Window XP Start Up Problem

[TheParadox]

I'm not sure if this issue has occured with anyone but on my friends computer whenever he starts up now, he has this little text smiley on the bottom left corner of his screen. I'm not sure if its due to spyware, his failed overclocking, or because his windows is fake but I already helped him reformat 2x with a official window's disk and the icon is still there. These are some of the specs for his computer-

Intel Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz (I think he tried to overclock it to 3.6 Ghz)
ATI All In Wonder 9600
2 Gigs (512 x4) RAM
Maxtor 160 Gig HDD
420 Watt PSU

I'll update more about his computer specs when i find out from him.

[CCT]

Since you imply, or at least I infer from what you said, that he is using illicit software, I doubt we can be of help.


Sorry but that's how things are here, and rightfully so too!


gl tho

[Ferrit]

Well to start I doubt that spyware is responsible for the text smiley.
It's more then likely a virus.
Zero fiull the drive before you install windows.
Most hard drive manufacturers have tools to do this

[TheParadox]

what do you mean by zero fiulling the drive?

[peshek77]

what do you mean by zero fiulling the drive?

I am not absolutel sure about this, but this is how I believe it works.

Look up the hard drive manufacturer(Sea Gate, Westorn Digital, Maxtor, etc.) Then go their website and search for "zero fill" utility or something similar.

What zero fill does is basicly ... well... filling your hard drive with "zeros" from the first sector to the last. This process obbliterates all the information that is on the hard drive. This icludes files, folders, partition tables, boot sector(s), etc. If you do this you will need to partition the hard drive again.

If after that you install windows and the bugger is still there, at least you know it was not a virus.

PS: If anyone sees something wring with the info please let me know.