boot sector virus

[beaker429]

I have a IBM Deskstar 20 gig 7200 RPM ultra ata 66 HDD that seems to have a boot sector virus. I can almost completely format the drive, gets to the end and says that format cannot proceed. The volume lable is some kind of wierd symbols (aski I think).

I have been told that a low level format might just do the trick and erase the boot sector so that I can come back fresh. My question is this: how do I low level format? Do I need some kind of special software for it? If so, where do I find such software?

Any and all help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[BadThad]

Go to the west.dig website and download their HDD utility. It will create a bootable disk with the "write zeros" utility. Now, make sure you do this on a different PC from the infected one or that virus might just put itself on the boot floppy disk you're making.

Easier yet, go to another PC that has antivirus software installed and have the software create a bootable "disinfection" disk. It should be able to clean it without losing all your data, although it sounds like you may have already lost it.

Read this to prevent that from happening again: How to Protect Yourself

 

[BadThad]

Stupid double post! :|

 

[dkk]

fdisk /mbr
normally takes care of boot sector virus

 

[beaker429]

Thanks

 

[beaker429]

Still having problems with removing the boot sector virus. Bump so that help may present itself.

 

[Pederv]

Here's the tools for your hard drive.

 

[SemperFi]

write zeros to drive like badthad said then shut down power. Just in case it loads to memory while the system is running.

I had the stealth virus a couple of years ago and had to clear the cmos after shutting down. I don't know if that will be necessecary though.