I had a Dell laptop for about 2 months, then it started to slow down one day, programs would open slow, antivirus (AVG and Kaspersky at the time) would not complete virus scan, sometimes slow internet page loads with DNS errors. I ran a scan from BIOS and found it had a bad hard drive (could explain why I couldn't transfer large files to my external drive, it would freeze), so long story short I buy a new Asus laptop instead. It's fine, but then I transfer some files over back from my other computer, and now this new computer is slow and sometimes freezes when you try and update AVG or the anti-virus installed as a trial. Files transfer slow, windows, programs open very slow. I finally updated the virus programs and scanned the external drive and found nothing. I don't believe it, something is wrong like before. Is there a way I can reinstall windows ? What would you check out first?
Laptop may have virus from external hard drive?
- Thread starter relapse71
- Start date
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
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Windows will revert to PIO access mode on hard drives if there are too many errors when reading it using a DMA mode. PIO mode is excruciatingly slow.
Assuming you're on Windows 7, do this:
1. Click Start, right-click Computer, and choose Manage.
2. In the Computer Management window, click Device Manager in the lefthand pane.
3. Go down to the IDE/ATAPI controllers, expand it, and double-click ATA Channel 0 (or whichever channels are listed). Another panel appears.
4. on the Advanced Settings tab in the new panel, confirm it's using an UltraATA transfer mode and DMA is enabled.
Also, if you'd like to do a clean install of Windows, call Dell and order a Dell OEM Windows installation disc. Back up all important stuff like contacts, emails, documents and photos, ensure you've got your software installation discs and keys for any third-party software, and then boot from the Windows installation disc.
You can prevent one common form of virus attack from external devices by disabling AutoRun. Scroll down this page to the Fix-It icons and run the one that disables AutoRun: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967715
Assuming you're on Windows 7, do this:
1. Click Start, right-click Computer, and choose Manage.
2. In the Computer Management window, click Device Manager in the lefthand pane.
3. Go down to the IDE/ATAPI controllers, expand it, and double-click ATA Channel 0 (or whichever channels are listed). Another panel appears.
4. on the Advanced Settings tab in the new panel, confirm it's using an UltraATA transfer mode and DMA is enabled.
Also, if you'd like to do a clean install of Windows, call Dell and order a Dell OEM Windows installation disc. Back up all important stuff like contacts, emails, documents and photos, ensure you've got your software installation discs and keys for any third-party software, and then boot from the Windows installation disc.
You can prevent one common form of virus attack from external devices by disabling AutoRun. Scroll down this page to the Fix-It icons and run the one that disables AutoRun: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967715
Last edited:
Get this. Called Asus, and they had me reinstall windows. Just keeps looping install, they said there is a problem with the partition! Could a virus from my external drive damage a notebook hard drive? Both computers back to back, same exact problem. Both bran new. Both slowed down after I transferred files (like stream install) to new computers. Coincidence or what's going on here?
jackofalltrades
Senior member
- Feb 25, 2007
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First off never run 2 different anti virus programs, second a virus cannot damage a hard drive it prob just corrupted the partition holding the image. Third thing is it isn't most likley a virus but some malicious mailware and your anti virus cannot find it.
From here a clean install after a complete format would be best don't copy anything off the computers format clean install from dvds if it still will not install return the laptops if you can convince them it isn't you fault, But I believe it is your fault since it happened on 2 new machines, it is something you are accessing either on the external hard drive or online.
Man stay away from PRON sites!
From here a clean install after a complete format would be best don't copy anything off the computers format clean install from dvds if it still will not install return the laptops if you can convince them it isn't you fault, But I believe it is your fault since it happened on 2 new machines, it is something you are accessing either on the external hard drive or online.
Man stay away from PRON sites!
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
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I missed the part about having two antivirus programs installed. Yeah, that's a bad idea.
If you need a "second opinion" from a second antivirus program, download and run the latest version of Kaspersky's on-demand scanner (it doesn't update itself, so always download it fresh when you want to scan), or burn an AntiVir Rescue CD and boot the system from that. But only use one real-time antivirus program at a time.
Also check that your router is secured.
1. if it's in its default configuration, first give it a full reset, then change its default password to something unique. Why: because malware can reprogram a router that's in its default config if the password is the factory default password. And they can give you bogus DNS server entries via that approach.
2. if it has wireless capabilities, either disable them entirely, or else enable WPA2 encryption so other computers can't connect at will. Why: because an infected computer can attack your computer over the network, or inject malicious Iframes into your otherwise-safe network packets on the fly (for real!).
As for the looping Windows install, make sure you're doing a full fresh "Custom" install, not a Repair. If you want to vaporize the contents of the drive to make sure it's clean, try out DBAN from http://dban.sourceforge.net (but be careful not to have any extra drives connected, it'll wipe them too).
Once that's done, check that your SATA controllers are in the desired mode in the BIOS (AHCI being preferable) and install Windows from the top. This is Win7, right?
If you need a "second opinion" from a second antivirus program, download and run the latest version of Kaspersky's on-demand scanner (it doesn't update itself, so always download it fresh when you want to scan), or burn an AntiVir Rescue CD and boot the system from that. But only use one real-time antivirus program at a time.
Also check that your router is secured.
1. if it's in its default configuration, first give it a full reset, then change its default password to something unique. Why: because malware can reprogram a router that's in its default config if the password is the factory default password. And they can give you bogus DNS server entries via that approach.
2. if it has wireless capabilities, either disable them entirely, or else enable WPA2 encryption so other computers can't connect at will. Why: because an infected computer can attack your computer over the network, or inject malicious Iframes into your otherwise-safe network packets on the fly (for real!).
As for the looping Windows install, make sure you're doing a full fresh "Custom" install, not a Repair. If you want to vaporize the contents of the drive to make sure it's clean, try out DBAN from http://dban.sourceforge.net (but be careful not to have any extra drives connected, it'll wipe them too).
Once that's done, check that your SATA controllers are in the desired mode in the BIOS (AHCI being preferable) and install Windows from the top. This is Win7, right?
We don't KNOW!
Run the Hard Drive diagnostic utility come back to us with the result.
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
You're right, but that's still what the Device Manager calls them, just roll with it
The option you mention is no longer available with SATA.
mechBgon
Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
- Oct 31, 1999
- 30,699
- 1
- 0
It is with mine:
It's been a long time since I've seen a system slip to non-DMA mode, but it was amazing how much of an impact it had. So the thought crossed my mind to have that checked. But if he was running two real-time antivirus programs, that was probably the problem.
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