virus windows xp - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 07:25:31 am
content: the neighbor over the road the other day i saw them putting outside there house an old computer so i went and got itits a celeron d pc 80gb hdd 2gb ram running xp i had found an old 256mb video card i found a couple of years ago that i decided to use in this pcbut after using it for awhile i found it has a virus i tried Avast it installed fine but when i go to open the program it wont open it shows up next to the clock but when i click it a list pops up i click open nothing happensso i wanted to know what virus software out there i should tryalso i know i could reinstall windows on it but the bios has no option to boot off a usb and the dvd drive in this computer when i put a disc in make all the sound it should sounds like the disc is loading but in my computer it just says there is no discany ideas i what i can do would love to use this as an pc to play older games on in my room

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 07:30:39 am
content: Ideas:New DVD drive (If you have one laying around)Install using another hard driveThrow the drive into another computer (WITH NO OTHER FIXED DISKS INSIDE) and wipe it securely using GParted live, then install it.Ask around on freecycle if anybody has a new DVD driveOnce a virus is on there, it's probably gonna stay on there (Why do you think it was on the curb?). Don't connect it to your network, do not put it in direct communication contact with another medium (I.E. don't put it with another hard disk in another machine), and do not try to remove the virus. Most antiviral programs are preventative, and in the worst case, can remove some viruses, but it's possible the machine is too far gone for that.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 07:46:29 am
content: Do the cleanup in Safe Mode.I run Spybot, AVG, Avisoft and a few other tools.Hijackthis, Crap cleaner and Roguekiller all may be of use.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 07:57:50 am
content: Reinstall is really the best idea. I'd give you a DVD drive if you were local but shipping overseas would cost more than the drive. Maybe you can fix the existing drive? I used to repair them now and then back when they were still expensive.

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 08:14:41 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 10, 2017, 07:46:29 ammy sister just came over now was here getting her sons table pc he left here and she asked what i was upto i told he them she called her ex boyfriends who job it is to fix computers he emailed me thishttps://www.raymond.cc/blog/doing-the-impossible-boot-computer-from-usb-or-cdrom-even-if-bios-not-supported-using-plop/to try i now can boot usb sticks hope i can get xp to install just need to to get my xp cd and make a usb

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 08:24:19 am
content: IIRC when installing AVG first time there's a utility within that scours the HD for virus before it installs, trouble is AVG can be a bit hungry on resources so probably not the best choice for this old dear.

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 08:26:32 am
content: Quote from: tautech on March 10, 2017, 08:24:19 amif i can get windows to install i might just have to stay away from using the net on this pc

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 08:34:55 am
content: Quote from: sony mavica on March 10, 2017, 08:26:32 amNah, it'll be down to a smart choice of an antivirus, one that's not too hungry on resources. XP was a good OS and still is if you don't need to do/run the latest stuff.Or you could challenge yourself and go Linux.

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 08:59:51 am
content: ok i copied my windows cd to iso and made the usb using rufus-2.12p but when i got into plop and choose usb a list pops up of it loading so stuff i think then about 2seconds latter screen goes black and then just goes back to the boot menuam i doing something wrong???

author: Faith
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 09:52:18 am
content: How old is this PC? It's actually only surprisingly recently (over the past five years or so) where most BIOS/UEFI implementations are actually able to boot from USB on a consistent basis.PC's which are >5 years old are quite a bit of a "hit and miss" where USB boot is concerned, and can fail for no obvious reason what-so-ever.Also; when you created the bootable USB stick, did you select MBR boot?As others have mentioned as well; wipe the hard drive (a format will suffice, but DBAN the damn thing if you're feeling particularly paranoid, haha).It is rarely advisable to attempt to recover from a virus infected PC, and if such a task is attempted you should really know what you are doing in order to not get re-infected.

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 10:01:11 am
content: Quote from: Faith on March 10, 2017, 09:52:18 amthe bios says 2004

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 10:07:23 am
content: i think i have it working now its coping setup file i used Novicorp WinToFlash Lite to make the iso i don't think it could boot ntfs? and the other app would only let me choose ntfs

author: FireFlower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 10:19:13 am
content: becareful if BIOS has a rootkit

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 11:11:02 am
content: now when i boot up the pc i get hal.dll is missing

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 11:49:37 am
content: Is your XP disk a Service Pack 3 disk? If it is earlier, do a search for slipstream SP3 XP. You don't want to be installing an earlier version.Also, I usually now install XP to a Virtualbox VM. Do not add any key on install and do not install any of the guest additions. Do all the updates. Install any programs you want in by default.When it is the way you like it, run sysprep (change to c:/Windows/System32/Sysprep and run sysprep in that folder.) If sysprep is missing, it is in a cab file on the installation disk. Do a search for Windows XP and sysprep. The folder can be hidden, but even if it is,cd c:/Windows/System32/Sysprepfrom a cmd window will work if sysprep is there.Select Generalize and OOBE (Out of Box Experience) and **important*** make sure you tell it to shutdown and not reboot.Now all you need is a way to clone the virtual drive to a real drive - if you are interested, I can help suggest some methods.What you end up with is a drive with a fully updated Windows XP on your slow PC and when you start, it asks for things like machine name, username and password. You will have to load the drivers for that PC, but it does mean you do not have to do the raw install and all the updates on that old hardware. It means that at any time in the future, you can reinstall a clean fully updated XP in about 15 minutes.Richard.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 12:10:25 pm
content: Quote from: Faith on March 10, 2017, 09:52:18 amNo, USB boot has been around for a long time. A Celeron D is already somewhat after the "boot from USB" era... the BIOS might not have"USB boot" explicitly but just list it as "removable drive" or "other".Find out the model of the motherboard and get the user manual to make sure. I have a motherboard from early 2004 which does support USB boot.

author: Faith
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 12:56:52 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on March 10, 2017, 12:10:25 pmYep, it has indeed. But as I said a lot of BIOS/UEFI implementations have had crap and hilariously unpredictable boot support for quite a long time.I've seen systems more than happy to boot from a USB DVD drive but throw a fit when a USB thumb drive is used.While that same USB thumb drive would work on other, even older, models.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 03:49:12 pm
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on March 10, 2017, 07:30:39 amI agree. Some virusses / malware can nest so deep that the only solution is to wipe the hard drive clean using Linux (dd if=/dev/null of=/<disk>) and reinstall Windows. Many years ago I had a PC from a customer which kept sending spam. I tried every anti-virus program available (even the ones which run from a CD) but I couldn't get it removed.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 07:23:12 pm
content: Personally i would just wipe entire HD. I would install some light weight Linux instead of outdated Windows XP.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 07:27:01 pm
content: Depends on what one wants to use it for. I keep an old laptop with XP on it around. I use it for things where I need a real parallel port, and software that won't run on my newer PCs. XP still works fine as long as you are aware of the limitations. Biggest thing is if you're going to put it on the internet, dump IE and use a proper browser.

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 10:13:37 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on March 10, 2017, 12:10:25 pmthis is the bios

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 10:54:49 pm
content: ok i found my old win 98 pc that sound like its dying in pain when i booted it that has a floppy disk drive i put plop on a floppy disk as floppy disk fail easy i made 3 copies lucky i did the windows 98 computer has crapped out now and im now trying to install windows again this is becoming a pain to do if it does not work this time i might just take the ram and video card out of it and scrap the thing but it looking like it should work nowso happy i had the old windows 98 pc still around i thought i chucked that out years ago

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 11:14:58 pm
content: As many others have said: reformat it and install from fresh.Your neighbours were pretty silly for leaving it outside for anyone to take, without wiping the hard drive first. There could have been lots of private information on there for a criminal to take and use to hack into their bank account.Lastly: PLEASEDO NOT INSTALL XPON IT. That computer is more than capable of running a more modern operating system such as Windows 7 or 10.Personally, I'd install PCLinux on it but that might not be your thing.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 11:21:09 pm
content: Funny someone would just throw out a PC without even doing a basic wipe. lol. But yeah I'd just reinstall. Maybe try a Linux distro first, otherwise XP will probably have to do. It might run 7 but that ram is super tight... Suppose it's still worth a try though.

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 10, 2017, 11:21:28 pm
content: Quote from: Hero999 on March 10, 2017, 11:14:58 pmwhy im not trying to install linux on it is i want to run older pc games on it and wine is not that great so im going with xp already have a nice i5 laptop with windows 7 also there was 2 users on the pc both accounts had no password but there was nothing on the pc there was just 1 kids game installed on there and a dvdplayer app and firefox

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 12:00:37 am
content: Quote from: sony mavica on March 10, 2017, 11:21:28 pmThere are other options for old games such as running them under a virtual machine. That way the old insecure OS is nicely isolated from the rest of the real computer and if it gets a virus, it's easy to delete the image and reload it.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 12:22:44 am
content: You can get a lot of the older games for cheap at GOG.com and they have preconfigured DOSBOX that's already set up for each game so you just install and play - works great, playing Incredible Machine on Windows 10!

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 02:12:05 am
content: mostly fixing this up and getting game to run is done for a bit of fun i love older pc and electronicsi got it working now and did a video on it running gun pc game this video really suck

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 03:30:29 am
content: Until 2012, my primary gaming computer was a 3.0 GHz Core2Duo with 2 GB of RAM running Windows 7. Still have it and still use it. So 2 GB can be enough, but with newer games and software more may be needed.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 04:07:02 am
content: Quote from: Hero999 on March 11, 2017, 12:00:37 amIf the machine is going to be dedicated to one function you may as well install the OS directly on it. Games also don't really run well in VMs, most of the time they won't even start. I've tried running even really old games in a VM and some will run, but some won't. I'd be surprised if that machine even has VT-D so it would not run VMs very well anyway.

author: Iceberg86300
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 06:30:02 am
content: Quote from: sony mavica on March 11, 2017, 02:12:05 amSo now that it's running, is the DVD drive actually non-functioning?Some of my older machines were a real pain when it came to booting from a CD. Setting up the BIOS to boot from an optical drive, and getting the drive on its own IDE channel by itself would almost always be an issue. Incompatible DVD/CD type (if burned) and not correctly making them bootable were the main causes after that.Then of course loading drivers through a floppy for the disk controller if needed.Also, I never met a machine that XP sp3 didn't turn into basically a brick. Sometimes they'd work perfectly for a bit before melting down, other times it was an instant boot loop. Maybe I just had back luck.At any rate, glad you got it working!

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 08:32:34 am
content: I had XP SP3 running flawlessly on the old P4 that I sold a couple years ago, used it for ages. I still have it running on an old laptop I use when I need a real parallel port.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 09:48:01 am
content: Installing XP is perfectly fine if you don't have Windows 2000.If you have the option of windows 2k and install XP instead, we cannot be on the same planet and I will have to hunt you down like Liam Neeson in Taken. (No I won't)I have many retro computing systems, DOS, Win98, Win2k, WinXP, etc. It's relatively safe to connect your PC to the network to transfer files (Don't keep it there) and if you need to, you can connect it to the internet to activate. Don't use it to browse the web. Windows XP is still out of date, and is NOT safe to use, but in your case go right ahead and use Windows XP. There is no issue with this.Linux isn't you're thing and I can respect that. I am the same way. I would like Linux more if it had the app support, but it's lacking in that department. Not to mention it's cobbled together by many people nature is a curse and a blessing.You might try React OS, a Windows alternative. It's useless for modern PCs in my opinion, but for older systems, it might just be what you're looking for. It's secure, and will probably run most Windows XP games just fine. It's also free, which is a good bonus.If you have everything working, that's just fine. Make sure everything is gone from the drive. A soft delete won't work, you need to overwrite every single bit of information on the machine, left to right, and do the same to any non-ROM media you have used with it.

author: Iceberg86300
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 09:40:39 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on March 11, 2017, 08:32:34 amI must have just had bag luck with all my homebuilt machines. None of them liked sp3 at all.It may have been an issue with the source disk, which was a plain XP install of a VLK for the army. Sp1, SP2, and SP3 were slipstreamed from that image. Even the govt computers didn't like SP3. But those were Dell's and had their own install media as well, which seemed OK when using the Dell media.TwoOfFive I loved win2k! I used that throughout college.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 10:39:07 pm
content: Quote from: Iceberg86300 on March 11, 2017, 09:40:39 pmThis is why I never install and update Windows on old, slow hardware. It is very much faster to do the install and update in a VM on a fast machine, and then make a sysprep image that can be cloned to a drive.The first time the old machine Windows is when it boots from a drive that has a fully updated and configured WIndows. It is only then that you do the final step of adding the drivers to the PC. Cloning the sysprep image to a drive, putting it in a PC and going through the startup wizard takes about 20 minutes maximum. As well as saving many, many hours, you never have to step through the sequence of bugs and fixes that happens when you do hours of updates.The sysprep image can be kept for future Windows installs, so making the sysprep image is a once only task.

author: Iceberg86300
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 11:40:32 pm
content: Quote from: amspire on March 11, 2017, 10:39:07 pmI'm going to have to look into that.Currently I clone the hard disk of every machine I load when I'm finished updating and installing basic programs that every machine gets. Then that's my go-to image if anything ever goes wrong with that machine.Having a fully updated OS to start from would definitely be faster to get to the point of installing programs.Will Sysprep work with a VM ware workstation virtual disk? That may be a bit overkill for just making a bare bones OS though. Or is there a simpler VM to do it on?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2017, 11:49:27 pm
content: Honestly, don't bother trying to "clean up" any viruses. Just format and reinstall XP from scratch. If you don't have the product key, use something likeMagical Jelly Bean Keyfinderto pull the product keys off the system before you format.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 12:29:07 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on March 11, 2017, 09:48:01 amWindows XP, it's actually not that unsafe. If you must install XP and use it on the Internet then I strongly recommend the PoS hack, which gives continued updates. Contrary to want MS wants people to believe, it's perfectly safe and better than leaving your machine vulnerable to attack.QuoteThere's a huge range of programs for Linux, just as much so as Windows, but if it's not the software you're interested in then it's no good for you.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 12:29:49 am
content: Quote from: Iceberg86300 on March 11, 2017, 11:40:32 pmAbsolutely.This is my usual workflow. Sounds like a lot of steps, but when you do it, it is not hard - takes more words explaining it rather then doing it:Make a VM using VMDK virtual disks. No key entered (so you only get your 3 or 30 days free use by default)Do not install guest extensions.Make sure you have picked the right regional settings, timezone, etc. Do not worry about any user specific settings at all - they will all be wiped anyway in this proceedure.Do all the updatesInstall any default applications that you will always want.Shutdown.Make sure you make snapshots at important stages, like just after you have completed all the updates. Otherwise if you mess this up, you will be starting from scratch again.Make a clone in Virtualbox with full copy (so even if you did snapshots, you now have one single VMDK file). Pick the disk size carefully - make sure it is smaller then the smallest hard drive you will ever want to put the sysprep image on.Start and run C:\Windows\System23\Sysprep\Syspep.exe. Windows XP my be missing this, so do a google search to find out how to install it. Sysprep is there in the Service Pack files - just a bit hidden.Select Audit mode and click OK. Windows will reboot.Delete the user you created previously (audit mode does not use a "User") and make sure you select the "Delete all files" option. This leaves your Sysprep with no pre-exiting user.The sysprep windows will already be open - select Generalize and OOBE (Out of Box Experience). The make sure it is set to shutdown and not reboot. You must not let this VM reboot! Click OK and let it shotdown.Now you have your precious sysprep VMDK. Make a copy. Make a snapshot. If you accidentally start your Sysprep VM, it will turn the sysprep into a conventional Windows and you cannot go back if you have no snapshot or copy.Now to clone disks, I use Terrabyte Unlimited'sImage for Windows. It can read VMDK files directly so I just hook up the destination drive to my PC somehow (USB caddy, etc) and copy the VDMK to the destination drive with the "Expand to Fill Disk" option set.Put this disk in the destination PC and start. A wizard will start asking for Key, PC name, User and Password and then it will start Windows just as if you had a store bought PC. You still need to install drivers and Ethernet and even USB may not work without drivers, so make sure you have the drivers handy. May have to put them on a CD disk.Cloning AlternativesYou do not have to use Image For Windows - it is just nice to have. It is a great versatile cloning tool, but it does cost money.Instead in your sysprep VM, you can mount a Clonezilla ISO. May have to change the VM OS settings, particularly if the Clonezilla is 64 bits, and your VM was 32 bit Windows. Boot clonezilla (F12) and use it to make an image of the VMDK. You need a place to write the image to - like a USB stick.It is also possible to find ways to mount VMDK files as disks, and then use things like the free EASUS utility to clone the disk.If anyone has some suggestions that as as convenient as Image for Windows and free, please let us know. Particularly, are there other free cloning tools that can directly read one of the VM disk formats directly?

author: sony mavica
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 02:57:14 am
content: well this computer is working great and now im playing half life 2 and halo doom 3 and couple of other games and with the shitty gforce fx 5200 128mb card im getting decent fps in most games when running on low setting or medium at around 800x600 on my 1360x768 "17 tv games look great

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 06:40:18 am
content: The windows embedded hack is a thing, but it's not foolproof. There are feature in Windows XP that Windows Embedded does not have, and that could be vulnerable to exploitation.I mean strictly speaking, if you use the right programs, under a good firewall, and with proper protection, you can use Windows XP straight and simple. Windows Server 2003 is a good example. I use it on legacy hardware that won't run modern versions of Windows, but are otherwise powerful and useful.There are actually people trying to revive Window 2000, for very good reasons as it was the last decent product Microsoft ever made, and I will stand by that opinion until Microsoft dies. I wish I could use Windows 2000, but it lacks 64-bit support, meaning no programs can use more than 3GB of RAM. I have been tempted to install it as a legacy counterpart to my Windows Server 2016 that I main (I've stopped using desktop versions of Windows a while ago, if you have MSDN or Imagine, then forget desktop windows, server is way less stupid) so I can run old software on my machine (Aside from drivers, any x86 PC can run any IBM Compatible program. You can even run DOS on an i7 without much hardship.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 07:05:05 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on March 12, 2017, 06:40:18 amI actually have a Windows NT4 Virtual Machine I still use, believe it or not. The reason is to be able to run some old 1980s and 1990s tools that no longer run on anything after Win2000, and it is helped by the fact that NT4 can happily live on a 2G drive with 64M ram. Also, I have a pile of NT4 licenses I cannot give away. About 16 of them I think.NT4 was a very reliable, small operating system, but no USB and just basic 2d graphics.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 07:30:49 am
content: Uh, NT4 has USB support, and includes a version of DirectX. In fact it is the first version of Windows to include DirectX as a standard feature.Heck, even DOS has USB support for some items.

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 07:40:35 am
content: Quote from: TwoOfFive on March 12, 2017, 07:30:49 amNot really. Dell did release a dodgy USB1.1 driver for some of their machines, but Microsoft never did. I remember trying this driver, but it was no a great experience. Lots of USB devices just did not work. Windows 98 did support USB, so if you have any DOS's based on it or a later Windows, it would probably support USB better then NT4 ever did.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 08:31:50 am
content: https://winworldpc.com/product/windows-nt-40/patchesWinworldPC seems to have one. I'm not sure if this is a Microsoft made one, or if it's the dell one you're talking about. I'll give it a try on a VM real quick.EDIT: It's the dell one.http://prntscr.com/eixihfAnd yeah, doesn't work well. USB mouse refuses to work, whatever.But at least we have NT5 with PnP and USB support.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 08:41:54 am
content: Win2k was by far my favourite OS, and in fact I kinda miss that general computing era. Not that I'd want to go back, stuff is way better/faster now, but the whole AMD2000ish era was a great one, perhaps it's more of a personal thing, as it's when I learned the most about computers and when I used to build then more often.Ironicly I worked on a machine that I built in that era a few days ago. I built my uncle a machine back when I was in high school, and it needed to be cleaned up and stuff so I got it running again. Not bad for a 15ish year old machine to still be running and serving it's purpose. It has XP on it, but pretty sure I originally put win2k. I think somebody may have worked on it since as it seemed fairly clean software wise for a machine that is 15 years old. I can't say the same for the inside. Air compressor + shop vac had to come out.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 09:12:04 am
content: Yeah Win2K was great, it's what I think of when I think clean, minimalist UI, not this crap they're pushing on everyone today. I just pulled out my retail boxed copy and installed it fresh on a VM earlier tonight to play around. It still works pretty well though I didn't have much luck finding a web browser that would install though.

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 10:03:51 am
content: Yeah that's the thing most stuff will outright refuse to even try to install. Even Firefox won't run on win2k anymore.What I'd love to see is an OS that is what windows 8/10 is under the hood, but with the look and usability of win2k. And without the spyware of course.