Some horrible virus(I believe)possibly related to "STEAM."
Hey guys, well…
My friend called me to tell me a story:
First, his brother downloaded something called "STEAM" used to play games online, he described it as a sort of Windws vrs. of XBox Marketplace. It slowed down their laptop and his Mom eventually held the power button down and turned it off. Now (from what I understand) all the computers on their network do not work.
When Cmp1 starts(the one with STEAM installed): It boots to ask what mode to load of XP. All options result in a blue screen that tells them "Computer wasn't shutdown properly last time… yadda dadda…" Every option from their results in failure from what I understand. It is possible that that blue screen asks what mode to load XP, not sure, my friend wasn't that clear but I would assume the latter. He says that loading a Norton CD to boot from also "Does not work." Also, a XP disc "does not work."
Cmp2,3,4: Remain at BIOS or early XP-start containing black screen. Do not boot up and some mention of "[hard drive corrupted/corruption]"
I am going to his house tomorrow and will see if I can troubleshoot the problem. I am thinking I should bring an Ubuntu LiveCD and try to boot that. From there I have heard you can look at the windows file system and restore files…? I am not sure how exactly. I will Google that but if anyone knows any good tutorials on restoring Windows data from Ubuntu or another Linux distro that would help.
Any ideas on what to bring or programs/tools please let me know. Is there any program to bring on a flash drive to help with removing the virus/program, fixing the damage, or restoring lost data that you guys can think of? All help is appreciated. I have a 2gig flash drive to use and blank CDs.
Thanks in advance.
fashizzlepop wrote: First, his brother downloaded something called "STEAM" used to play games online, he described it as a sort of Windws vrs. of XBox Marketplace. It slowed down their laptop and his Mom eventually held the power button down and turned it off. Now (from what I understand) all the computers on their network do not work.
Steam should not be causing something like that, it IS safe software, unless he got it from a not-so-trustworthy link. I doubt steam (downloaded from steampowered.com) would have caused such a widespread problem within his home network)
When Cmp1 starts(the one with STEAM installed): It boots to ask what mode to load of XP. All options result in a blue screen that tells them "Computer wasn't shutdown properly last time… yadda dadda…" Every option from their results in failure from what I understand. It is possible that that blue screen asks what mode to load XP, not sure, my friend wasn't that clear but I would assume the latter. He says that loading a Norton CD to boot from also "Does not work." Also, a XP disc "does not work."
Try the Ubuntu disc, however you said your friend said the XP disc did not work, so the ubuntu disc may also not work. I would go over there and try the XP disc again in case he did not do it properly. When you go over there you will see the screen giving boot options. It is not a blue screen which offers these options but a…very different one (black and white usually).
Cmp2,3,4: Remain at BIOS or early XP-start containing black screen. Do not boot up and some mention of "[hard drive corrupted/corruption]"
Try booting from XP disc with these machines and run a chkdsk, this may fix the problem. It could be the MBR (im doubting this, usually wont give an error like hard drive corrupted), so boot from XP disc and run fdisk /mbr. This will rewrite the MBR and will not affect the data on the harddrive (assuming it is still there).
Try to get the exact errors which occur. This will help us all help you help your friend.
The first thing I would do in this case is reset the bios in every machine than reboot. (My friend got jacked using steam and others have had problems on pogo). It's not the program it's idiots giving you a little something extra with it. (I've seen it mostly disable the keyboard and reset boot orders). Then download combofix. You should be able to boot in safe mode, Then run combofix. In most cases I've had this takes care of it. If not post back.
Ps: Do not mess with fixmbr or fixboot right now this is a last resort.
korg wrote: The first thing I would do in this case is reset the bios in every machine than reboot. (My friend got jacked using steam and others have had problems on pogo). It's not the program it's idiots giving you a little something extra with it. (I've seen it mostly disable the keyboard and reset boot orders). Then download combofix. You should be able to boot in safe mode, Then run combofix. In most cases I've had this takes care of it. If not post back.
Ps: Do not mess with fixmbr or fixboot right now this is a last resort.
He is right with using fixmbr as last resort, and yes reset your bios (can't believe i forgot that).
I've never had any trouble with this "little something extra" nor have i ever heard it happen before, until now.
MoshBat wrote: You use fixmbr when there is a problem with the Master Boot Record. It is unlikely to cause much damage, given the description of one or two of the PC's, but again, it's pointless to use it without cause.
You are right, hence why we said last resort.
The blue screen is something I would be interested to know more about. For example, if you can tell me if it happens before or after login, that might help.
I second that, it sounds… really different. The way it has been described anyway.
And it does sound like some silly little boy got STEAM from an untrusted source, presumably from a torrent/similar of a pirated game. If that's the case, again, tell us.
Yes, i would like to know this sources … name, for some research in how to remove the resulting problems, and the prevention/removal of such.
Keep in mind the safest source for steam is ** steampowered.com **.
Thanks for the help so far guys, I am heading over to his house in an hour.
I'm sorry but I explained everything exactly how it was explained to me and my friend isn't quite as knowledgeable so if this had happened to me I am sure I would have been able to explain it better. I will try your suggestions, write down what happens and get back to you if I can't fix it.
Thanks again.
MoshBat wrote: Godspeed. Thank you.
So, here's an update.
2 of the 4 are not broken anymore(doubt they were in the first place but I don't care anymore). 1 laptop and 1 desktop still need help.
Desktop: When I arrived I turned it on, reset the BIOS, and it soared until it hit me with the Black screen With the options for which mode to boot XP into(safe mode, normal, with cmd prompt, etc.). Every choice from their leads you to a rocky cliff and a Blue screen(not quite the normal BSOD looking blue screen) displaying something along the lines of "Windows stopped booting to save itself because it thinks something went horribly wrong… yadda dadda… If this is the first time you've seen this, restart the computer. If you have seen this message before, get technical ASSistance…." It also gave me this error:
**STOP: 0x00000024 (0x00190203, 0x8678268, 0xc0000102, 0x00000000)```
So, I booted into Ubuntu 9.04 and mounted the windows partition which was easily found through gparted. I looked through the files, copied their documents(no program files), and then restarted the computer.
Next, I tossed a XP install CD at it and I used the Repair feature and attempted to use the commands CHKDSK, and CHKDSK /F. Next I tried FDSK /mbr but it said the command wasn't found. I then used FIXMBR. Then I restarted the computer, fingers crossed, no XP CD, and it still stopped at the Blue screen and error...
Put the XP CD in again and tried to just reformat and reinstall. It loaded the shit it needs in the beginning, and I pressed ENTER and it told me it could not find any hard drives. Next, I turned it off and switched around the 2 SATA hard drives, restarted the computer and it still could not find the hard drives.
My friend suggested installing Ubuntu and then trying to install XP over that so I started the Ubuntu installation and had to leave where it was writing all the files. He told me the computer boots into Ubuntu fine. So I will try to reinstall XP tomorrow when I go over there again.
Any tips on what I could have done otherwise or different for future reference?
Next..........ugh.
Laptop: Gets to BIOS, which I reset, and then goes all black, forever.
I entered an Ubuntu CD and it loaded up fine. I opened gparted and it searched for the HD... and searched, and searched, never finding one.
I threw in the 1st XP CD, and it went black saying it will collect resources and whatnot. The 2nd CD I gave it brought it to the start of the setup and once I pressed ENTER it gave me the same missing HD bullshit.
I gave up after that. Any ideas on what to try with that one?
PS. STEAM was downloaded normally(from the real site) and multiple games were bought. That's all I can tell you.
EDIT: Also, both the Desktop and Laptop had STEAM installed, and these were the only 2 computers I found not working.
Well first with the desktop:
I turned it off and switched around the 2 SATA hard drives These were set-up in a raid or individually? You'll need to load the sata or raid drivers during set-up (You'll be prompted at the bottom to press f6 to install a 3rd party driver). Depending on what disk version you have (especially OEM) XP does not provide drivers for all the sata controllers.
Also make sure the bios is configured correctly, To boot from one drive or raid set-up etc, etc.
As far as the laptop goes, Same thing would be to check the bios for proper boot order, do a hard reset (Just unplug and pull the main battery) If not give some spec on the lappy.
That is very odd i've never heard of STEAM causing any issue's aside from lacking hardware specs. Good to hear you could at least use the LiveCD to get the important/sentimental files off. As for the MS Disc not working sounds kind of odd, is the disc simply damaged? I would assume something like that because the Ubuntu disc booted from same bay, but the MS Disc didn't as you said. If its a new disc you need you can usually get a OEM version for free from the Models company and if not your probably stuck buying it, or hell, move them to linux :P(THough i doubt that will fly with obviously 2 hardcore games(just what i gathered from STEAM & a few games loaded))
fashizzlepop wrote: Desktop: When I arrived I turned it on, reset the BIOS, and it soared until it hit me with the Black screen With the options for which mode to boot XP into(safe mode, normal, with cmd prompt, etc.). Every choice from their leads you to a rocky cliff and a Blue screen(not quite the normal BSOD looking blue screen) displaying something along the lines of "Windows stopped booting to save itself because it thinks something went horribly wrong… yadda dadda… If this is the first time you've seen this, restart the computer. If you have seen this message before, get technical ASSistance…." It also gave me this error:
**STOP: 0x00000024 (0x00190203, 0x8678268, 0xc0000102, 0x00000000)```
This **might** be similar to the screens i was getting a few days ago (except with Windows 7, and i cant remember the stop errors). My computer would freeze, and after a reboot the HDD would disappear from the BIOS.
My fix:
I couldn't be bothered doing anything too technical so first i checked that the sata cable was plugged in corrrectly to both HDD and mobo, then check power cable was correctly fitted (it did happen to feel like it was coming out the tiniest bit.) I then ran a startup repair which fixed it. I quickly finished with an fdisk.
So try the above, assuming XP discs have the startup repair or similar?
>
Next, I tossed a XP install CD at it and I used the Repair feature and attempted to use the commands CHKDSK, and CHKDSK /F. Next I tried FDSK /mbr but it said the command wasn't found. I then used FIXMBR. Then I restarted the computer, fingers crossed, no XP CD, and it still stopped at the Blue screen and error...
First, its most likely not the MBR. So FDISK /MBR probably wont do anything. The command wasn't found because you typed it wrong? or it isn't a part of XP anymore?
>
Put the XP CD in again and tried to just reformat and reinstall. It loaded the shit it needs in the beginning, and I pressed ENTER and it told me it could not find any hard drives. Next, I turned it off and switched around the 2 SATA hard drives, restarted the computer and it still could not find the hard drives.
Check cables...
>
Laptop: Gets to BIOS, which I reset, and then goes all black, forever.
I entered an Ubuntu CD and it loaded up fine. I opened gparted and it searched for the HD... and searched, and searched, never finding one.
I threw in the 1st XP CD, and it went black saying it will collect resources and whatnot. The 2nd CD I gave it brought it to the start of the setup and once I pressed ENTER it gave me the same missing HD bullshit.
I gave up after that. Any ideas on what to try with that one?
Check the hard drive is properly connected, no pins are broken etc.
>
PS. STEAM was downloaded normally(from the real site) and multiple games were bought. That's all I can tell you.
EDIT: Also, both the Desktop and Laptop had STEAM installed, and these were the only 2 computers I found not working.
Their games will be fine... once bought they can be redownloaded again from the steam servers.
Goodluck
@WightBoy, fdisk and fdisk/MBR haven't been used since win98 and ME. Fixmbr and fixboot or format are some of XP's commands. Read: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058 Again ubuntu has a better support for installing sata, scsi and raid set-ups, In xp those drivers need to be loaded during the set-up using F6.Read more: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314859
Easy enough.
korg wrote: @WightBoy, fdisk and fdisk/MBR haven't been used since win98 and ME. Fixmbr and fixboot or format are some of XP's commands. Read: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058 Again ubuntu has a better support for installing sata, scsi and raid set-ups, In xp those drivers need to be loaded during the set-up using F6.Read more: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314859
Easy enough.
Fair enough got a few older machines i like to muck around with.