Windows won't boot without windows cd

LightstrikeLightstrike
edited September 2005 in Science & Tech
Hi, I got a virus a while ago which attacked the boot sequence somehow. I got rid of the virus but now windows won't boot unless I have the windows xp cd in the drive and let it load it and not press a key when it asks.

I thought it hit the boot record so I tried everything in the windows recovery console but no luck. I don't know what else to try. I've already formatted the windows partition and reinstalled windows too.

Appreciate any help. Thanks!

Comments

  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    Sorry about the crazy delay. We're working on beefing up our SWAT TEAM staff. Do you still need help with this issue?
  • LightstrikeLightstrike
    edited September 2005
    primesuspect wrote:
    Sorry about the crazy delay. We're working on beefing up our SWAT TEAM staff. Do you still need help with this issue?

    Better late than never :) Yeah I feel like I've tried everything except buying a new disk. Still need the windows cd to bypass the hd-boot.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    Okay, so you've reinstalled windows and reformatted the drive, and it still won't boot without the CD in the drive? I'm going to move this to the windows forum where more people will see it. This is probably not a spyware issue.
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited September 2005
    I would run a HD utility on the HD to check it, then if that util says the HD is good zero the HD (essentially a low-level format including boot sector wipe, given that you have a real Windows CD which seems to be implied in this thread), then try reinstalling windows. There are virals which live in the boot sector, and not always do they get killed with a format, but ALWAYS they get killed with a low-level format.

    WARNING! With this procedure you will lose EVERYTHING on the HD that you have not backed up!
  • TheHeartSmasherTheHeartSmasher
    edited September 2005
    DOwnload the Ultimate boot cd
    http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

    Check out these programs
    Active@ KillDisk Free Edition 3.1
    Darik's Boot and Nuke 1.0.5
    PC INSPECTOR e-maxx

    Then use the one that will soot your needs also check out the boot progrmas to.
    Have you tried loading deleting all partitions and full reformat the drive with NTFS file system acouple of times.

    I had this problem and I had to reformat 5 times to get rid of the MBR now everything runs extremely fast
  • LightstrikeLightstrike
    edited September 2005
    Thanks for your replies!
    primesuspect wrote:
    Okay, so you've reinstalled windows and reformatted the drive, and it still won't boot without the CD in the drive? I'm going to move this to the windows forum where more people will see it. This is probably not a spyware issue.

    True. It only originated from a virus.
    I would run a HD utility on the HD to check it, then if that util says the HD is good zero the HD (essentially a low-level format including boot sector wipe, given that you have a real Windows CD which seems to be implied in this thread), then try reinstalling windows. There are virals which live in the boot sector, and not always do they get killed with a format, but ALWAYS they get killed with a low-level format.

    Good idea. I found the Western Digital DataLifeguard. I'll try that.
    DOwnload the Ultimate boot cd
    http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

    Check out these programs
    Active@ KillDisk Free Edition 3.1
    Darik's Boot and Nuke 1.0.5
    PC INSPECTOR e-maxx

    Then use the one that will soot your needs also check out the boot progrmas to.
    Have you tried loading deleting all partitions and full reformat the drive with NTFS file system acouple of times.

    I had this problem and I had to reformat 5 times to get rid of the MBR now everything runs extremely fast

    I did kill the partition, made a new one and did a low-level format on it in the windows installation. I have lots of important data on the other partition I would have problems backing up at the moment so I'd want to try everything not involving a full disk format if possible.
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