[spike]

Viri and malware can hide {size:18px}ANYWHERE[/size] on your computer, {size:18px}EVERY HARD DRIVE , AND MEMORY STORAGE PIECE OF HARDWARE, WITHOUT EXCEPTION[/size].So, you must remove them, ALL, before any repair can be properly initiated.

[rgreen4]

I agree, I guess I was not too direct when I said to remove the two 500's so he's only working initially with the 80 as a system drive. I think he is probably going to have to reformat, reinstall windows, install ani-virus, anti-spyware get the drive stable and functional. Then re-attach the other drives one at a time (unless they are in a raid) and then clean them.

[spike]

Heavy imphasis on RE-FORMATING

[JLeinenveber]

So I'm guessing I cant just get some really great virus and malware and trojan scanners and immuninze the whole computer? I just have soooo much data as I am a music composer. Oh well

[spike]

[quote name='JLeinenveber']So I'm guessing I cant just get some really great virus and malware and trojan scanners and immuninze the whole computer? I just have soooo much data as I am a music composer. Oh well Actually , you can, try Best Buy Geek Squad, just remove the drives and take them in.But you will still have to RE-FORMAT and then re-install the OS on your " C " Drive, to resolve the original problem. And if I were you, after tranfereing all the cleaned files from the " C " drive to one of the other drives, I would have the " C " drive ....degaused ..., by someone, thus totally erraticating any and all data on it, then you know it would be viri and malware free! ! :!:

[rgreen4]

JLeinenveber - I can't speak for spike, but I was under the assumption that the two 320GB drives were used for data storage, and that little if any data was on the 80GB. Based on that assumption I WAS NOT recommending a reforat of the 320GB drives, just the 80GB. If you also have important/critial/irreplacable data on the 80, then I would start with a fresh new drive in the PC and install the OS, Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and all programs from scratch. Then install and clean the old 80 with the anti-malware programs, copy the data off, and then the two 320's. This should preserve the data. While malware can reside anywhere, it is most likely on the current system drive. When all done, you will have a spare 80GB, which if it were me, I would clone from the new system drive, and put on a shelf. This would give you a "master" system disc to clone back on top of the operating if you have any other problems. I always have a spare operating drive, and never store data on the operating or system drive (except for the notebook which has only one drive and that data is temporary until I get back to the network). But then in respose to another thread, I have a total of 17 drives across three machines and the network storage and 4 externals included.

[spike]

[quote name='rgreen4']JLeinenveber - I can't speak for spike, but I was under the assumption that the two 320GB drives were used for data storage, and that little if any data was on the 80GB. Based on that assumption I WAS NOT recommending a reforat of the 320GB drives, just the 80GB. > > > > If you also have important/critial/irreplacable data on the 80, then I would start with a fresh new drive in the PC and install the OS, Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and all programs from scratch. Then install and clean the old 80 with the anti-malware programs, and then the two 320's. > > > > This should preserve the data. While malware can reside anywhere, it is most likely on the current system drive. This is another approach that might work just as well, but the key is still to COMPLETELY REMOVE THE VIRI AND MALWARE, .............{size:18px}FIRST[/size], or you'll be right back in the same condition again.