Qoologic/BSOD Problem

[thefultonhow]

Made a housecall today... The customer had a couple of viruses that it was relatively easy to get rid of, but then they had Qoologic.i. I tried basically everything to get rid of it. Finally, I used a virus scanner that someone on another forum recommended in order to find the files that comprised the infection. I rebooted in Safe Mode, and with all files shown (including so-called "Protected operating system files"), I either couldn't find the files or got an Access Denied error when I tried to delete them.

At that point, I had the bright idea of moving the hard drive to another computer and deleting the files there. It worked like a charm -- all the files could be deleted -- until I put the hard drive back in the original computer. I am now getting blue screens every time I try to start up, both in Safe Mode and regular mode. Last Known Good Configuration doesn't work either (not that I really expected it to).

So my question is, is there any quick fix here, or do I have to reinstall? I'm hoping that some kind of file change will allow the computer to start up normally again. Also, if I do a repair install, will I have to reinstall all the programs? I don't particularly want to -- I'm not even sure I'm going to get paid for this job.

[rightcoast]

If your sure the viruses are gone, like you said it worked like a charm on the infected files, try a repair. If it can see the OS it might do the trick. If you have the customers box with you could do it at home and not have to burn the time on-site.

If you don't have it with you though, you have to wiegh the options business wise. Is it worth doing a "maybe fix, maybe not" onsite when you might end up re-installing anyway.

[thefultonhow]

If your sure the viruses are gone, like you said it worked like a charm on the infected files, try a repair. If it can see the OS it might do the trick. If you have the customers box with you could do it at home and not have to burn the time on-site.

If you don't have it with you though, you have to wiegh the options business wise. Is it worth doing a "maybe fix, maybe not" onsite when you might end up re-installing anyway.

I've never done a repair install before, so I'd like to know if I'll have to reinstall the programs that are currently installed (Office, games, etc.), or whether they will remain functional. If it's the former, then I might as well just reinstall as either way it will be about the same amount of effort, but if it's the latter, a repair makes sense.

[rightcoast]

Sorry for the delay here. A repair install will not affect the use of any programs whatsoever (in every instance I have done them, at least 20 times). The only affect would be that they work again. I'm pretty sure it only repairs the Windows system files, leaving the programs and registry alone.

It's definetly worth a shot if you don't have to do it on-site. Worst case senario is is doesn't see the OS or doesn't work for some reason and you have to slave the drive for the data like you would now anyway.

[Panama Red]

You're correct, rc, a repair install will NOT affect personal files or installed programs. However, it will return the os to the state of the disk you are using. If it's XP SP1 and you are currently running SP2, you would have to reinstall SP2. Plus you would have to run all the Windows Updates even if your disk is XP SP2.

[thefultonhow]

The only affect would be that they work again.

LOL! But yeah, that's what I want. :)

However, it will return the os to the state of the disk you are using. If it's XP SP1 and you are currently running SP2, you would have to reinstall SP2. Plus you would have to run all the Windows Updates even if your disk is XP SP2.

Good to know. But I do have a question about that -- I actually redid this box for the customer before SP2 came out because it was hosed then even more than it is now, and they never bothered to install SP2, so SP1 was still on there. If I use a slipstreamed SP2 CD to do the repair install, will it even work? (If so, that seems to be the easiest route.)

[Panama Red]

Should work just fine. That's the easy way to repair and instll SP2 at the same time.

[thefultonhow]

Just an update -- the repair install worked, and Qoologic is gone. We're back in business. I returned the computer to the customer today.

[Panama Red]

Thanx for the update. Did you use the slipstreamed SP2 CD to do the repair?

[thefultonhow]

Thanx for the update. Did you use the slipstreamed SP2 CD to do the repair?

I decided not to, as the only one I have lying around is my personal customized automated install and I didn't feel like re-slipstreaming. :p It was easy enough to install SP2 afterwards from my memory key, though.