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Geek Culture / Big Computer Problem!

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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 03:53
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I cant start my computer because it says

"missing or corrupt file C:\WINDOWS\inf\biosinfo.inf"

how can i fix this? without reformatting again...the must be a way?

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DBAlex
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Location: United Kingdom
Posted: 29th Jun 2005 03:54
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Reformat.

Its the only way!

Well its what I do when I get Spyware and stuff...


AMD 64 3000 + 512mb RAM + 80GB HD + Radeon 9600se 128mb
http://www.dbastudios.cjb.net
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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 03:55
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i just updated to SP2, and that's what caused the problem. Am I to think that SP2 is now evil? What did it do to my computer!?

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DBAlex
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 03:58
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It blowed it the hells up!11

Recommendation for next time: Dont download p*rn... If your using internet exporer...


AMD 64 3000 + 512mb RAM + 80GB HD + Radeon 9600se 128mb
http://www.dbastudios.cjb.net
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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 04:00
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not downloading p*rn OR using IE, so im safe there. Just as soon as i hit "restart my computer now" from installing SP2, it screwed it up.

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David R
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Joined: 9th Sep 2003
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 04:51
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Have you installed the June 16th 2005 updates? As I said in your previous thread, it secures areas of Windows that were previously open to attack

(both of the issues you have described, are fixes in the pack.)


Anyway, the Bios fil is supposed to contain this:


If you can some how hook-up you hard disk with another PC, maybe you can copy it over (replace your current one)

Otherwise, I'm stumped.

[url=www.lightningstudios.co.uk][/url]
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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 04:52
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After searching online long enough, im trying to rebuild file, then do a xp repair install, waiting now to see what comes of it.

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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 05:03
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Ok, now it gets a bit further on starting up, but just after the xp pro loading screen it goes to the blue setup screen and says "setup is now restarting..." and restarts the computer, and I cant get any further than that....any ideas?

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David R
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 05:09
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Hmmm..... This is gettin a bit more than just a general fault. Here's a couple of issues I faced in the past, maybe you could have the same problem(s)

-> How old is your system? On my previous system, upgrading to SP2 caused a fault on the hard disk; Windows marks bad sectors automatically (so it does not use them), however, SP2 seemed to mess this up, and it started to use the first sector of the disk for booting (which is wrong, it should use the... thingy; can't remember what its called). All in all; is your hard disk still functioning correctly?

-> As a safety precuation, try unplugging any E_SCSI-based devices (external USB drives, and anything else)

-> Try Holding F8 on the XP boot screen (just before it appears). Try entering safe-mode, or FAILSAFE (in some systems this mode be disabled)

-> Thinking of more; posting soon............

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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 05:14
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I just had a genious idea! I forgot I partitioned the HD so i could put linux in(which i never did), so im installing a copy of xp pro on the partition, then i will be able to access all my files still on C: , copy what i need, then maybe repartition how i need it? I think this could work...

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Indian Homie G
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 05:18
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Umm... lol.

I had a similar problem, my computer would keep restarting. This was after I installed some stupid program.

Quote: "As a safety precuation, try unplugging any E_SCSI-based devices (external USB drives, and anything else)"


That's what I had done

AMD Athlon XP 3000+, S3 Deltachrome s8, 512 PC3200 RAM, 160 GB HD
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David R
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 05:18 Edited at: 29th Jun 2005 05:19
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@Leys; It depends; is your Windows parition formatted with NTFS? NTFS cannot be automatically be reached via Linux (you'll need a special driver for this, which is availible freely from the internet). If your drive is FAT/FAT32, then Linux can access this no-problem.

Be aware, that you shall not be able to correct your Windows problem from within Linux.

The Windows Directory is not permanantly located on C:, and is 'mounted' onto it when Windows starts.

[url=www.lightningstudios.co.uk][/url]
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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 05:20
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what i meant was i was going to install windows xp again, onto the partition, instead of linux, then once im back in windows xp, i could access all the files on my c:,and delete the other windows installation, etc...

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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 29th Jun 2005 05:54 Edited at: 29th Jun 2005 07:09
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Ok, im back on my original computer now. I can access all the old files on the c: drive. But now I have a copy of xp pro on drive c: AND a copy on drive d: , im using the copy on drive d:, so how can i get rid of the other one safely?

Also, could someone tell me what svchost.exe is? There are 4 different processes of it running on my comp, and its always there so i think its something with windows, but im not sure. Damn, I also cant access anything from my account desktop from the other windows install, since when created i made "private" any way around this?

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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 10th Jul 2005 07:23
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Well, if im running the second installation of xp pro, would it be using ANYTHING from the first install? or can I just go ahead and delete the windows directory and such to free up space?

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ArcAngel
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Posted: 10th Jul 2005 07:28
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This site has always proven useful when I don't know what the tasks that are running are:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

hope that helps, look up svchost.exe.

"It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it."
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Eddie B
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Posted: 11th Jul 2005 03:36
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It says it is a virus, Witch it is not.

http://graphics-monkey.co.uk/index.php?p=projects
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RalphY
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Posted: 11th Jul 2005 04:05 Edited at: 11th Jul 2005 04:06
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IIRC svchost.exe is a library of code to do with executing dlls etc used by windows and other programs, apps are suppose to check if a copy of it is already running and if so use that copy, however most often they dont so you end up with several copies of it running, you can try killing of some of the unused ones but I wouldnt just incase you kill the one that is being used
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David R
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Posted: 11th Jul 2005 04:09
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Quote: "Well, if im running the second installation of xp pro, would it be using ANYTHING from the first install? or can I just go ahead and delete the windows directory and such to free up space?
"


It will continue to use:

@ The registry
@ The partition settings (some viruses can hide in the boot sector, so that won't be fixed)
@ Device headers (not very important, nor can they be infected in anyway)


Quote: "Also, could someone tell me what svchost.exe is? There are 4 different processes of it running on my comp, and its always there so i think its something with windows, but im not sure."

SVCHOST is a host application for certain windows-based applets. Not entirely sure exactly what they are. Remember though; if an infected file renamed itself to SVCHOST.exe, it would still show-up in task manager - appearing identical to the real one

Quote: "
Damn, I also cant access anything from my account desktop from the other windows install, since when created i made "private" any way around this?"

I believe there was some piece of 'Warez' (nothing dodgy, just a hack) that changed part of the disc sector called 'AUX'. It would remove the protection you describe.

(Little thing to try; Make a folder. Try renaming it to 'aux'. Notice how Windows changes it back to 'New folder'.....)

[url=www.lightningstudios.co.uk][/url]
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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 11th Jul 2005 05:55
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So would I just be able to delete the entire windows folder from that install, or would that be bad?

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David R
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Posted: 11th Jul 2005 06:08
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Well, assuming you have an XP install cd that can start on boot, then I think it'll be OK. But I'm totally sure, since I have never tried it before.

If your PC is totally pooped, then you may aswell go for it. You may recieve some errors and stuff; but they are usually pretty simple to fix.

EDIT: How are you actually going to delete it? You can't erase it when Windows is runnning, you can't really do it before reinstallation, and its practically impossible to do it through Linux (unless you mean re-formatting?)

[url=www.lightningstudios.co.uk][/url]
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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 11th Jul 2005 06:13
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I can't just go click and delete? It is not in use. Its just an extra windows installation on a partitioned drive. I just don't want the installation im using to be affected by it.

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David R
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Posted: 11th Jul 2005 06:15
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Oh... ok. Sorry. It just gets confusing talking about multiple Windows installations. I thought you were talking about the one you were using (deleting the one that was running)

[url=www.lightningstudios.co.uk][/url]
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Ace Of Spades
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Posted: 11th Jul 2005 12:23
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Quote: "
Leys... DON'T use that computer with that extra-windows on it, it makes back doors and stuff. Instead just copy all files to a external harddrive. delete your partion, and then propperly reinstall windows.

You must follow the right format for reinstalling windows. READ everything, FORMAT LONG c:. It is something that I notice people keep doing stupid. You also need to run scandisk on your harddrive. It will fix the harddrive a bit."


Well i've already done too much to try and get this computer to work how I want. I think i will just keep it as is for another month, then i will be leaving and will probably just trash this computer in the process.

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Sid Sinister
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Posted: 13th Jul 2005 02:40
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Quote: "It says it is a virus, Witch it is not."


No it doesn't you read the wrong one. Look again.
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