BIOS is located on the motherboard, not the hard drive. ;)

Is it possible to reflash the BIOS?
Click to expand...

It should be. It's normally done from a bootable floppy. But if the computer can't boot from a floppy due to a bad BIOS...

-----------------------

I had something hit my desktop a few weeks ago.
Windows would not boot up.I just trashed it and bought a laptop.
Click to expand...

My Lincoln Navigator had a flat tire, so I trashed it and bought a Kia Sephia. :D
 
Bob W said:
There's no reason to buy a new hard drive unless the old one is physically damaged. Reformat the old one and re-use it.

Keep in mind the BIOS is located on the motherboard, not the hard drive. ;)



It should be. It's normally done from a bootable floppy. But if the computer can't boot from a floppy due to a bad BIOS...

-----------------------



My Lincoln Navigator had a flat tire, so I trashed it and bought a Kia Sephia. :D
Click to expand...

The virus crashed the HD and now its making noises. Shouldn't be too long before the HD stops spinning completely.

It will load Windows to get to the desktop, then it will die and complain about 50 missing system files.
 
Bob W said:
There's no reason to buy a new hard drive unless the old one is physically damaged. Reformat the old one and re-use it.

Keep in mind the BIOS is located on the motherboard, not the hard drive. ;)



It should be. It's normally done from a bootable floppy. But if the computer can't boot from a floppy due to a bad BIOS...

-----------------------



My Lincoln Navigator had a flat tire, so I trashed it and bought a Kia Sephia. :D
Click to expand...
Most viruses won't affect the BIOS, but I believe a few can. If it simply just changed a few settings on your BIOS then some motherboards have a button or method to physically reset it (I've had to do this because I accidentally overclocked too far and the computer wouldn't even boot up at all lol), I'm not familiar with viruses that affect BIOS so I'm not sure if they either completely screw it up or just change a few settings. Keep in mind if it has access to the BIOS, it will be capable of overclocking everything and turning all the fans off so all the parts overheat.

Getting a second backup harddrive is always a good idea for stuff like this, making a backup every month can save you a lot of trouble if your HDD screws up or you get a virus.

At this point I'd just suggest to take it to a computer expert in your area because you don't have the tools to fix this and it will take a bit of time, but it will probably cost more than how much your laptop is worth.
 
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u812 said:
I had something hit my desktop a few weeks ago.
Windows would not boot up.I just trashed it and bought a laptop.
Click to expand...

I think I got hit by the same thing. I think the latest virus is to take all the older machines out, so that people would go out and buy a new machine!
 
Roger999 said:
Most viruses won't affect the BIOS, but I believe a few can. If it simply just changed a few settings on your BIOS then some motherboards have a button or method to physically reset it (I've had to do this because I accidentally overclocked too far and the computer wouldn't even boot up at all lol), I'm not familiar with viruses that affect BIOS so I'm not sure if they either completely screw it up or just change a few settings. Keep in mind if it has access to the BIOS, it will be capable of overclocking everything and turning all the fans off so all the parts overheat or change the RPM of the Harddrive (which sounds like what the OP might be experiencing).

Getting a second backup harddrive is always a good idea for stuff like this, making a backup every month can save you a lot of trouble if your HDD screws up or you get a virus.

At this point I'd just suggest to take it to a computer expert in your area because you don't have the tools to fix this and it will take a bit of time, but it will probably cost more than how much your laptop is worth.
Click to expand...

The new HD will run about $130. If it doesn't work, I guess I can always put it in a case and attach it to my desktop.

I would rather do the diagnostics and repairs myself. I don't think its that hard, its just a matter of finding the necessary tools. Somebody out there has done this before.
 
Eight years old?
I know you said you would like to keep it running, but it would still probably a better use of resources,
as well as much less frustration, to just replace it with an inexpensive new one for a couple hundred bucks at Best Buy.

pete
 
I hate to be the guy to say it, but if you just use your computer for basic consumer type stuff just get a Mac. Yes, Macs can still get viruses. What people won't tell you is that it is severely unlikely and when it does happen, is usually the result of user error. Don't get me wrong, people on these types of forums are normally quite resourceful and all, but getting rid of some of these viruses on a Windows machine is so time consuming and frustrating and you never actually know for a fact that you got all of it. Next thing you know you are having your CC#s captured via a keylogger that dug itself in a little deeper.

I just graduated with a degree in IT Infrastructure. I know that Mac is a four letter word to lots of people (especially in the IT field) because of the price, but there are people on this forum who spend $500 plus on custom blades. I don't think they are beyond understanding the concept of "you get what you pay for". I see people buy $500 and $600 laptops thinking they saved money by not buying a Mac only to spend $100 on GeekSquad services 7 months later, then again and again (depending on how bad the porn that they are looking at is haha). As one pervious user mentioned, he just trashed his laptop and bought a new one.

I'm not a Mac evangelist. I build custom gaming PCs and will be using Windows and Ubuntu religiously for the rest of my career. When it comes to spending my hard earned money on a consumer machine? I Won't buy anything other than a Mac ever again.
 
^^^ What he said, for why he said it. Just for the required time involved in virus/spybot/malware maintenance.

4+ years on my Mac, and not a single virus occurrence. I went from a PC flag waver to a Mac appreciator for this alone.

Coop
 
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