Laptop attacked by boot sector virus

Hi John. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 year Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator here to help you.

Unplug any other drives so the infection will not spread. I'll help you try to fight it and if it can't be removed, try zeroing out the boot sector to see if it makes the drive able to have Windows reinstalled.

No expert in Forums - where we see the most cases, by the thousands - recommends Avast, AVG. Norton or McAfee, but we have solved many problems over the years by having them uninstalled.

I would uninstall any 3rd party antivirus in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and try running only built-in Defender which gives adequate protection, best Windows performance, least issues, and is from Microsoft who knows how to protect their OS best.

After uninstalling antivirus in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, restart the PC, then type Security in Start Search, open Windows Defender Settings, there and in Windows Defender Security Center fix anything that's flagged.

If you want the best on-demand scanner download and install Malwarebytes from https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/

In it's Settings > Protection > Scan Options enable Scan for Rootkits.

Then on Scan tab choose Threat Scan and Run Scan.

Clean up anything found, restart PC and then run again until it comes up clean.

If you want to keep Malwarebytes as an on-demand scanner then you can disable its Real Time trial version in it's Settings > Accounts tab.

Next check for damaged System Files since the problem anti-viruses can damage WIndows: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow...

If it cannot repair them see Step 10 here to continue: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

If you cannot repair then wipe the drive with Diskpart Clean Command to zero the boot sector, follow the illustrated steps in this link which compile the best possible Clean Install of Windows which will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given, has zero reported problems, and is better than any amount of money could buy: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

You can Test the hard drive or SSD with diagnostics:

https://www.lifewire.com/free-hard-drive-testin...

https://mashtips.com/ssd-health-test-and-perfor...

HP and Dell have hardware diagnostics triggered by tapping the ESC or F12 keys respectively as you power on.

Best is to use the HDD/SSD manufacturer's own if there is one, otherwise use Seatools bootable long test: http://blog.nowherelan.com/2013/04/04/boot-seat...

Follow this up with a full Disk Check from the Command Prompt in Repair Mode or from bootable media: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/check-hard-dri... if necessary from the Command Prompt at boot: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc...

If the drive has failed I'd replace it with an SSD which is the best Upgrade one can have - lightning fast, faster than a new higher-end PC without one, especially if you do the gold standard Clean Install in the link I gave earlier.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you will wait to choose if I solved your problem, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Hi,

Always remember, If you installed a third-party Anti-virus software, Win Defender disabled itself automatically.

Hello, many thanks for your help, the lap=top unfortunately has been shelved not only due to the hard drives being wiped but also was concerned due to the problems it may spread on the internet, so been replaced, it just refused to turn on.

However, my issue is with A.V.G. turning Windows defender off and during the removal of A.V.G. leaving the lap-top unprotected and vulnerable to the boot sector attack during multiple boots, which of course they refuse to accept, was hoping for some help with this before tacking them on, in court.

When you install a third-party AV tool, it will almost always disable Windows Defender, as it should because you want only one active AV program.