Calling all geeks!! Need help!! on the Peoria.com Forums - Page 2

No, but even when it's just sitting, the disk is still being written to by back ground processes. I've seen this many times with production model laptops, like Toshiba, HP, Dell, etc....

a virus cannot cause hardware to fail. was there anything magnetic nearby? because that could do it, too. or like i said, it could have been a faulty drive direct from manufacturing; they tend to use cheap sh**.

No, a virus can't but it can create messages on the computer to fool an "end" user into thinking he/she has a failed/corrupt HDD, close applications and prompt the user with any message it has programmed to display.

That S.M.A.R.T App is malware, and does just that.

If the PC maker gets the laptop and the HDD tests fine hardware wise, they'll just ship it back.. I doubt they've clean it of malware/viruses unless you have a complete care warranty on it.

Take note of the "prompts" behind this SMART App.




Look familiar? lol. I doubt the HDD is bad, but without seeing it I can't for certain say. You could be that unlucky, and have this malware infection AND a bad HDD. Although, I doubt it. This APP prompts false messages trying to convince unsuspecting users that they have an issue.

I'm sure the hard drive is blitzed out. I had no programs remaining. Anytime I clicked on a browser or a pre-installed window the file directory said "empty".

The tech guy walked me through the recovery process and when I read to him an error window he told me the hard drive was kaput.

He said when I returned it they would most likely replace the hard drive inside of it.

In response to Tapes comments, it was a Toshiba, and it was next to a magnetic room key. So maybe he is on to something.

However, the SMART Repair window did look and act like mal-ware. But when I ran an AVG scan on it initially it said there were no threats. Later at home a virus window popped up, it asked me if I wanted to quarantine it (which was recommended), I clicked "yes", and that was when I lost my hard drive.

That'd have to be one powerful magnetic key. If your PC was close enough to a magnet powerful enough to damage your PC, you'd have more to worry about than data on your HDD. No magnetic key that hotel gave you is powerful enough to get through the shielding and effect the platters of the HDD, and damage data. People often confuse laboratory degaussers or powerful magnets used to wipe bits off media as "Real" world magnets, the magnet holding up your memo on your fridge can't wipe data

Not completely uncommon.

Which underscores my initial thought. You are suffering from Malware that has damaged windows. I'm not a huge fan of "On disk" recovery. When you send it back to Toshiba, demand an actual Disk.

magnets in audio speakers can be powerful enough to harm your computer if not positioned correctly. sticking refrigerator magnets on the side of your computer tower would be pretty stupid.

i will agree with the others though, the screen shots you posted are in fact a virus. this virus attempts to make you think your hard drive is corrupted, and attempts to make it appear as though data has been deleted when it hasn't. it's possible the person you spoke with on the phone at toshiba was also fooled, as was i.

Toshiba sent me an e-mail which contains data for me to write my own recovery disc.

Also, have to agree I didn't like the fact that he told me the recovery data was already inside the computer. If the computer is damaged, how would that help? Seems pretty counter-intuitive to me.

No magnet you'd use in your typical day is powerful enough to damage your HDD. They just aren't powerful enough. There is a magnet INSIDE Your hard drive more powerful than all your fridge magnets and your hotel key.

I wonder if I should write the recovery disc and use it first before sending the computer back?

I'm almost sure they will run their manufacture HDD diagnostics software on it and determine HDD isn't bad, this software typically runs outside the windows environment and won't be effected by the malware.

Will they warranty Virus/Malware Issues?

At any-rate, if you can get an Install Disk, and you don't have any data you wouldn't mind losing, do a clean install (format, and re-install) and see if problems persist.

There is no data on that computer that couldn't be lost.

Then format and re-install windows from install disk, and be done with it. In my line of work, if it takes more than 25 minutes, and you don't have important data, or if you have recent backup you can restore from, then wipe and re-install.

So Toshiba sent me a link for repair. I clicked on the link. It gave me two options. For $25 they will send me a pre-paid shipping box. Or I could pack it myself and accept the liability for damage. I decided to just pay $25, ship it off and be done with it. I was able to order the pre-paid shipping box right then and there with a credit card payment.

Whether its really a hard drive crash or a virus I hope I never know. I'm trusting they'll just ship the damn thing back fixed.

So far the tech support has been pretty slick.

I bought the computer in November of last year, so the warranty must be pretty decent.

Did you ever try the Combofix that was discussed earlier in the thread? I've got $5 that says that would have taken care of it.