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Network erased my OS - what happened?

T

TheNiceGuy

Golden Member
Hello
I currently live in Japan, so English support on this site is my lifeline! Thank you !

I have a new system I just built (first timer). I set up a network so my old PC can run through my new one to conect to the internet, and share a printer. It works well, but I destroyed my OS on my new PC somehow via the network. I was running a memory optimizing test through an nTune utility that came with my new mobo. During one of the restarts it initiates, my old PC (which was turned OFF), simultaneously powered up and booted. My new PC started to erase a bunch of files during boot, and then lockup at the Windows icon. After that I couldn't access the disk through safemode, or even format through DOS. Luckily, I have a second HD, so I started again with that one, and everything is back to normal now (after a LOT of work). But I am afraid to hook up the network again.

What happened? How can I have a safe network that won't do that sort of thing?
 
The two events would most likely be unrelated. Either the program you were running had an issue, or it was simpley a failed HD.
 
No, I am sure they are related. The reason I am sure is because my old PC had a weird habit of running CHKDSK in a certain way at the start of every boot to check for bad sectors. My new PC mimed this startup exactly. Except it started deleting tons of files while running CHKDSK and then locked - permanently.
Also, the old PC booted by itself from a 'power off' status at exactly that time!
 
If it ain't broke.... DOn't fix it...

Why were you trying to run a memoery test in the first place? Was somethig not working right or you just figured it had the word Optimize in it so it must be good... No idea why the other computer would be affected at all. I'd unhook the network and make sur eyou can get each PC running by itself (might jsut want to wipe and reinstall the OS). THen go from there.
 

FrankyJunior-
I am having a few issues, so I thought it might help. Issuse: low power warnings for GPU at startup; 11.712V on the 12V; errors installing Kaspersky; and nTune optimization program reports my RAM is lower than 'benchmarks' (don't know what benchmarks!).
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...7&threadid=1491312
After a lot of work, both PCs are up and running again. But I will try and switch to seperate router connections after this. I'm afraid to have the current network situation, and I'm also afraid to run anymore optimizing tests.
Any ideas?
 
The reason I am sure is because my old PC had a weird habit of running CHKDSK in a certain way at the start of every boot to check for bad sectors
Click to expand...

This is either the sign of a dying drive or you asked chkdsk to run a bad sector check, nothing more.

My new PC mimed this startup exactly. Except it started deleting tons of files while running CHKDSK and then locked - permanently.
Click to expand...

I'm still leaning toward dying drives, disks are extremely cheap these days.

Also, the old PC booted by itself from a 'power off' status at exactly that time!
Click to expand...

That could be caused by a number of things, have you thought about looking at getting a UPS or at least a heavy-duty surge protector, dirty power can cause any number of odd failures in components.
 
I agree, PC1's HDD is probably ripe, but I still ythink the problem was LAN related. PC1 jumped into power again when I plugged the LAN cable in. I think the mem test activated boot from the other LAN PC, which caused the problem.
 
PC1 jumped into power again when I plugged the LAN cable in.
Click to expand...

It's probably set to power on in the firmware when something with the network happens, either an interrupt from the card or a WOL packet.

I think the mem test activated boot from the other LAN PC, which caused the problem.
Click to expand...

Huh?
 
Because there's virtually no chance that what you say happened actually did happen and without having been there it's impossible to guess as to what really happened.
 
Wow, that's a pretty amazing story. Some thoughts:

Your NIC could have some kind of hardware conflict with your IDE controller card. Try to move the NIC to another slot. This is unlikely, but possible.

It is possible that your old PC has wake-on-LAN enabled, which could allow the new PC to trigger it to wake up. The program might have been on a search-and-destroy mission and followed one of your shares to the old PC. This would be more possible if you had the C:\ drive of your old PC shared with read/write privledges.

It is possible that you got a virus somewhere which got triggered and aggressively started to delete files on your system. Might be in the NTUNE utility, might be somewhere else - Who knows. Did you have a good AntiVirus program on there? If not, I definitely suggest that you get one on there FIRST, before running anything else, especially this nTune app..

These are, however, just theories, but plausible ones. An aggressive virus and WOL capabilities in your old PC are the most likely culprits, however.

- G
 
Originally posted by: Garion
Wow, that's a pretty amazing story. Some thoughts:

Your NIC could have some kind of hardware conflict with your IDE controller card. Try to move the NIC to another slot. This is unlikely, but possible.

It is possible that your old PC has wake-on-LAN enabled, which could allow the new PC to trigger it to wake up. The program might have been on a search-and-destroy mission and followed one of your shares to the old PC. This would be more possible if you had the C:\ drive of your old PC shared with read/write privledges.

It is possible that you got a virus somewhere which got triggered and aggressively started to delete files on your system. Might be in the NTUNE utility, might be somewhere else - Who knows. Did you have a good AntiVirus program on there? If not, I definitely suggest that you get one on there FIRST, before running anything else, especially this nTune app..

These are, however, just theories, but plausible ones. An aggressive virus and WOL capabilities in your old PC are the most likely culprits, however.

- G
Click to expand...



Good point, that's what I am thinking.
Chang NIC and re-set BIO setting , see what happen;and do a thorough scan on virus!
 
All i have to say is HAHAHAHAH
thats the funny shit.
get a new computer.


If you cant format than ur HD is screwed like everone else is saying.

Disabled boot up sequence on your bios from wake-on-lan, or ifs its win98 , hopefully not ME, rip out that wake-on-lan cable and throw it out.

even better just replace that old PC cause

You said that
PC1 jumped into power again when I plugged the LAN cable in. I think the mem test activated boot from the other LAN PC, which caused the problem.
Click to expand...

Could of shocked the PC with power, not grounded properly. seen it happen.

Did you build these computers by us self or some one built them for you.
Cause seems like your have lots of issues with Hardware.
Issuse: low power warnings for GPU at startup; 11.712V on the 12V; errors installing Kaspersky; and nTune optimization program reports my RAM is lower than 'benchmarks' (don't know what benchmarks!).
Click to expand...
 
Sorry, perhaps I should be more clear. PC1 (old) seems to have caused PC2 (new) to screw up PC2's OS and require PC2's reformatting. PC1 never changed, and still boots in CHKDSK as before.


Garion said
It is possible that your old PC has wake-on-LAN enabled, which could allow the new PC to trigger it to wake up. The program might have been on a search-and-destroy mission and followed one of your shares to the old PC. This would be more possible if you had the C:\ drive of your old PC shared with read/write privledges.
Click to expand...

Yes. The day before I had used Network Wizard to setup PC2 as the 'main' LAN PC, and PC1 connecting to the router via PC2. I enabled as many R/W privledges as I could find on PC1, through My Network Places (I want PC2 to have total control over both PCs and the LAN). Right-click on the file and enable sharing. I did not do this for PC2's files, as I don't want PC1 to have any control over PC2. I later noticed that PC1 will powerup if I plug the LAN cable in.
nTune comes bundled with the A8N-SLI. I built PC2, but not PC1 (Fujitsu Deskpower - sis740). PC2 uses its nVidia jack to connect to my router, and its Marvell jack to connect to PC1.
A virus is unlikely, as I use always updated versions of Kaspersky Pro, AdAware, and ZA on PC1. PC2 has only its hardware firewall on, set to 'high', and no AV yet (as it won't install), but all files on there have been scanned recently by the afore mentioned programs or else come off the bundled disks.

I am currently using the PC1/2 LAN again, but reluctantly so.

Any ideas?
 
If you gave both PCs full priveleges to each other then it seems likely that someone (or something) deleted the disk. For my networks I always have the network access acounts be a User so they have limited access to the hard drive. This can help with problems like you are having.
 
It is possible that you got a virus somewhere which got triggered and aggressively started to delete files on your system. Might be in the NTUNE utility, might be somewhere else - Who knows. Did you have a good AntiVirus program on there? If not, I definitely suggest that you get one on there FIRST, before running anything else, especially this nTune app..

--------------



I CANT BELIVE EVERYONE ELSE IS OVER LOOKING THIS POINT, HE SAID THE SYSTEM STARTED DELETING FILES, WHAT ELSE COULD DO THIS BESIES A VIRUS( IF THE USER DIDNT USE A DELETE COMMAND)

NO dying HD WILL JUST START DELETING FILES ( maybe it will crash and just be blank),



it has to be some type of worm or trojan on that old pc,
 
Dear TheNiceGuy,

The only logical piece of information you have gotten has been from Garion.

First, go into the BIOS of both the new and old computers and disable "Wake On Lan".

Next, go to the system properties/device manager on both computers and check to see if Wake on Lan is disabled in the drivers..

Also, on both computers, go into the BIOS. Go to the boot order screen. What is the first listing? Probably other devicee or LAN. Change it so that CD rom is first, Hard Drive second, then disable all other boot devices.

What happened is that when you booted up your new computer, it was set to boot through the network first. It found the first available OS and booted from the OS on the old computer. Windows noticed that the drivers were incorrect and froze. This wouldn't, in itself, mess up the new compters Windows install, but somewhere along the way, something got written to your installation - probably Windows trying to rectify itself on the old machine.

Anyway, disabling WOL on both computers, and changing the boot order will solve your problem.

Cheers,

Dave
 
I think you have it DavidHull. I'll check it out when I get home. But, I can't help feeling like the nTune Memory Optimizing test triggered the problem. As I mentioned, it takes about an hour and automaticaly does several reboots (on my new machine). The original problem occured on one of the reboots. Perhaps changinf boot devices will prevent this, and perhaps it won't.
 
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