Computer Crash

[mike]

I have been using computers for years and this is really unusual. I received a microsoft windows update this morning and started the installation process. When it rebooted. instead of going back to windows, it requested that I insert my Windows CD and it proceeded to resinstall windows and it the process deleted many of my applications files and other settings. Has this happened to anyone else?

[shahgols]

No, never even heard of this happening before. What was the message(s) when it asked for the CD?

[HeathQuad]

It did not go that far this morning but after an update it did disable my voice recognition and that had to be repaired before I could use it. That happens every so often with the updates but I am no help as to what causes it.

[mike]

The message I received was a standard Windows message you get when Windows cannot access the software. Basically the message states, "please insert your Windows CD to finish the installation". I doubt that the message was the problem. I think the announcement of the Windows Update might have been the problem. It would not surprise me if the icon for the security update might be sent by a hacker and that releases a virus that destroys the operating system. Fortunately I backed up the entire drive and I was able to reinstall my data. In any case it is something to be wary of.

[shahgols]

This sounds so much like a hacker virus attack, and it would be almost easy to jump to that conclusion, but it's entirely impossible to say what it is with 100% certainty. Anyways, good that you have a backup!

[PN]

It would not surprise me if the icon for the security update might be sent by a hacker and that releases a virus that destroys the operating system.

The virus authors today are not really out to destroy your operating system. They want to turn your computer into a zombie machine (without you knowing) to become part of their botnet. I'm not really sure what happened with your Windows machine and this Microsoft update. I have heard of some problems when updating to Windows XP SP3.

[mike]

After restoring my C drive, I reinstalled the Microsoft update and it went well.

[knowthill]

What version of Windows do you have?

[mike]

I have windows xp professional.

[cypresss]

I think you still have the previous application on your hdd...see in Program Files....

Tell us if you have them there, and maybe a good option is to try a system restore.