I have a nasty virus/spyware problem. I can't boot my computer except in safe mode, and I can't see my cd rom drive. All I want is the data files off of it, but can't network it in safe mode to remove them that way, can't get on the net to download the latest spyware and virus updates, and can't write my data to the cd rom. Is it possible to copy a "generic" registry file into my system to at least allow me to boot? I don't care if I can't run my applications, I just want it to boot up with network access.Another option might an external harddisk. Would the computer see the external drive in safe mode?Thx!billg

What anti-virus program are you using and what virus to the program say you have? The reason I ask is that there's been a documented problem all weekend with the AVAST program giving false positives for the Win32:Trojano-872 worm, including FS9 related files and original CD-ROM game files.

hey Clipper. I'm using avast, but haven't downloaded updates for a few weeks because I can't get online on that computer. I've basically had it turned off and unplugged from my network. Avast dosn't recognize any viruses, although it has old definitions, so I'm assuming it's spyware or I need new definitions, which I can't get, argh. :-(billg

What a freakin headache. :-(Since you're using AVAST, did check out the AVAST support forum with the computer that is working? Here's a link to the forum: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=4.0There's a dude there called "Eddy" who seems to be really up on recovering from infections. Here's a link to his own support page: http://members.home.nl/edeijl/He covers some good stuff like booting in safe mode and running a virus scan before any other programs are run. I think he mentions how to make an AVAST boot disk, which you might be able to do with a computer that is working. BTW, what type of CD-ROM drive do you have? Can you make it the boot disk through your BIOS?

actually, I might have it licked. When the computer boots, there's a bunch of attempts to hijack my browser then it freezes. But, even though it's "frozen," I can still access it from an other computer on my network if I plug in the network cable. I'll just be careful to have only those 2 on, get all my files, then really clean up the other one and reformat and reinstall the os on the infected one. Don't know what kind of kicks these guys get from writing this stuff but one of them wouldn't want to walk through my front door right now. But I might check out Eddy's sight first, might be the safer way to go if possible. Thx for the help!!billg