How do I know if this is a virus or an issue with my hardware?

From: anubis (anubis_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 08/29/05 

Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 17:06:01 -0700

My computer started to shut down on me with a blue screen with large font
writing on it that was an error message of sorts - not typical error message
at all - but it was 3 paragraphs of there was an issue and that it was
shutting down to protect my files and then it shut off.

At first I was able to restart my computer (HP Pavillion laptop running
Windows XP) with it shutting off after a few minutes of being on it. One of
the times it allowed me to boot up I tried to run McAfee virus scan on it,
but it wouldn't run stateing that files were damaged/componants missing.

Now when I turn my computer on Windows will not boot up at all. I am frozen
at the "HP logo screen" with the "esc for boot order" and F2 and F12 options.
 It will occasionaly go to a blank black screen with a cursor flashing and
freeze there, but never does it get past those screens into Windows. I tried
to start in safe mode and it at one point let me on the safe mode options
screen, but when I tried to chose safe mode it froze again. Now I can't get
it to recognize the F8 key when trying to boot.

Any suggestions of anything I can try now or do I need to break out the old
recovery disk? Shop for another laptop? :-)

Any diagnostic tests that I can run?

Relevant Pages

  • Re: welcome screen - missing users
    ... Start with the following, boot the system, start tapping F8, when the menu ... repeat the above but select Safe Mode and press enter. ... a few screens into the process you may see a message ... with the option to setup Windows or Repair Windows Installation ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.accessibility)
  • Re: I need Help. "No Safe Mode" and...? Possibly an opportunity to recover.
    ... What do you do when *you can't get into Safe Mode John*? ... I think the point is whether she can boot from the CD or she has a dead ... I've seen plenty of "blank screens" where you pushed the button, ... > install SP2 after your friend is thorougly backed up. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: Help Me - How to start in safe mofe - Lost Admin. login password !
    ... Boot the system, on the first screen or an early screen during the process, ... navigate through the screens until you ... When you get to Safe Mode, ... "Administrator," leave the password blank and press enter. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.accessibility)
  • Re: Cannot open computer
    ... I cannot get into safe mode as I keep getting the message that the system ... Trying to boot into the command prompt gets the same result as everything ... So, in short, nothing that a try will get me past those screens. ... without typing anything in the Password field of Administrator hit ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: sasser worm
    ... Assuming it does allow you to boot to the desktop again, ... The procedure for a repair install is as follows: ... a few screens into the process you may see a message ... > in safe mode, but when it tries, it lists all the current> drivers, freezes for a moment, then restarts again. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.accessibility)