IN PROGRESS: Computer wont load for some weird reason

Unknown

Please help me out on this huge problem i have gotten into.
a couple hours ago i was checking my computer for viruses and spyware using SpyBot when i came across this program called "SideFind". Spybot and Norton didnt detect it as a virus but i had never installed it on my computer so i open up my control panel and goto "Add/Remove new program" button and then from the list i select SideFind and press uninstall. Next thing i get a message saying "are u sure u want to delete sidefind" and i click yes and before i know whats happening this thing wipes out all the programs from the "Install/Remove programs" list. i think its just my computer acting up but then i exit the window and goto desktop and find that all icons arent working and nothing is openeing up. Windows isnt detecting any of my programs for some reason. So i restart my comp and then for some reason windows setup wizard opens up and asks me for my product key which is confusing me.

Has everything been wiped out from my hard drive(even windows)? I dont understand how everything could have been deleted from my computer in like 5 secs. Has this virus deleted my registry keys causing my computer to not detect anything?

Please Help me fast i have some very important projects saved on my comp and havent made any recent backups. Thanks!

BTW im using Windows 98 special edition and posting this from my sisters laptop. Please help!

MediaMan

This will help


http://www.pestpatrol.com/pestinfo/s/sidefind.asp

greg555

but my windows wont even load up and it seems that my entire registry has been deleted by this virus or even worse my entire C: drive has been wiped out. how can i get my registry back without windows loading up?

i think the site u gave me lists ways to stop it before it causes the problem

MediaMan

Can you reboot into safe mode?

Try reading this as well...specifically response number 6

http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/161233.html


Take your time and go slowly. Basically the sidefind program has leftovers that are causing your system to crash. Those need to be removed manually and you should be able to do so by following the advice on both links I gave you.

Your files are still there and if you go slowly and carefully you should be ok.

greg555

i managed to boot it up in safe mode but safe mode doesnt work either. i get the same "explorer has performed illegal operation" error and explorer shuts off leaving just the wallpaper with no programs running. But thanks for the help. i need assistance for solving the problem through the boot disk since i was able to view all my directories through it. hopefully i'll get help soon.

greg555

I checked some other sites and it seems nobody knows how to remove it via MS DOS.

primesuspect

greg is there any way you can take the hard drive out and put it into another computer and still be able to post here?