Avast Problems on a newly-reformatted PC

[cadrham]

Hello everyone. I've been using AVAST for over a year now and I haven't been having problems with it lately. However, I helped a friend reformat her computer (by phone) and I advised her to install avast immediately after installing her OS (Windows XP Home Edition). Once installed, AVAST prompted her to restart her PC for a boot scan. During the boot scan, AVAST detected several viruses in Windows' System 32 folder... Of course she opted to have AVAST delete all those viruses but unfortunately, she could no longer go to windows after the next reboot.

I also experienced this problem before but after reformatting my pc twice in a row (As a result of the problem), I never encountered the same problem again.

I'm just wondering if other people have had this same problem.. I don't think it would be plain helpful on my part to just advise my friend to reformat her pc again and hope that the next AVAST installation and scan will not result to the same problem.

Please help....

[Lisandro]

Delete is not the recommended action... Chest (Quarantine) the files!

Overinstallation of Windows can solve the problem and you won't lose your programs, settings, data, files, etc.
Just choose 'Repair' installation of Windows and install 'over' the old installation.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314058
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

At this time, I really suggest you install Windows over your 'old' installation.
You won't lose your programs and settings neither your data.


@Alwil team:
Won't you make an access to Chest at boot time? We're asking this A LOT of times...

[cadrham]

Thank you very much. We will try this now.

[ardvark]

Hi...

The viruses were in place even after a new reinstall?

If this is the case you may need to actually wipe the actual partition (on the hard drive) and create a new one. I had this happen once when I first started working with computers. The client had a virus infected Windows 98 system and I reinstalled without wiping the old partition and creating a new one. The viruses surviived to infect the new install. So a collegue had to go back and do the job all over again.

A lesson I've never forgotten!

Best Regards...

[cadrham]

Thanks guys.

We went through the same process again.. Reformatted the hard disk, installed a fresh XP, installed Avast and after the scan, it detected the same virus (win32:sdBot-gen22[trj]). At least it was successfully quarantined.

The computer's fine now,... hopefully it stays that way;D

You guys have been very helpful, we appreciate it a lot. Thanks!

[ardvark]

Hi...

You're welcome, glad I could help!

Best Regards...