Virus or failing new hard drive...

[feral]

I'm having trouble to understand what is happening with my laptop. I have been at it for about 3 days now and its taking away my driving pleasure :mad::mad::mad:

About a month ago I replaced the hard drive(Samsung HM121HC) and decided to do a fresh install of XP Pro. All was going very well gradually installing software and updates until about 2 weeks ago a virus hit. AVG Free kicked in and looked to have processed the virus as required. When I went to start the laptop again, I had nothing, just hung at the end of the bios screen and XP Pro would not start.

As I had not proceeded very far installing all the software I decided to do another fresh install. This proceeded very well and the laptop was working well until 3 days ago. Explorer, System Restore, Messenger, Outlook Express, Networks would not stay open.

I ran chkdsk and it is now telling me that I have 13..(how appropriate)...bad clusters and has replaced them.

How do you get bad clusters on a new disk that is only one month old?

Do I replace the disk with another one and do I have a claim against the supplier?

Do I expect this disk to have a short life?

So many questions and lifes too short for this sort of nonsence :p:p

What is going on :o

[abaddonxi]

Did you fresh install with a format or without?

How old is the laptop?

Cheers
Simon

[disco2hse]

It is unlikely that the hard disk is at fault, but if it is you can get a replacement since it will be under warranty (assuming you haven't opened it or anything). It is more likely that the virus scanner either reported a false positive and deleted a system file required by your laptop (e.g. a driver for your particular hardware configuration) or it found an actual virus that may have been a root kit, in which case the only thing you can do is a hard disk reformat before reinstalling. Or, it found a virus and did not successfully remove it.

Having said all that, most modern viruses do not target individual computers to disable them, rather they seek to install other programs or parts of programs that may be used as bots in a bot net. Little is currently known about these programs at this time except that there are various kinds and some of those are known to morph from viruses to programs to root kits. It is possible by your description of the network related applications that are failing that the virus/program/root kit is still there and trying to negotiate your network settings and seemingly failing (which is why the programs are crashing).

So my advice, scrub the living daylights out of your hard drive with a low level reformat. If possible get a firmware update for the laptop too. Then install the system from the ground up. Then...

Don't get back onto the net until you have a at least two virus detection/spyware applications running.

[feral]

Did you fresh install with a format or without?

How old is the laptop?

Cheers
Simon



So my advice, scrub the living daylights out of your hard drive with a low level reformat. If possible get a firmware update for the laptop too. Then install the system from the ground up. Then...

Don't get back onto the net until you have a at least two virus detection/spyware applications running.


I did do a full and complete format on both occasions of re-install. The laptop looks to be about year 2003 and when I did all the installs I updated all drivers possible to the latest.

I just think that the hard drive is sus and will not last.

[feral]

Another problem...

I have used up all the installs for my Xp Pro and it requires 'activation' It will not allow me to do this over the net so I must either phone Microsoft or purchase another program.

It appears that when I phone Microsoft and I ask nicely to justify my reasons for all the installs done they will give me a new activation code for my current program.

Has anyone done this and what will I expect from Microsoft?

Cheers.

[Grizzly_Adams]

G'day Feral,

I believe Inc. has done it and I've heard of numerous people doing it without problems.

Just call 'em up, give them your saga and you'll be right.

[abaddonxi]

Sounds like you've done all the right things.

Last time this happened to me I downloaded a HDD test program from the manufacturers website, ran from a floppy - must have been a while ago - the program tested the disk and told me it was stuffed. It spat out a code, back to the website and it gives you a return code.

It probably wouldn't be overnight, so you might just go out and buy another one while you're waiting, maybe one of those portable USB drive, pull it apart, then ghost the system when it's installed so you can replace the HDD when it comes back - assuming that any USB boxed hdd is going to be dead slow.

What was wrong with the last HDD?

Cheers
Simon

[HangOver]

the reactivation thingy is just and automated process, you dont need to "talk" to anyone.

Also try running:

chkdsk/f

--------------------------------------------------------------
Bad sectors reported on a NEW hard drive should NOT happen.
If it does Take it back, explain politely the error message and suggest you are supplied with a new drive.
If it's 3 months old it may be a warranty job and you may have to wait for a replacement, this is normal.

[disco2hse]

I did do a full and complete format on both occasions of re-install. The laptop looks to be about year 2003 and when I did all the installs I updated all drivers possible to the latest.

I just think that the hard drive is sus and will not last.

Hmm. Damn shame really but then I had a computer that went through four HDs before I realised the problem. Really bad power supply was frying the HDs. Have you got it filtered?

These days it is unlikely that a HD will develop errors from new but in this case it looks like one of those rarities. Take it back to where you bought it from and get a replacement. They should just give you a new one. You shouldn't have to worry about error codes and such, the manufacturer will sort that out when it is returned to them.

As for the MS thingy, can't help you there. *nix man myself :)

[WhiteD3]

Another problem...

I have used up all the installs for my Xp Pro and it requires 'activation' It will not allow me to do this over the net so I must either phone Microsoft or purchase another program.

It appears that when I phone Microsoft and I ask nicely to justify my reasons for all the installs done they will give me a new activation code for my current program.

Has anyone done this and what will I expect from Microsoft?

Cheers.


I had to do it recently and had no dramas. Took a few minutes.

[feral]

G'day Feral,

I believe Inc. has done it and I've heard of numerous people doing it without problems.

Just call 'em up, give them your saga and you'll be right.


I had to do it recently and had no dramas. Took a few minutes.



Yeah right...what the hell did I do wrong? :twisted::twisted::twisted:


Just a bit of background...Xp Pro installed on Desktop - Feb '07. Xp Pro installed on Laptop Nov '07. Re-installed Xp Pro on Laptop Dec '07. All completed and activated with no problems at all.

Dec '07 - New Desktop computer but used old Hard Drive and was forced into full format and new install. This was most likely due to the old desktop would not bios read the drive as 40gb so it was limited to 32gb.

All I wanted to do was to place my old drive into the new desktop and it should have worked. It didn't..:angrylock: The drive would hang on the bios. I used an old drive to see if it was the computer but it read that perfectly, so I put it down to the 32gb read/40gb actual hard drive conflict. I REPAIRED XP Pro twice and it was not reponding after installing setup files. So I was forced into a full format and install.

:censored: Microsoft has told me that the program is for one install only. When I explained to him that 'How can that be right when I received full activation rights from you with my current setup'...I was told ...ummm....aahh....not sure why ....but its one install only'


What do I do now.....:angrylock:

[29dinosaur]

toss it and install ubuntu or the like linux (unless of course you must have a microsoft dependent program running).

[disco2hse]

Umm, hang on a minute. Now I'm confused :confused:

I thought you were trying to put a new drive into your old laptop??


Dec '07 - New Desktop computer but used old Hard Drive and was forced into full format and new install. This was most likely due to the old desktop would not bios read the drive as 40gb so it was limited to 32gb.

The old system will have limited the hard drive size because of the block size required and the maximum number of blocks allowed under its BIOS. All the drive will have been used but the previous format would have allocated a certain number of sectors per block. You have not said what the disk format was, i.e. FAT, FAT32, NTFS, ... Each will use a different number of sectors per block.


All I wanted to do was to place my old drive into the new desktop and it should have worked. It didn't..:angrylock: The drive would hang on the bios.

The old system drivers would not match the new hardware configuration so the old system would be unlikely to work. Some drivers are initialised at boot. I assume you attempted to boot into dos mode, etc.


I used an old drive to see if it was the computer but it read that perfectly, so I put it down to the 32gb read/40gb actual hard drive conflict.

So far I see no evidence of a conflict except what I have noted above.


I REPAIRED XP Pro twice and it was not reponding after installing setup files. So I was forced into a full format and install.

The issue is not with MS XP Pro being corrupted and therefore needing repair. This may be to do with the disk format??


:censored: Microsoft has told me that the program is for one install only. When I explained to him that 'How can that be right when I received full activation rights from you with my current setup'...I was told ...ummm....aahh....not sure why ....but its one install only'

Sorry but in this instance I have to agree with them. You have said that you have it installed on a laptop and now you want it on a desktop computer too.


What do I do now.....:angrylock:

By now the probable answer is likely to be coming clear. ;)

[feral]

Oh, sorry. Yes, it appears that I have caused some confusion by linking to separate problems together :cool:

But it is becoming obvious that I have discovered a loophole in Microsoft's Xp Pro system which allowed me to install one program/product key onto two separate computers.


And I want to maintain the exploitation :D:D:D

[HangOver]

Yeah right...what the hell did I do wrong? :twisted::twisted::twisted:


Just a bit of background...Xp Pro installed on Desktop - Feb '07. Xp Pro installed on Laptop Nov '07. Re-installed Xp Pro on Laptop Dec '07. All completed and activated with no problems at all.

Dec '07 - New Desktop computer but used old Hard Drive and was forced into full format and new install. This was most likely due to the old desktop would not bios read the drive as 40gb so it was limited to 32gb.

All I wanted to do was to place my old drive into the new desktop and it should have worked. It didn't..:angrylock: The drive would hang on the bios. I used an old drive to see if it was the computer but it read that perfectly, so I put it down to the 32gb read/40gb actual hard drive conflict. I REPAIRED XP Pro twice and it was not reponding after installing setup files. So I was forced into a full format and install.

:censored: Microsoft has told me that the program is for one install only. When I explained to him that 'How can that be right when I received full activation rights from you with my current setup'...I was told ...ummm....aahh....not sure why ....but its one install only'


What do I do now.....:angrylock:

If you are using XP PRO on both systems there shouldn't be any hassles with activation etc, just ignore the message.
You should only get the "register in 30 days" message with XP home.
(Or maybe it's just the version of PRO I use?)

Do you have TWO licenses one for your desktop and one for your laptop?

AHHHHHHH I have re-read your post it seems you got a NEW computer and re-installed your existing XP-pro onto the NEW computer.
MS is correct here you only license the software to use on ONE system and it is not, (legally) transferable to another system even if you own both systems and no longer use the original system.
It can be and is done but 'letter of the law stuff' it shouldn't be.

What you could try is call them back tell them it's for the original system, (not the new one) and that the HDD just died and can you get a new code.
;)
If they query it tell them you got sick of trying to get the new system to work so you are going back to the old one. They won't ask though.
The one install thing is rubbish what they should have said was it is for one SYSTEM

[feral]

Yes, it has been a little exercise in futility :p

I can understand that it is one program/one install and Micro$oft are quite right to do what they do.

BUT......my problem is that I have to buy a new program which I am willing to do. The problem is that Microsoft which has a captive market have given Vista as the only option. If you read the specifications of Vista you are looking at 1mhz processor, 1gb Ram and 32mb Video as pretty well the minimum.

The system that I am building is for the 'Outlaws' and is spec'd to 800mhz, 320mb and 32mb. According to 'Whirlpool' I have no chance of running Vista.

All the "Outlaws' want to do is basically type a letter or two and run low spec games like Solitare!!! Why should I have to purchase a new computer just to get the specifications higher to run a Microsoft OS.

Microsoft have removed from retail sale Windows XP Home/Pro editions and cannot be bought from anywhere. The only way to get these editions is to buy a OEM new system.....we do not want to do this.

Imagine the outcry if you shattered your MY2003 LR headlight or need a new ECU...sorry Sir, we don't supply these and you will have to update to the 2008 model.

Not quite the perfect analogy but I think as a consumer I am being forced into buying a new system when there is no need.

Shouldn't this be in the rant's section :D:D:D:D

[abaddonxi]

PM sent.

Cheers
Simon

[shorty943]

Oh, sorry. Yes, it appears that I have caused some confusion by linking to separate problems together :cool:

But it is becoming obvious that I have discovered a loophole in Microsoft's Xp Pro system which allowed me to install one program/product key onto two separate computers.


And I want to maintain the exploitation :D:D:D


It's always been possible. I just don't understand how you got them both activated.
At installation Windows does some maths on the CD serial No.+ CPU SNo. + Videocard S No. + Network NAT and a couple of other things, and then sends that "hashed number" as your activation code. Sort of, in easy English.
It will allow I think 2 or 3 item changes before it just plain says no.
By putting your hard disk into a brand new machine you outraged Windows mate. It got indignant at being "pirated".:D

I might be able to help. If Simon's offer of help doesn't work PM me.

[HangOver]

You are right Vista on an 800 would be a pig and with 32mb or RAM it wouldn't run at all.

Is the 32mb the video card size instead of the RAM/memory?

Either way forget vista and on an 800 XP will be a bit slow.
I would probably check out ebay for an unregistered copy of windows 2000 or even Windows 98, 2k or 98 will only cost you a few bucks and will be OK for what you need it for and no registration is needed.

OR get a PC mag with a free copy of UBUNTU on it and install that, quick and easy install. It will do all your outlaws need.

[feral]

It's always been possible. I just don't understand how you got them both activated.
At installation Windows does some maths on the CD serial No.+ CPU SNo. + Videocard S No. + Network NAT and a couple of other things, and then sends that "hashed number" as your activation code. Sort of, in easy English.
It will allow I think 2 or 3 item changes before it just plain says no.
By putting your hard disk into a brand new machine you outraged Windows mate. It got indignant at being "pirated".:D



I have Google'd alot and it appears to me that 120 days rings the bell and the Microsoft server tends to swipe the slate.

This could explain why it installed Xp Pro in Feb '07 on desktop and then Nov '07 on laptop, all activated and updated. I then re-installed on the laptop in Dec '07. All this was performed with a full format and clean drives.

Is that a 'crack' or a 'loophole'? :eek::D:D:D:D

But then again I could be wrong :confused:

[shorty943]

Yeah, the Pro disk is not one I'm used to. Or XP Home either.

I have a 9 in 1 Corporate XP Pro disk, a seeming bottomless bucket of new installation codes and it never bitches about wanting activation. Thank God this version is stable, because it is a complex installation procedure.

But it is also Copyable. Shush. Look furtively left and right, and PM me.

[victa125]

Hey feral went to start my lappy this morning. got zilch hmmmm. hard drivey no goey hmmm, took it out looked at it shook it put it in the oven (conventional not micky) for a few mos replaced it and hey presto. ran scan disc without the/f seems to be fine? could be a bad sign.

[HangOver]

shook it put it in the oven :eek::eek:


could be a bad sign.

ermmmm, yes.
Depending what the original error was?