Vista - Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista

**dinesh** · **STEP ONE:**

Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista

Information

This will show you how to scan the system for viruses when Windows Vista fails to boot, or the system keeps restarting and not allowing you to do anything.

STEP ONE:
Reboot to the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Recovery Environment (WinRE)

1. Restart the computer.

2. Tap the <F8> key during startup until the Windows Advanced Options menu appears.
NOTE: If the Windows Advanced Options menu does not appear, restart the computer, and try again.

3. Press the <Down Arrow> until Repair Your Computer is highlighted, and press <Enter>.
A) The System Recovery Options window appears.

4. Click to select your language, and click Next.

5. Log in as a user with administrative rights, and click OK.
The Windows Vista Recovery Environment appears.

STEP TWO:
Enable Networking and Download Mozilla Firefox® in Windows Recovery

NOTE: To start the system in the Windows Recovery Environment, perform the following steps:

1. Press the <Windows> key (the key between the <Ctrl> and <Alt> keys) and press the <R> key.
A) The Run window appears.

2. Type cmd and press the <Enter> key.
A) The System Recovery window appears.

3. In the System Recovery Options window, click the Command Prompt option.
A) The Command Prompt window appears.

4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press the <Enter> key after each command.
C:\
cd windows\system32
wpeutil initializenetwork

5. Download Firefox by typing the following commands at the C\Windows\System32> prompt and press the <Enter> key after each command :
NOTE: The download process may take several minutes.
ftp ftp.mozilla.org
anonymous
lcd c:\
cd pub
cd mozilla.org
cd firefox
cd releases
cd 2.0
cd win32
cd en-US
get "Firefox Setup3.0 exe"

6. When Firefox finishes downloading, continue to type the following commands in the command prompt and press <Enter> key after each commanf.
quit
cd\

7. Execute the Firefox installer by typing: Firefox Setup 3.0.exe
The Firefox Setup Wizard appears.
Install mozilla firefox.

STEP THREE:
Set Up Mozilla Firefox in the Command Prompt Window

1. In the Command Prompt window, type c:\program files\mozilla firefox\firefox.exe and press the <Enter> key.
A) The Mozilla Firefox window appears.

2. Click Tools and click OptionsThe Options menu appears.

3. Choose Always ask me where to save files and click OK.

STEP FOUR:
Download and install Avast AntiVirus with Mozilla Firefox

1. In the Command Prompt window, type c:\program files\mozilla firefox\firefox.exe and press the <Enter> key.
A) The Mozilla Firefox browser appears.

2. Type in the following URL in the address bar: http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/setupeng.exe and press the <Enter> key.
A) The Opening Setupeng.exe window appears.

3. Click Save File.
A) The Downloads window appears.

4. Click Open to launch the installer.
A) The Open Executable File window appears.

5. Click OK to launch the setupeng.exe file.
A) The Avast Setup window appears.

6. Leave the destination as C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4 and install Avast.

7. When the progress bar stops on the Installation Progress window, the installation is complete.
A) A new window appears to ask if you want to schedule an antivirus scan of your hard drive.

8. Click Yes to restart your computer.
A) The Seup Finished window appears.

9. Click Restart and click Finish.
A) Your computer restarts and completes the installation process.

NOTE: If any issues arise after launching Avast after it has been installed, navigate and load the following application from the Command Prompt window: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashSimp2.exe.

The computer will restart and will perform a boot scan.
Thats it,
Dinesh.

**Kernel** · 03-03-2009

Hi Denesh,

I was able to initialize the network by typing the following command "wpeutil initializenetwork" it says "the command completed successfully" but it could not connect to the ftp server. Do you have any idea why i am not able to connect?

Tried following things....
Tried to load static IP
Installed firefox...still not able to use
Tried in virtual pc too
loaded driver using drvload.exe command

it was wonderful tutorial but i am not able to try different things here as i stuck.

Thanks in advance.

**dinesh** · 03-04-2009

Hi kernel, in my case, i have an auto generated IP address which is differnet everytime i restart my modem.
If you have only one ip address assigned to this computer then i doubt it will work.
try resetting your modem while you are in WIN RE.
let me know if it works for you.
Note: I have also tried this above tutorial on 3-5 different computers and ISP and it works just fine. But they all had dynamic ip address.

**tanuj_chadha** · 03-05-2009

Hi Dinesh,
get "Firefox Setup2.0 exe". This command is not working states as access denied.

I have tried without quotes, with quotes. Tried .exe extn as well. But still the same thing.

**Kernel** · 03-09-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by tanuj_chadha

Hi Dinesh,
get "Firefox Setup2.0 exe". This command is not working states as access denied.

I have tried without quotes, with quotes. Tried .exe extn as well. But still the same thing.

I got the same error

. I tried with 3.0 and that worked

.

**Kernel** · 03-09-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by dinesh

Hi kernel, in my case, i have an auto generated IP address which is differnet everytime i restart my modem.
If you have only one ip address assigned to this computer then i doubt it will work.
try resetting your modem while you are in WIN RE.
let me know if it works for you.
Note: I have also tried this above tutorial on 3-5 different computers and ISP and it works just fine. But they all had dynamic ip address.

Sorry buddy, it was my mistake.
I get different IP Address everytime i restart my modem (Dynamic

)..but DHCP server was turned of in modem modem setting.

I turned on DHCP server and everything just worked fine

.

Thanks for your reply.

**dinesh** · 03-09-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Kernel

Quote: Originally Posted by dinesh

Hi kernel, in my case, i have an auto generated IP address which is differnet everytime i restart my modem.
If you have only one ip address assigned to this computer then i doubt it will work.
try resetting your modem while you are in WIN RE.
let me know if it works for you.
Note: I have also tried this above tutorial on 3-5 different computers and ISP and it works just fine. But they all had dynamic ip address.

Sorry buddy, it was my mistake.
I get different IP Address everytime i restart my modem (Dynamic

)..but DHCP server was turned of in modem modem setting.

I turned on DHCP server and everything just worked fine

.

Thanks for your reply.

hi kernel, i m glad that its working for you now...
and thanks for the firefox correction.
the tutorial has been updated for the same.

russellpepper · 03-11-2009

4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press the <Enter> key after each command.

C:\
cd windows\system32
wpeutil initializenetwork
I am this far along now what's next?

**Brink** · 03-11-2009

Hello Russell, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If this is what you meant, then here you go.

5. Download Firefox by typing the following commands at the C\Windows\System32> prompt (Figure 3) and press the <Enter> key after each command :
NOTE: The download process may take several minutes.

ftp ftp.mozilla.org
anonymous
lcd c:\
cd pub
cd mozilla.org
cd firefox
cd releases
cd 2.0
cd win32
cd en-US
get "Firefox Setup3.0 exe"

**nadopine** · 05-22-2009

I'm MS Dos retarted and I can only get X:\windows\system32 command prompt in cmd for my laptops WinRE. Is this okay? It seems to be working as I can get to the end of Step 2 Section 5.

Here's where my problem starts. This is my last 3 lines in command prompt:

ftp> get "Firefox Setup3.0 exe"
200 PORT command successful. Consider using PASV
550 Failed to open file.

Any suggestions on how to get the file to download?

David

03-03-2009
Kernel Vista Ultimate 32bit, Windows 7 32bit. 130 posts	Re: Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista Hi Denesh, I was able to initialize the network by typing the following command "wpeutil initializenetwork" it says "the command completed successfully" but it could not connect to the ftp server. Do you have any idea why i am not able to connect? Tried following things.... Tried to load static IP Installed firefox...still not able to use Tried in virtual pc too loaded driver using drvload.exe command it was wonderful tutorial but i am not able to try different things here as i stuck. Thanks in advance.
My System Specs

03-04-2009
dinesh Windows 7 RTM 64-bit 1,262 posts	Re: Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista Hi kernel, in my case, i have an auto generated IP address which is differnet everytime i restart my modem. If you have only one ip address assigned to this computer then i doubt it will work. try resetting your modem while you are in WIN RE. let me know if it works for you. Note: I have also tried this above tutorial on 3-5 different computers and ISP and it works just fine. But they all had dynamic ip address.
My System Specs

03-05-2009
tanuj_chadha Vista 32bit SP1 274 posts	Re: Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista Hi Dinesh, get "Firefox Setup2.0 exe". This command is not working states as access denied. I have tried without quotes, with quotes. Tried .exe extn as well. But still the same thing.
My System Specs

03-09-2009
Kernel Vista Ultimate 32bit, Windows 7 32bit. 130 posts	Re: Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista Quote: Originally Posted by tanuj_chadha Hi Dinesh, get "Firefox Setup2.0 exe". This command is not working states as access denied. I have tried without quotes, with quotes. Tried .exe extn as well. But still the same thing. I got the same error . I tried with 3.0 and that worked .
My System Specs

03-09-2009
Kernel Vista Ultimate 32bit, Windows 7 32bit. 130 posts	Re: Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista Quote: Originally Posted by dinesh Hi kernel, in my case, i have an auto generated IP address which is differnet everytime i restart my modem. If you have only one ip address assigned to this computer then i doubt it will work. try resetting your modem while you are in WIN RE. let me know if it works for you. Note: I have also tried this above tutorial on 3-5 different computers and ISP and it works just fine. But they all had dynamic ip address. Sorry buddy, it was my mistake. I get different IP Address everytime i restart my modem (Dynamic )..but DHCP server was turned of in modem modem setting. I turned on DHCP server and everything just worked fine . Thanks for your reply.
My System Specs

03-11-2009
russellpepper vista x32 basic 2 posts	Re: Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista 4. In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press the <Enter> key after each command. C:\ cd windows\system32 wpeutil initializenetwork I am this far along now what's next?
My System Specs

03-11-2009
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,929 posts	Re: Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista Hello Russell, and welcome to Vista Forums. If this is what you meant, then here you go. 5. Download Firefox by typing the following commands at the C\Windows\System32> prompt (Figure 3) and press the <Enter> key after each command : NOTE: The download process may take several minutes. ftp ftp.mozilla.org anonymous lcd c:\ cd pub cd mozilla.org cd firefox cd releases cd 2.0 cd win32 cd en-US get "Firefox Setup3.0 exe"
My System Specs

05-22-2009
nadopine Vista Home Premium 32bit 14 posts	Re: Remove Virus without Booting into Windows Vista I'm MS Dos retarted and I can only get X:\windows\system32 command prompt in cmd for my laptops WinRE. Is this okay? It seems to be working as I can get to the end of Step 2 Section 5. Here's where my problem starts. This is my last 3 lines in command prompt: ftp> get "Firefox Setup3.0 exe" 200 PORT command successful. Consider using PASV 550 Failed to open file. Any suggestions on how to get the file to download? David Last edited by nadopine; 05-22-2009 at 08:36 AM.. Reason: corrected the actual step no.
My System Specs

Similar Threads
Tutorial	Category
how to remove sidebyside virus?	System Security
how to remove the virus from my pc	System Security
How to remove virus from the computer?	Vista General
Vista stopped booting after update...or virus?	General Discussion
How to remove multi-booting	Vista installation & setup