Virus? malware?

Charlie Leo · External Since: Jan 30, 2009 Posts: 1

My computer (Windows XP) is taking 20 to 30 minutes to boot up. The
hard drive is not active during this time - no disk activity at all.
Does anyone have any ideas?

Charlie

The Real Truth MVP · External Since: Jan 26, 2009 Posts: 2

Run my diagnostic tool called whatslivern. That file after a few seconds,
when complete, will generate a log file. That log file will be saved in the
same directory you ran the program from, using the email link at the bottom
of my page send me a copy of that log file.
http://pcbutts1.com/downloads/tools/tools.htm

--
The Real Truth http://pcbutts1-therealtruth.blogspot.com/

"Charlie Leo" wrote in message

> My computer (Windows XP) is taking 20 to 30 minutes to boot up. The
> hard drive is not active during this time - no disk activity at all.
> Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> Charlie

David H. Lipman · External Since: Jul 04, 2003 Posts: 2245

Dave-UK · External Since: Jan 31, 2009 Posts: 2

"Charlie Leo" wrote in message
> My computer (Windows XP) is taking 20 to 30 minutes to boot up. The
> hard drive is not active during this time - no disk activity at all.
> Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> Charlie

Where is the 20 min delay , is it during the bios boot or Windows?
What is on the screen during the delay.

David H. Lipman · External Since: Jul 04, 2003 Posts: 2245

From: "Dave-UK"

| "Charlie Leo" wrote in message
|
>> My computer (Windows XP) is taking 20 to 30 minutes to boot up. The
>> hard drive is not active during this time - no disk activity at all.
>> Does anyone have any ideas?

>> Charlie

| Where is the 20 min delay , is it during the bios boot or Windows?
| What is on the screen during the delay.

"bios boot" -- Power on Self Test (POST)

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

Dave-UK · External Since: Jan 31, 2009 Posts: 2

"David H. Lipman" wrote in message
> From: "Dave-UK"
>
>
>
> | "Charlie Leo" wrote in message
> |
>>> My computer (Windows XP) is taking 20 to 30 minutes to boot up. The
>>> hard drive is not active during this time - no disk activity at all.
>>> Does anyone have any ideas?
>
>>> Charlie
>
> | Where is the 20 min delay , is it during the bios boot or Windows?
> | What is on the screen during the delay.
>
>
> "bios boot" -- Power on Self Test (POST)
>

From Wikipedia:

"Power-on self-test (POST) is the common term for a computer, router or printer's pre-boot sequence.
The same basic sequence is present on all computer architectures.
It is the first step of the more general process called initial program load (IPL), booting, or bootstrapping."

So, as I have always understood it, the POST is part of the BIOS boot sequence.

Are you saying that is wrong , and that the BIOS boot sequence should be called a Power on Self Test ?

David H. Lipman · External Since: Jul 04, 2003 Posts: 2245

From: "Dave-UK"

>> "bios boot" -- Power on Self Test (POST)

| From Wikipedia:

| "Power-on self-test (POST) is the common term for a computer, router or printer's
| pre-boot sequence.
| The same basic sequence is present on all computer architectures.
| It is the first step of the more general process called initial program load (IPL),
| booting, or bootstrapping."

| So, as I have always understood it, the POST is part of the BIOS boot sequence.

| Are you saying that is wrong , and that the BIOS boot sequence should be called a Power
| on Self Test ?

No, I am not saying its wrong. Just qualifying it.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

Dustin Cook · External Since: Jun 27, 2006 Posts: 74

Charlie Leo wrote in

> My computer (Windows XP) is taking 20 to 30 minutes to boot up. The
> hard drive is not active during this time - no disk activity at all.
> Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> Charlie

Have you recently ran chkdsk? And if so, has it mentioned bad/failing
sectors? When did your computer start doing this? Are you hearing any
clanking/knocking noises during startup that weren't previously there?

--
Regards,
Dustin Cook
Malware Researcher
MalwareBytes - http://www.malwarebytes.org