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    HD still has viruses after clean install?

    Discussion in 'Security and Anti-Virus Software' started by vistanoob18, Apr 27, 2009.

  1. vistanoob18

    vistanoob18 Notebook Guru

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    I have a Dell 1720 with a 500GB western digital HD. I contracted a virus about a month ago and I've been locked in an epic battle with this virus since then. I've done 3 clean installs and I still cannot figure out what the heck I should do. Everytime I turn on my computer, I'm asked which selection of vista I want to start. This is off of one HD. The first option says it has a problem and the second one will start.

    Currently, when I go to download a virus protection software, I can do so. After the virus protection sets up, it asks if I want to restart (f-secure). I restart the computer and it comes back to it's previous state. Like I never downloaded anything. So I got AVG. This did not detect any viruses but had like 40 warnings. I tried to fix these and nothing happened. I've run spybot which returns results and claims to fix them. Again, I'm still having trouble.

    My computer has about 9 updates from windows that aren't allowed to be installed either. It comes up with an error message that has no solution.

    I'm at a loss and I don't want to give up. My computer also seems to be suffering performance wise. I installed a clean version of vista on my second HD and it will start up. It also finds viruses with spybot and claims to remove them. It has not been attacked by viruses and there should be no reason any virus/spyware is found on the computer.

    WHAT DO I DO? Please help.
     
    vistanoob18, Apr 27, 2009
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  2. Ole man

    Ole man Notebook Evangelist

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    Boot from the second drive, get a good program to format the first, and make sure it is totally and completely wiped. Then reinstall Vista.
     
    Ole man, Apr 27, 2009
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  3. Full-English

    Full-English Notebook Deity

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    Killdisk is a good program i use to completely wipe the drive.

    Also, when your setting the OS up, is there anything you've downloaded, drivers etc, that could be causing the issues, also is it a clean version of Vista your installing.
     
    Full-English, Apr 27, 2009
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  4. vistanoob18

    vistanoob18 Notebook Guru

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    Yes it's a clean version of vista and no, I don't think there is anyway the drivers are causing this problem. But, what if they were? What would be the solution to that?

    I think it's odd that my other HD with no viruses is still running a little slower than it should be. Would downloading drivers off of dell's site be a better option?
     
    vistanoob18, Apr 28, 2009
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  5. crazycanuk

    crazycanuk Notebook Virtuoso

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    much better alternative, and if your hard drive is partitioned a bug can hide in recovery partitions or even the boot sector. I always delete all parttitions, delete the MBR and then repartition/reformat. Those darn coders hate giving up machines on their botnet or their precious advertising showingup
     
    crazycanuk, Apr 28, 2009
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  6. vistanoob18

    vistanoob18 Notebook Guru

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    So when downloading the drivers from dell, I'm going to have to know exactly what I need, correct? And is killdisk the best option for cleaning an HD (well, writing over an HD if I'm not mistaken)?
     
    vistanoob18, Apr 28, 2009
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  7. Baserk

    Baserk Notebook user

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    Either KillDisk or DBAN (Darik's Boot and Nuke) will do the job just fine.
     
    Baserk, Apr 28, 2009
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  8. vistanoob18

    vistanoob18 Notebook Guru

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    I ran kildisk last night on my HD and tonight I will be re-installing windows. I will let you guys know if I have any more troubles. thanks for the help
     
    vistanoob18, Apr 29, 2009
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  9. Full-English

    Full-English Notebook Deity

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    If your still having problems after running killdisk, something your installing is causing you issues and isn't clean, or your getting false positives.
     
    Full-English, Apr 29, 2009
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