Formatting but Keyboard cuts out.

holly35

holly35

holly35

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Burgess Hill, West Sussex
I'm doing a full format on a PC to get rid of a string of virus that just won't go away.

I got to the "Enter now to Continue" the format. But as I got to this screen it's almost as if the USB has been deactivated.

The keyboard is USB only, and so I got a keyboard that isn't but there doesn't appear to be a keyboard slot at the back. Its a Dell Dimension 3100 model.

Any ideas on what I can do? Is there any way to leave the USB on?
 
There should be an option in the BIOS to use legacy USB or similar. Different motherboards will call it different things, have a look in the BIOS for something similar.
 
I got into system settings and I couldn't see how to enable the legacy usb settings.

I looked under "onboard devices" where it says I can manage legacyselect. Everything has been enabled so not sure what to do?

I've been told as well that it did have a dell factory restore option but when their support man came over the option isn't there (I haven't investigated this yet but will do in a sec).

It got blitzed by a terrible virus, we contacted Dell and they came over so they replaced almost everything in the PC. They left then it caught something else again after we set it all up (nothing we thought dodgy/illegal was being downloaded) So I re installed xp again but it still wasn't 100% I think I had to do it twice but then we went traveling. We've been away for 4 months and we've come back to it with the "Virus Remover 2008" bug on it. I've read up on it and we can't shift it with the security program we use so thought best to just format everything and start from scratch.

If I can use the Dell Factory re store I'm worried it won't completely get rid of it!

This is why Im glad I use a mac!!!
 
Try resetting your CMOS. I had a PC (which I think was Dell) that I cut the keyboard out. I reset the CMOS and all was fine.
 
The keyboard is fine and works the problem is when I get to the option to format the keyboard stops working so I can't press "continue" to start the format. I'm thinking it must disable at that point for some reason.

The whole PC is working fine apart from the damn virus that just keeps popping up security rubbish. I read up on the virus and although I don't think its eaten anything up to bad it just keeps trying to fool you that you have a virus with fake security software appearing loads of pop ups when a web page is opened; and slows the PC down.

A new PC will be on the cards when we get new jobs me thinks.
 
Well we had it restored a few days before we left so we didn't really get the chance. Especially as we didn't think it would be used for months. But his Dad used it a few times. The anti virus software we have got won't remove it. The program that claims to remove it (although not guaranteed) costs money which is fair enough, however if it doesn't remove it we're back to square one.

I do just want to completely re format it. A fresh start to get everything back in order without any virus worries.

My partner just told me that he normally would do a Dell Restore by pressing f11 at start up but that option is no longer there as the tech man didn't put it back on. I've just tried and it isn't there. So can't do that. I don't know if it's a Dell computer thing but the BIOS on here doesn't look how I remember it did on my PC?
 
holly35 said:
My partner just told me that he normally would do a Dell Restore by pressing f11 at start up but that option is no longer there as the tech man didn't put it back on. I've just tried and it isn't there. So can't do that. I don't know if it's a Dell computer thing but the BIOS on here doesn't look how I remember it did on my PC?
Click to expand...

I think you'll find it is likely F12, and then you use 'Dell Restore Utility' from the options.
 
It is f11 for Dells as I discovered this online before he told me this, and in the options for f12 I get:

Onboard SATA HD
Onboard or USB CD Drive (this is what I chose before when trying to re boot from the xp cd)

System Set Up (just takes me to the blue screen I got before and doesn't have any restoring options)
HD Diagnostics
Boot to Utility Partition

I just can't find any restoring options :-\
 
Have you tried connecting the keyboard to each different USB port on the back and repeating the process?

To make sure it's properely detected, reboot between each attempt.
 
Yeah I did that and tried two different keyboards but it only cut out as soon as I got to the format option.

Going to try and find an anti virus software that is recommends on how to remove it, but then it doesn't solve my re formatting problem.

According to his Dad it was taken into a shop and they had the same problem in that the keyboard didn't work and they did something which I assume would be to do with the USB Legacy enabling but I cant seem to find it. Or at least it doesn't have an option to do anything with it.

Might phone up Dell but then they put you through to India so will keep persisting and maybe take it to someone if its not a rip off!

Thanks for your suggestions, I can't understand why the Dell man would remove the restore option or how he could do it so there must be someway around it. Before then restoring was easy.
 
You said you've tried different USB ports, but this forum post suggests only one port works.

Also info from Dell suport site

The USB root port detection order in desktop systems during the boot process is as follows:
Back panel 4-stack USB ports (bottom to top).
System front panel two ports.
Back 2-stack USB ports.
Click to expand...

Also recommends having mouse connected to same USB root as keyboard. But could try without mouse even connected.
 
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This woke up early and partner had been up for ages (still getting over jet lag). He went on Yahoo Answers and someone told him a program to get rid of it and it did and everything went perfectly.... until he got the blue screen. This is what happened before we went away everything fixed, then the bsod came up.

Anyway so I got to the screen I got stuck at before, switched the keyboard usb and it worked!! :-) So have formatted and is half way through putting the new XP on. Fingers crossed it will run smoothly now...
 
Done - I've now suggested for him to buy a proper anti virus program and not download a free one. Does anyone have a suggestion for a decent/ non pricey one?

Or even a free one that is definitely secure and will successfully remove a virus?
 
I usually use AVG if I'm asked for a recommendation and have never had any problems, alternatives are antivir-xp and avast! I'm sure there are links somewhere that show their exact performance, but as I said all 3 above have been fine for me and the machines they've ended up on.

Don't forget to put Spybot on there too, it usually catches/blocks some things that an AV program can miss.

http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivirussoftwarereviews/a/freeav_2.htm

Looks like Antivir and Avast! are better than AVG from that link.

If you want a paid one, the sticky has information that lists AV programs on how good they are, so it's prob worth investigating any of these :)

1) MKS-Vir
1a) eXtendia AVK
2) Kaspersky 5.0/4.5
2a) McAfee VirusScan 8.0
3) F-Secure
4) GData AVK
5) RAV + Norton (2 way tie)
6) Dr.Web
7) CommandAV + F-Prot + BitDefender (3 Way Tie)
8) ETrust
9) Trend
10) Panda
11) Avast! Pro
12) KingSoft
13) NOD32
14) AVG Pro
15) AntiVIR
16) ClamWIN
17) UNA
18) Norman
19) Solo
20) Proland
21) Sophos
22) Hauri
23) CAT Quickheal
24) Ikarus
 
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if you go with Avast Home Edition, I recommend changing the skin (appearance of it).

I'm using aVist (first on list). Once using a new skin click on the update text and enable porgram updates.

Also need to enable option to check zip files when doing a scan, but can't remember where abouts that option is.
 
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