I made a big mistake this morning. Based on my great experience with Avast on my home computer I downloaded the software on my wife’s computer this morning due to recent problems she experienced. The computer was a mess and Avast immediately suggested performing a boot scan. During the boot scan a number of files showed up infected. Due to a lapse in judgement, when prompted I told the program to delete all infected files (even during the extra prompt for WINDOWS files). Evidentally some WINDOWS system files were deleted and the operating system did not function correctly (took forever to boot up, no start bar, couldn’t access wireless connection, etc). I attempted to recover the deleted files with a program called “restoration” but I did not have any success.
I then attempted to update Windows XP in hopes that this would restore the WINDOWS system files that I deleted. Halfway through the installation, I received a “fatal error” and the program restarted itself and tried to continue installation. Installation gets to the same point and then gives the error message and restarts. I can’t figure out how to quit out of the installation and log back into to the computer (it just keeps wanting to restart).
First: How can I bypass this and log back in or manually continue the installation of XP?
Second: Any suggestions on how to get back the system files I deleted?
Thanks and I know I should always quarantine or send all infected files to the chest next time!
That system is really a mess. Your best option is to do a clean install of XP
1)install os
2)install mobo drivers
3)install other drivers
4)install firewall
5)install av software
If you know exactly which files you deleted and where they should be placed back, you can copy them from good computer to damaged one. I have made the same mistake once and was able to recover like that. It was only one file and I knew where it should go.
I think what Eddy suggests is a proper way to do it, especially if you have system CD.
If you have to go from restore partition then it may be a different story.
I know the file I am missing: <C:\windows\system32\config\system>
My problem is I can’t get into windows and can only work from the system restore interface. I would like to copy the file from a good computer to the damaged one, but I don’t know how. Any suggestions?
Earlier I attempted to do an update or “repair” install of Windows XP. About halfway through it stalled out with a “fatal error”. Since then all the computer does is restart, boot right back into the windows update installation, and stall out again, restart, etc. The only thing I can do is boot from the CD with my windows backup cd and go into system restore.
Also, I am hesitant to do a clean install at this point. I want to try and salvage (backup some files) before I do a clean install (which I realize will need to be done).