Gateway 7805U: Please help me if you can. Malware screwed me and I can't even reformat...more

I was unable to remove some malware and my system was getting very slow. Firefox would constantly freeze and sometimes take up to a minute to resume loading. I'd let it proceed, rather than interrupting the process. To make a long story short, I have (I hope) my drive backed up on an external hd and just decided to bite the proverbial bullet and format my drive. Unfortunately, I had the Vista and upgrade discs from Gateway (acer?) from a few years ago and that would not allow me to do it. I resorted to this app from CNET downloads, "MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition", and I was able to format the partition. To make a long story short, I need to find some software so I can actually reformat my internal drive so I can try from real scratch. I could ramble for hours but I just hope someone out there is knowledgeable enough to give me a hand.

 

Go here and download one of the USB Linux bootable flash drive installers. Then install something like Parted Magic. Or you may just want Gparted, which is part of Parted Magic. You may want to install some other handy items to the USB as well. Obviously you will need a working Windows machine to set up the USB.

 

If I am correct (?) this will allow me to create a bootable USB drive with its' own LINUX environment. Within that, I will launch one of the apps which will allow me to remove all partitions and format my drive.

I went to the sites and all contained links, but the links were for other appz being 'sold'. I bookmarked them to try again. If I do a search for these applications, are they readily available? In any case, I will try again and I really appreciate your suggestions.

 

I't has been awhile since I set up my sticks but don't pay for anything. The installer should give you the option to install the environment and/or pick from a list of items like Gparted or some Linux version, etc. Mine even downloaded them for me. You can add things manually and edit the menu but not necessary for what you wanted. Unless Pendrive changed things. I just linked to the specific items to show you what they were. Once you have the environment installed, running it again can add programs, just don't choose install OS (or whatever they call it). I hope I'm remembering this correctly.

There are other USB boot installers but I really liked the Pendrive stuff. The name of the installers have changed so I don't know what else they have done to it.

If all else fails, you can download Gparted and burn a live CD. There is another partition software that I like better but I didn't see it on the list and can't remember the name. But I've used Gparted a lot and only had trouble once. Hey, you are formatting so what's the worst that can happen. It will either work or not, :hi2:

Edit: Yumi is what I used. It was called Multiboot Installer when I used it. Yumi has the list of items. Maybe the other one does too but I can't tell.

 

since you have the bootable dvd just get parted magic iso and burn a cd/dvd. boot to that and you are set. I used to do this all the time to secure erase my SDD................

 

I haven't used a boot CD for so long it is always an after thought at best. But it works fine. The cool factor of the Multiboot USB is worth the price of admission, which is time. Throw a Linux distro on it and you have a handy disaster recovery to boot (pun intended).

 

Before I perform the format, I want to download all the drivers I will need. I went to the Gateway site and the drivers are there, but there are multiple drivers for many of the items and I don't know which I should install. Does anyone have a list of all the drivers that came with the laptop?
Also, after I format, I plan to install Widows using the original disc/s, including the original Gateway Vista, followed by 7. Once I install Vista, should I establish a LAN and allow Vista to update? I'm sure there will be well over 100. Does it have to update fully before I upgrade, or can I just not be connected to the net and proceed with the upgrade immediately? I know I am asking all these questions but I really want everything there when I do this.

 

I would not worry about drivers until you get the OS going. Most things will work on an original Windows install and then you can figure out what your hardware is. If drivers on Gateway are for the same hardware but more recent, choose most recent. If they used a range of hardware, you will need to determine what your hardware is. But like I say, most things will work anyway and working hardware is easy to ientify. You will be surprised how few things need an extra driver. If you were installing 7 it would be even better. I don't have your version but the Conextant audio driver (if that is what your system uses) may take some hand holding. There will probably be no difference in drivers between Vista and 7. I won't have the patience to tell you all about drivers so you will need to read up on driver installing. There is not a great danger in installing the wrong driver. If a driver is not correct, it will not install or just not work. Run Intel Driver Update from their website. It won't give you drivers other than Intel but will identify much of the hardware and you will be able to get your new Intel drivers. Then search for drivers on the part manufacturer's site if you can for hardware Intel identified but didn't provide. Gateway will have old drivers and are fine if you can't find newer. Another hardware that may not work is the SD card reader. The driver may be called "mass storage device" or some such. This threw people on the Gateway 7811 but I don't know if yours is the same.

I don't know about upgrade from Vista to 7, never done it, but I don't think you will need all the updates on Vista because 7 will change everything anyway. Then 7 can update. I'd Google just to be sure. Enjoy your mistakes and count them as experience. Next time will be a breeze.

OK, I'm drifting off ... good luck.

 

Thank you very much for the information and insight. Now I take the 'plunge'.