Low Level format and Boot-sec virus

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

I have heard that what I have may be a boot sec virus and a low level format will do it. I have tried deleting the
primary partition with FDISK and doing FORMAT c: . Does this get rid of it ?? What is the difference in formatting
and a low level format ?? Also, what is a boot-sec virus (other than the fact it affects your sys at boot-up) and the characteristiscs ??
Would this affect whether I am able to do a boot install of a XP PRO ?? I keep getting "CD-ROM Boot.........failure" .....
Got any clues ??

SladeZero

 

[Tiger]

You don't need to do a low level format. A low level format puts the drive back in manufacturer clean condition. Fdisk and Format should get rid of a boot sector virus. You should be running anti-virus software too. A boot sector virus wouldn't affect the CD. Usually you get that failure when the CD your trying to boot from isn't "bootable". I'm sure your BIOS and CD drive supports CD booting so I think the CD is suspect.

You do know how to get into the BIOS and change the boot sequence, right?

 

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

Yes, I know how to change the boot sequence that is not the problem. I WOULD LIKE to be able to do a low level
format. Alot of my probs my be with the formatting of my hard drive. A Low level format may just do it for me.
What program would I use for that ?? This is the last thing that I can think of doing...... 8 months of
pain for me it is. Please.....let me know what program to use to restore it back to Factory Defualt.....that may
just do it for me. FDISK and FORMAT c: isn't cutting it....
BTW...just humor me...What does a BOOT SEC Virus do to your system ???

SladeZero980

 

[Tiger]

Check your drive manufacturers site for LLF utilities, most have one.
Be careful doing an LLF. If you lose power during the process the drive is trash.
A boot sector virus is one that resides on the boot sector of a hard drive partition and usually gets executed before the OS loads. What's in the virus package? Could be anything depending on the whimsy of the coder.

 

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

Thanks TIGER. Come to find out if I had looked for a little longer on my HDD website like I had done before
I would have found it. Thanks for the info. Doing a little homework makes all the more worth it.
Pray that this may help me. So far I have had dead ends getting WIN 2000 and XP to install correctly.
If this does not work do you think it would be the CPU or MOBO ??

Thanks again

SladeZero

 

[Tiger]

If this does not work do you think it would be the CPU or MOBO ??

I doubt it. Good luck.

 

[Ronzon]

No need for a low level format. Boot up with a Win98/ME startup disk and do a "fdisk/mbr". This overwrites the master boot record with a fresh copy (clearing any damage from boot sector viruses). Format normally and you will be fine.

 

[OpalFrost98GT]

Yes fdisk/mbr but do it 3 times consecutively to clear the backup mbr as well.

 

[cableguy]

"Yes, I know how to change the boot sequence that is not the problem. I WOULD LIKE to be able to do a low level
format. Alot of my probs my be with the formatting of my hard drive. A Low level format may just do it for me.
What program would I use for that ?? This is the last thing that I can think of doing...... 8 months of
pain for me it is. Please.....let me know what program to use to restore it back to Factory Defualt.....that may
just do it for me. FDISK and FORMAT c: isn't cutting it....
BTW...just humor me...What does a BOOT SEC Virus do to your system ???"

You wonder WHY anyone would bother to help...WHEN YOU ask for advice and then ignore it....seems you got some FALSE notion about a computer term...people HAVE explained this to you...but OF COURSE you know best...BTW...just humor me...WHY ????

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Try Here for Quantum utilities..Still feel you are going to waste your time doing a low-level format though.