Computer users beware!!!

USNairman · August 11, 2006, 07:30 AM

This problem is with the windows XP platform.

There is either a virus hitting or bad updates by Microsoft being pushed out.
I have had 10 machine here at work and about 6 private customers call me and report that their computers will not boot. Your computer will make it to the login prompt but as soon as you try and login it will give you the blue screen of death and reboot itself. This process will continue over and over.

Here is the fix:
You will need a Windows XP CD. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CDROM and boot to it (may require pressing F12 while booting to get the boot device list come up and choose CDROM) after booting to the CD you will want to go to the recovery console. once you are able to get to the command prompt, then you will type in chkdsk /repair and press enter. This will repair the damaged files and resolve the problem.
This problem seems to be picking up speed as I have had about 10 machines in the last couple of days here at work develop this problem and had about 6 private customers call me in the last two days with it.

Heads up folks - file this away in the ole brain in case it happens to you.

Mods, please move this to the correct forum or somewhere that it will continue to be seen by the members here. I kmow this isn't about firearms but I wanted to make sure my fellow members were aware if this situation.

Al Norris · August 11, 2006, 07:54 AM

Moving this one to the Tech Support area.

Dreadnought · August 11, 2006, 11:09 AM

I think this is happening to my parents' PC, good to know 'cos I'll pass it on.

Thanks for the info!

Sindawe · August 11, 2006, 11:14 AM

Interesting. I saw similar on a friends wife's PC about a month ago that was finally traced to an installation of SpyCatcher. It was erroneously seeing userinit.exe as a problem and quarantining it. Do you have that app on your systems? They'd had the utility installed for a while when it started freaking out for no reason.

MD_Willington · August 11, 2006, 12:24 PM

Also verify the hardware is still good, plenty of computers out there are stuffed with bad capacitors...

USNairman · August 11, 2006, 01:55 PM

No spycatcher was not on any of these systems. It is absolutely not hardware related. At first I thought it may have been something that the corporate security team was pushing down to my systems so I called them and out of 80,000 computers in the company, I was the only tech that was complaining of this problem on a few systems. Yesterday some of the other techs on different work sites in other states started complaining of having the same problems that my site is having. Then yesterday my gunsmith called and was having the same problem so I figure that there must be some sort of patch the Microsoft is pushing down that must be causing the problem.

**tyme** · August 13, 2006, 07:09 AM

Yeah. Must be Microsoft's fault. Format and install linux.

I hate Microsoft as much as anyone, but chances are the problem was caused by a broken worm spread using one of the vulnerabilities Microsoft patched on Tuesday.

I really, really doubt MS would release a patch that would cause filesystem damage. A worm, on the other hand, could be trying to hide itself and screwing up the filesystem in the process.

Doubletaptap · August 13, 2006, 03:03 PM

As another thread mentioned MS patches I had to put this in!!
I bought a E Machines W2260 in April 2004 New from wallyworld.
I upgraded the HD to 80GB and the memory to 1024MB.
The first time I turned it on in 2004 I turned off and removed as much of the MS Update stuff as I could.
There have never been any MS updates,patches or what ever loaded into this machine.
I have had no security problems,viruses.worms or any other problems with security. So this being said,I wonder exactly it is that MS downloads into your computer in these "patches" and "security fixes"?
I have the Firewall on,
I use AVG anti virus(free)
AdAware SE Personal(free)
Spybot Search and Destroy(free)
Panicware's Pop Up Stopper(free)
V Cleaner(free) and
Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool(free)
This is the machine I am writing this on and as I said before,I have had no problems.
I have downloaded music,visited porn sites(don't tell me you haven't!) and been all over the net since 2004 and if anything hit me the tools stopped or removed it.
I have had computer sites such as PC Doctor etc., run checks on my machine for problems and they report it as clean.
I visit sites selling virus/spy/adware "tools" and they run a free scan and report me as clean.
Latest scan was yesterday.
Again it seems the more people download MS security patches and quick fixes,the more problems they have.
Kind of makes you wonder don't it?
George

**tyme** · August 14, 2006, 07:58 AM

Quote:

There have never been any MS updates,patches or what ever loaded into this machine.

If you browse the web, check email, or do anything internet-related with that computer, you are running with scissors.

August 11, 2006, 07:30 AM	#1
USNairman Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2006 Posts: 421	Computer users beware!!! This problem is with the windows XP platform. There is either a virus hitting or bad updates by Microsoft being pushed out. I have had 10 machine here at work and about 6 private customers call me and report that their computers will not boot. Your computer will make it to the login prompt but as soon as you try and login it will give you the blue screen of death and reboot itself. This process will continue over and over. Here is the fix: You will need a Windows XP CD. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CDROM and boot to it (may require pressing F12 while booting to get the boot device list come up and choose CDROM) after booting to the CD you will want to go to the recovery console. once you are able to get to the command prompt, then you will type in chkdsk /repair and press enter. This will repair the damaged files and resolve the problem. This problem seems to be picking up speed as I have had about 10 machines in the last couple of days here at work develop this problem and had about 6 private customers call me in the last two days with it. Heads up folks - file this away in the ole brain in case it happens to you. Mods, please move this to the correct forum or somewhere that it will continue to be seen by the members here. I kmow this isn't about firearms but I wanted to make sure my fellow members were aware if this situation.

August 11, 2006, 11:09 AM	#3
Dreadnought Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2006 Location: Willy Posts: 320	I think this is happening to my parents' PC, good to know 'cos I'll pass it on. Thanks for the info! __________________ "NO YELLING ON THE BUS!"

August 11, 2006, 11:14 AM	#4
Sindawe Member Join Date: November 5, 2002 Location: Just outside of the PRoB Posts: 56	Interesting. I saw similar on a friends wife's PC about a month ago that was finally traced to an installation of SpyCatcher. It was erroneously seeing userinit.exe as a problem and quarantining it. Do you have that app on your systems? They'd had the utility installed for a while when it started freaking out for no reason. __________________ When you dream, there are no rules. People can fly, anything can happen...

August 13, 2006, 07:09 AM	#7
tyme Staff Join Date: October 13, 2001 Posts: 3,355	Yeah. Must be Microsoft's fault. Format and install linux. I hate Microsoft as much as anyone, but chances are the problem was caused by a broken worm spread using one of the vulnerabilities Microsoft patched on Tuesday. I really, really doubt MS would release a patch that would cause filesystem damage. A worm, on the other hand, could be trying to hide itself and screwing up the filesystem in the process. __________________ “The egg hatched...” “...the egg hatched... and a hundred baby spiders came out...” (blade runner) “Who are you?” “A friend. I'm here to prevent you from making a mistake.” “You have no idea what I'm doing here, friend.” “In specific terms, no, but I swore an oath to protect the world...” (continuum) “It's a goal you won't understand until later. Your job is to make sure he doesn't achieve the goal.” (bsg)

August 13, 2006, 03:03 PM	#8
Doubletaptap Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2006 Location: Around north Houston Posts: 287	Food for thought/Microsoft "patches" As another thread mentioned MS patches I had to put this in!! I bought a E Machines W2260 in April 2004 New from wallyworld. I upgraded the HD to 80GB and the memory to 1024MB. The first time I turned it on in 2004 I turned off and removed as much of the MS Update stuff as I could. There have never been any MS updates,patches or what ever loaded into this machine. I have had no security problems,viruses.worms or any other problems with security. So this being said,I wonder exactly it is that MS downloads into your computer in these "patches" and "security fixes"? I have the Firewall on, I use AVG anti virus(free) AdAware SE Personal(free) Spybot Search and Destroy(free) Panicware's Pop Up Stopper(free) V Cleaner(free) and Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool(free) This is the machine I am writing this on and as I said before,I have had no problems. I have downloaded music,visited porn sites(don't tell me you haven't!) and been all over the net since 2004 and if anything hit me the tools stopped or removed it. I have had computer sites such as PC Doctor etc., run checks on my machine for problems and they report it as clean. I visit sites selling virus/spy/adware "tools" and they run a free scan and report me as clean. Latest scan was yesterday. Again it seems the more people download MS security patches and quick fixes,the more problems they have. Kind of makes you wonder don't it? George __________________ Don't believe the hype!!!

August 11, 2006, 07:54 AM	#2
Al Norris Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 9,660	Moving this one to the Tech Support area.

August 11, 2006, 12:24 PM	#5
MD_Willington Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: SE WA State. Posts: 563	Also verify the hardware is still good, plenty of computers out there are stuffed with bad capacitors...

August 11, 2006, 01:55 PM	#6
USNairman Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2006 Posts: 421	No spycatcher was not on any of these systems. It is absolutely not hardware related. At first I thought it may have been something that the corporate security team was pushing down to my systems so I called them and out of 80,000 computers in the company, I was the only tech that was complaining of this problem on a few systems. Yesterday some of the other techs on different work sites in other states started complaining of having the same problems that my site is having. Then yesterday my gunsmith called and was having the same problem so I figure that there must be some sort of patch the Microsoft is pushing down that must be causing the problem.