How can I remove a virus from my hard disk's partition sector (MBR)?
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alt_comp_virus
ANSWERS: 2
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There are two main alternatives: run an anti-virus product, or use FDISK /MBR. Most effective anti-virus products will be able to remove a virus from a partition sector, but some have difficulties under certain circumstances. In these cases the user may decide to use FDISK /MBR. Unless you know precisely what you are doing this is unwise. You may lose access to the data on your hard disk if the infection was done by a virus such as Monkey or OneHalf. A later section of this FAQ contains details as to how losing data might happen. Won't formatting the hard disk help? Not necessarily. Formatting the hard disk can result in everything being wiped from the drive *apart* from the virus. Format alters the DOS partition, but leaves the partition sector (AKA the MBR) untouched. There is usually a better way of removing a virus infection than formatting the hard disk.
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1. Have you tried using System Restore to change the files back to what they were before you started having problems? The result would also include not having anything that you have added since that date. 2. Something different- if you use an anti-virus program, that program cannot get at the files protected by System Restore. If the bad guys are hiding in System Restore, then System Restore must be disabled, then use the anti-virus program, then re-enable System Restore. To learn about System Restore- click start, click Help and Support and then enter system restore in Search.
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