Ctrl plus F11 doesn't work?

Question

Please help, this is driving me crazy!

Story so far is this:

ABout 3 weeks ago I was infected by malware/spyware. I killed off both, unfortunately in the process of downloading these killers I also downloaded a second virus killer (I have since found out this is really bad as I am sure you all know already!)

Anyhow, I have managed to get rid of the virus program but problems are still happening. I have tried system restore but the computer freezes up at this point. I have tried the whole ctrl plus F11 thing but it doesn't seem to work either, it still just goes straight to the Windows screen. The Dell support on line trouble shoot can't help me any further.

My system is a dimension 3000 running on Windows XP Home. Many of my programs are still able to function but I can't access the internet even though it is recieving the signal and communicating with ISP.

I have several CD's that came with my system, can I do something with these?

I have the following:

Dimension Resource CD

For reinstalling Dell Media Experience

LCD Monitor User Documentation

For Reinstalling SOnic Digital Media

Reinstallation CD Windows XP Home

Is there anything else I need or can do??

Thanks!

I have made a back up of all my important files

RoHe · Answer

If your system was shipped before July 14, 2004, you don't have PC Restore on the hard drive.

It's possible the malware changed the boot files and disabled access to PC Restore. You can read this for info that may help you re-activate access to PC Restore.

Inside PC Restore

Note: You have to press/hold the Ctrl key, then press F11, and release both at the same time. You need to do this when the narrow blue bar appears across the top of your screen during the boot-up.

<>You can go to the HijackThis forum and click the red link at top of that page. Read all the FAQs and then download free HijackThis from the link provided. Run HJT and post your log file on that forum for expert help removing malware.

Ron

kyliechooky · Answer

My system was delivered in June 2005.  Also asking me to download programs is useless as the computer can't operate the internet.

tommyo1954 · Answer

Are you sure you're tapping the F-11 at the proper time?  (at the Dell splashscreen)

Balaji Ramanath · Answer

I got my computer less than a month back and as far as I can tell, it has no recovery partition (ctrl-F11 has no effect on my computer and disk management does not show a recovery partition, only the C: drive, a Mediadirect partition and a diagnostics partition).  So, I am not sure all Dells after a certain date have the recovery partition.

Balaji Ramanath · Answer

@RoHe wrote:

Only XP systems respond to Ctrl-F11.

Ron

My computer was bought with XP Home SP2. And no restore partition. Maybe business-oriented computers don't come with this feature. Or Dell decided to treat me special. :smileywink:

RoHe · Answer

You can download HijackThis on the same PC you're using to post questions on these forums. Burn it on a CD and install it on the other PC. DUH!!

Only XP systems respond to Ctrl-F11. If the system has Vista, access to Image Restore is from the F8 menu at boot up.

Ron

kyliechooky · Answer

My Ctrl F11 definitely doesn't work.....   Could someone please let me know if I have all the disks I need to completely wipe my sytem and reload everything???  (See first post)   Thanks

tommyo1954 · Answer

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp   If you do decide to wipe the drive and reinstall Windows, this is one of the easier tutorials that I've seen.

RoHe · Answer

Laptops may be different because the hard drives tend to be small(er) and the Restore partition takes up a lot of space.

Did you check out that link in my earlier post to see if it can help you regain access to PC Restore on the D3000?

You might consider a Repair/Reinstall rather than a Reformat/Reinstall. If you do a repair, personal files and software you installed will be ok, and you won't have to reinstall all the hardware drivers.

If you do the full reformat/reinstall, you'll have to install XP, then the drivers -starting with chipset driver- and then all the additional software you need. And unless Dell gave you reinstall CDs for their pre-installed software, you won't be able to recover it.

Either way, after the repair or reformat reinstall, you will have to download/install all Microsoft updates and fixes again.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 03-26-2008 06:02 PM

Windows General

Ctrl plus F11 doesn't work?

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