i dont kow anyrthing about linux systems so the only suggestion i have is that you connect the HDD to a mac, since the virus wont infect the mac u should be fine.
after connecting the hdd to a mac format the hdd.
where to get a mac from? try the local library, friends comp, etc

dont know about anything else u can do to fix the hdd

Sarah. Can't you get into BIOS and change the boot device. Sorry if you've already mentioned this, but I had to nip out for a couple of hours, and am not upto speed yet. :)

Ah. So it won't let you in? Or you don't know how to get in on that particular machine?

Try "Esc" or maybe "Delete"

You must have a mega quick boot up sequence to have tried them that quick?

LOL - no I tried the past 5 or 6 times I have booted this thing!

I'm with you. But um?

Is there someone here with knowledge of Knoppix?
I figure if I restart from the Knoppix BootCD maybe I might get into the BIOS.
I remember pressing enter when I started the **** thing which allowed the system to boot from the CD, so the reverse should be possible too.
But I couldn't find my way around Linux at all, so I'd like some advice of where to find what, before I get into rebooting again ...

Hi Sarah,

I'm new here and was going to ask a question of my own, but then I saw this thread and since it sounded very interesting, I gave it a read.

I am going to ask the obvious..... have you removed the Unix CD from the CD drive?

Also, in Windows have you gone to Start | Right click on My Computer | Properties. Then select Advanced tab, within that Startup and Recovery Settings button. Click Edit to manually edit the start-up file options. From there, remove the references to the Unix OS system. For example, here is my startup file on XPP without dual boot:

[boot loader]
timeout=8
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Notice how under the OS section there is only one listed.

It's been years since I used a flavor of Unix, but as I remember, this is where it also logs the dual boot of your system.

Have a look - and good luck!

Now to post my own question.....

Dobermann

@ Dobermann - yes, I had removed the CD, LOL!
And it was never a dual boot kind of thing. Just a Live CD to boot from. Normally removing the CD is enough to get back to your system without a problem and no files / entries are written to your normal bootsystem (Vista in my case).

Offtopic - I used to have a Dobermann years ago. Lovely dogs and very photogenic (unlike my current black bunch ...)

@ drifta - that's how I got in this morning > read on :)

@ Lighthouse - F11 got me into the BIOS, but because of the wireless keyboard I have to be very, very, vééérrry fast otherwise it won't get acknowleged in time and I have to start all over again.
My default startup was USB, CD, HDD. Looked ok, so I set to optimized defaults, because I didn't know what to change.
That didn't help at all.
So I set it to safety defaults. Didn't help either.
Then I replaced the USB with my HDD and voila I got in in a breeze.
I'll go back there next boot, because I want to try if it works CD first and then HDD.
I had such trouble getting in this morning that I think it's the USB boot option that gives the problem.
No idea as to why, but when I put in my VistaPE CD it also didn't boot and neither would the Knoppix CD.
I guess it tries the USB device and when no boot item is found it stops there.
I didn't have a look at the BIOS before all this, but my guess is the USB wasn't set as boot device when I got the PC and it somehow got changed, causing my trouble.

But I shouldn't go all happy yet - can do that after my next boot and I know for sure things are back to normal again LOL.

A very cheerful Sarah on a very windy and rainy sundaymorning;-D