Windows doesn't detect hdd?

S

sitnet

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At the moment, a lot of people hate me. About a week ago I got the W32/Virut virus and it desroyed my laptop. I didn't know I have this virus and connected the laptop to a server, the server is now destoyed. I also infected a persons pc that connected that pc to more than 15 other pc's. Oh and the server has more that 200 people connected to it. :(

Anyway, because of all this I want to format my laptop now. I have a problem though. When I boot from the disc, the Windows (XP) setup loads all the files and then asks me to press enter to continue. When I do it tells me that it hasn't detected any harddrive and the only option I have is to press F3 to reboot. I have run the bios built in HDD diagnostic tool and it says that the HDD is working right.

I also ran a AVG W32/Virut removal tool, and it deleted all the infected exe's. I mean everything, even Explorer.exe. So I can't even log in, then it tells me that usernit login.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. The damn virus even infected the eav.exe (eset anti virus).

What do I do now?

(LAPTOP SPECS:
* HP compaq nc6320
* 150GB unknown harddrive (original)
* 2GIG Ram
* Windows XP SP3 currently installed
* Used Nod 32 but it couldn't delete the virus because it was a running process (like explorer.exe)
)
 
Boot into a command prompt and run a fdisk on the bugger!

Otherwise hold the hdd up to the screen so the laptop can see it's there :D
 
Most Laptops have a hidden partition that has recovery media on it, there is generally a function key you press on startup that will start the recovery process like F2 or F10 etc. according to HP's website the largest HDD this model came with was 120Gig, if you have 150Gig [160Gig] a possible upgrade was done and the recovery partition won't reside on there anymore. Did the unit come with XP originally, are you trying to reload using original Windows media or the HP media? Reason why I ask is that sometimes with Original XP media is looking for an F6 Sata driver. Whereas the actual HP media will have a slipstreamed version with that installed already.
 
Veroland said:
Boot into a command prompt and run a fdisk on the bugger!

Otherwise hold the hdd up to the screen so the laptop can see it's there :D
Click to expand...

Thats't the thing, I can't even boot in safe mode! Remember that all the exe's were deleted.
 
Thestealth said:
Maybe the partition isn't active anymore. Have you checked that yet?
Click to expand...

I don't know but I can't boot to windows or run the setup so I can't really find out. The Windows setup doesn't even come to that part.
 
Sparhawk said:
Most Laptops have a hidden partition that has recovery media on it, there is generally a function key you press on startup that will start the recovery process like F2 or F10 etc. according to HP's website the largest HDD this model came with was 120Gig, if you have 150Gig [160Gig] a possible upgrade was done and the recovery partition won't reside on there anymore. Did the unit come with XP originally, are you trying to reload using original Windows media or the HP media? Reason why I ask is that sometimes with Original XP media is looking for an F6 Sata driver. Whereas the actual HP media will have a slipstreamed version with that installed already.
Click to expand...

Interesting:cool: I see that I can choose the "HP recovery console" to boot from but then it tells me that some dll was deleted (most likely also during the virus clean up). I got that Laptop from Link (IT distrubuters) and they optimized it so the HDD was probably upgraded. I am trying to use my original XP disc. But I am getting the slipstreamed disc later this afternoon so maybe it will work.

Thank you very much for the reply!
 
killadoob said:
Dude you should not be allowed to operate a computer kind sir.

/shun the virus releaser!!!!!
Click to expand...

Yeah yeah I know. But don't blame me, blame AVG that didn't protect me from the virus, and my cr@p luck. I have now oficially switched to NOD32.
 
Also try disabling sata native mode (or is that put it into native mode - can't remember).

It's done in the bios. Did your machine come with Vista initially? If yes - then that's your problem. You need to set it so that XP sees the drive as an IDE drive.

Works everytime :)
 
PC Direct said:
Also try disabling sata native mode (or is that put it into native mode - can't remember).

It's done in the bios. Did your machine come with Vista initially? If yes - then that's your problem. You need to set it so that XP sees the drive as an IDE drive.

Works everytime :)
Click to expand...

YOu MaKE My dAy!!! Yes it did come with vista business. We asked Link to put XP on because the laptops specs aren't good enough for Vista.

So if I go change that in bios it should work right? I'll quickly fetch the laptop and check.

Update: ok I turned off SATA native mode and I am now waiting for the Windows setup to load. Sorry for off topic, but does Windows 7 really take like only 10 min to install?

It still doesn't detect the HDD ): I'll scratch around in the bios some more, although I can't find anything else to do with HDD

Sorry dumb mistake, forgot to save bios and just pressed esc :o
 
Last edited:
OK I got Windows setup to detect Harddrive and everything looks fine now. I also just got the slipstreamed disc.

Just one other thing: What is the difference between Quick format and full format? Which should I do?

Thx to everyone who helped me!:)
 
sitnet said:
OK I got Windows setup to detect Harddrive and everything looks fine now. I also just got the slipstreamed disc.

Just one other thing: What is the difference between Quick format and full format? Which should I do?

Thx to everyone who helped me!:)
Click to expand...

Not too sure about the semantics of either but I've always found it safer to do a full format
 
Quick format erases ur FAT or NTFS stores where Full format removes everything.
In your case i would do a full format. Clears the hard drive of everything and will have a brand new NTFS or FAT.
*Warning : Once Full formated will not be able to undelete or recover files where quick format you will be able to - the ones the new install of the OS doesnt over write neways.
 
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