need to fix a dell for a friend

[mikee286]

I am trying to fix a dell computer for a friend that got run down with a whole bunch of viruses. They need their files and documents saved but I can't even boot into windows without a bsod even in save mode or last known good config

any ideas what to do here?

[I8PP]

Take hdd out, pop it into another computer, take ownership of all files, copy required files, put back into dell, format.

[AlexMagik]

boot from a linux live CD then back up everything on a USB disk.

after you format and reinstall windows, install a good AV, update it, then plug the USB disk and scan it before you copy back the documents..

[mikee286]

I have tried knoppix and ubuntu to try to copy the files over but ubuntu says unable to mount volume and knoppix just locks up. The hard drive transfer thing doesn't work either because its ide and my computer s only ide cable is used by my hdd and my dvd drive.

With dells (older ones with celeron D processors) do they come with any cds that can repair windows so that maybe i can get some av on there and backup the files because it looks like it is my only option now

[+allan MVC]

What is the blue screen error?

[markwolfe Veteran]

I have tried knoppix and ubuntu to try to copy the files over but ubuntu says unable to mount volume...

Ubuntu may say it is unable because the NTFS partition is marked as locked and in-use by Windows. You can force it to mount with something like

sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda1 /media/sda1/ -o force

(note the -o option to 'force')

Your target (in this case, /media/sda1) must exist for the command to work. You can create it yourself, if it doesn't.

Best of luck!

[mikee286]

wow SLAX live cd FTW! With this I didn't even have to do the force code to get the stuff but now I just have to wait until my external hard drive gets fixed to have enough room for everything

I'll see if i can take a picture of the bsod when I hook the computer back up

[Swiftie]

I had the same issue at the begining of last week. I had to use my Ubuntu and forced it.

But then at the same time I was able to get the laptop to boot after doing the data back up by doing a chkdsk /r/f

[DELTETHISACCOUNT]

But then at the same time I was able to get the laptop to boot after doing the data back up by doing a chkdsk /r/f

This is what I was going to recommend doing before anything else. Works most of the time.

[Pupik]

Take hdd out, pop it into another computer, take ownership of all files, copy required files, put back into dell, format.

I did the same couple of months ago with my friend's HD, but I didn't copy the files. I just put the HD in my PC and scanned it with Kaspersky and SUPERAntiSpyware. Took care of all the viruses and other garbage.

[mikee286]

clearly the viruses have gotten to the critical system files on this computer though since right after the xp bootscreen it goes to a bsod and you can't do anything

is there any sort of av you can get to run on linux that can scan and find viruses on the hard drive with windows and remove it

[markwolfe Veteran]

...

is there any sort of av you can get to run on linux that can scan and find viruses on the hard drive with windows and remove it

For the record, avast runs natively in Linux. For me, it was a simple sudo apt-get install avast4workstation.

[mikee286]

that command didn't work, it says its not a proper command. Its probably since I'm in slax or do they use the same commands to get things?

[markwolfe Veteran]

Yes, slack uses something different. From my brief run-in with it, many years ago*, slack either doesn't have a package manager, or uses slapt-get. This is probably outdated info, and there may be a beautiful package manager like portage/emerge/aptitude/yum/yast/urpmi for Slack.

But back in the day, it was tarball management. You can go here and download the general-Linux .tar.gz file, which is a compressed tar archive of an installer. Once you un-tar it, it should provide instructions in some sort of "readme" file.

* _{Things have likely changed in the world of Slackware since I looked at it last.}

[mikee286]

well i backed up their stuff to my external hdd and reinstalled windows but i can't get on the internet because the driver is missing for the ethernet adapter

I don't know what model of dell this is but some general specs are celeron D 2.8ghz 512 mb ram, 80gb HDD. I don't know what video card because the driver is missing for that too.

I want to get drivers from dell but can't figure out what model it is

can someone help me out here??

edit its a dell de051

but I still can't find drivers

Edited August 27, 2008 by mikee286

[Glorious]

well i backed up their stuff to my external hdd and reinstalled windows but i can't get on the internet because the driver is missing for the ethernet adapter

I don't know what model of dell this is but some general specs are celeron D 2.8ghz 512 mb ram, 80gb HDD. I don't know what video card because the driver is missing for that too.

I want to get drivers from dell but can't figure out what model it is

can someone help me out here??

edit its a dell de051

but I still can't find drivers

If I don't know what a driver I'm missing on a system is I check the Device Instance ID on Google - works 95% of the time :)

[39 Thieves]

http://www.linuxpackages.net/

slackware packages

[alphamale]

dells have a service code likely somewhere on the case. don't own one i think it is 6 digits long. enter the code on the dell support site to find correct drivers

[mikee286]

thats how i found the model number and that gave me one driver, for the ethernet card which allowed me to get it online then windows update took care of the rest so now I think its all sorted.

thanx guys