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Win7(32) unable to enter safe mode by any means/can't reinstall

S

SnakeEye

Junior Member
I just installed win 7 (32bit) on an abit ic7-max3.
Everything loaded up great but I have a driver bogging down my startup (10 minutes).
I have tried to f8 into safe mode but it simply doesn't happen(tried a USB and wired keyboard.
I have also tried through msconfig, I simply cannot check any of the check boxes for safemode or safe boot. As soon as I hit apply it goes right back to normal or selective startup.
I figured after reading around that this Is a new strategy for malware. So I figured I haven't put slot of time into this machine yet so I'll just reinstall and start again clean. However when promoted to boot from cd at the bios it starts to load but then just goes directly into the local c: windows desktop. I'm unable to even get back to the installer.

Tips,thoughts?
Thank you much
Rich
 
First of all, the dumb questions. Are you using a bootable CD? When it says, "Press any key to boot from CD," are you hitting a key to do so?

Also, can you get to the BIOS? For one, going to the BIOS would confirm that your keyboard is working. Second, you might be able to deselect the hard drive as a boot device altogether.

Do you have a floppy drive or flash drive? You might try booting from one of them. You can download some boot software that will put you in a command prompt and allow you to run setup.exe from your CD drive.

If none of those work, let me know, and I'll post some other ideas.
 
This may be a lame suggestion since I've never bothered to look up what this setting actually does, but look for a BIOS setting that flips the keyboard control between BIOS and OS. Try changing it.
 
You could try booting from a UBCD Windows live CD. It contains several anti-virus and anti-malware utilities, as well as providing the ability to access USB drives and browse the web. A brand new version (3.6) was just released a few days ago and can be downloaded here (the URL came from the UBCD support forum):

http://download731.mediafire.com/xv22cy599lzg/jwgarmkfezd/UBCD4WinV360.exe

I built a test version earlier today and booted it in a VMware Workstation virtual machine with no problems noted. I recommend building an ISO and then burning to CD rather than burning directly to CD.

If you can't use the utilities to fix the machine, boot the CD and use the Darik's Boot and Nuke menu applications to wipe the hard drive. Or, you can just use the following:

http://www.dban.org/
 
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Sometimes I'll run into a machine that pays no attention to my F8 clicking to get into Safe mode.
Another option is to install SuperAntiSpyware and use it's BootSafe option to reboot into Safe Mode with or without network support.
 
I had that happen once to me (my daughters PC) with the Windows Police Pro virus

The question is, you said just installed Win 7 X64, so you were on the internet for how long? Thats a bit quick to get a really nasty virus.

If you want to see if its a trojan, you go into your Windows desktop and try a system restore
If it does not ALLOW (blocks) rstrui.exe (restore user interface) to even run, then its the trojan

In any case, these latest malwares are a bitch to get rid of.
The only thing I have found that actually works is freeware Combofix
Its updated daily, and when you get it the .exe name is a random series of letters and numbers so the virus cant shut it down

the hackers hate it so much they have created fake combofix websites with infected downloads, so you have to get it from bleepingcomputers ONLY. (crazy aint it?)
If you do use it - it takes TIME, dont abort prematurely

If you want the easy way out, you can download killdisk freeware (zero fill) sw
Its just a 6.8mb ISO you burn to a CD and boot to it and wipe the entire drive (highlight 80h)
I can assure you this will clear your problem
You will be starting only half a step away from a new HDD.
 
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Go to start and type SYSTEM REPAIR
That will launch a window that will let you burn a sytem repair disc . It boots differently than the install disc and may work.
 
ok... a lot of these folks have good advice, but as I see it the first root issue is you not being able to use your keyboard before windows boots, to me that is a showstopper and I have to fix it. So I'll concentrate on that.

First off, many BIOSes cannot see a keyboard unless it is plugged directly into a USB port, no USB hubs can be "in the way"... there are some that can see it but many cannot. Second, as another person said, have you tried to get into BIOS first? Changing "usb support" or "legacy support" setting for keyboard can change whether or not it works for you on boot before the OS loads its' own usb drivers. Also, if you have PS/2 ports on the motherboard (look for the little purple and green round ports) and can use a keyboard to go into those, try it (most you have to power off the system and then start it up to get it to recognize anything PS/2, as most they are not hot plug)...

Hope this helps to get keyboard functionality back before the OS boots.
 
yeah, can you use your keyboard in somthing like notepad anyways?
also, thats a 7 year old mobo

FWIW - its been 3 days, i'd bet he's gone
 
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