T61: Need Help with booting problem (Virus?)

This past weekend AVG (virus protection) found several "threats" and " healed" them. I'm pretty sure that it actually just picked up spyware protection program (Spywarebot) and uninstalled it. I shut down my computer and left for the evening. When I restarted the next morning, it got to the login page (I'm running Vista) and before I could swipe my finger, it would shut down and restart, cycling through the process as long as I would let it go. I have a T61 btw. I"m guessing that in the "healing process" that something in the bootup software got erased. Does anyone have any suggestions? I would very much prefer not to lose the information on my harddrive and I haven't backed up in several months (stupid me). Thanks for your help!

I've had the suggestion of sticking the vista CD in upon restart and letting it "fix" the missing files. The only vista cd I have (it came with it) is the "update"...will that work?

The other suggestion I've had is to go onto the lenovo website and download the startup files...After scanning through the possible downloads, I have no idea which ones those would be.

 

Try:

...booting up with a Linux live cd like Ubuntu 7.10 to move your windows files to usb storage

...test your RAM by downloading and booting Memtest86 v3.4

...download Hiren's disk v7.0 to boot up and get into raw DOS to do a CHKDSK /r to fix corrupted files.

...none of the above will fix your mbr if that is corrupted....but I am only familiar with XP. Maybe google "VISTA fixmbr".

Alacrity


EDIT: Vista MBR fix @ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

 

What hapens when you use F8 to do a safe boot?

 

Right now when I boot up it takes me to "Windows Error Recovery" screen. it says,
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.

If Windows files have been damaged or configured incorrectly, startup repair can help diagnose and fix the problem...choose:

Launch Startup Repair (recommended)
Start Windows Normally

Description: Fix problems that are preventing Windows from starting"

I should be getting the Vista "upgrade" disc in the mail soon (it came with my computer, but don't currently have it with me...someone is mailing it to me).

Will this one work?

I'll try the above link as well. Thanks!

 

"Right now when I boot up it takes me to "Windows Error Recovery" screen. it says,
"Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause."


F8 during boot....

Did you try a Safe Boot? Or a safe Boot with dos.....

Also try to boot the last know good configuration you may have to power down early in the boot phase to have that F8 choice