Cant Boot Into Safe Mode - Virus Removal Guide

7/28/2019 Cant Boot Into Safe Mode - Virus Removal Guide

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Cant Boot Into Safe Mode! - Virus Removal GuideIf you are pressing the F8key while Windows is loading & nothing happens or even worse, you get a Blue Screen ofDeath (BSOD), then your computer is most likely infected with malware which have infected your Master Boot Record(MBR) - which is stored on your hard drive but kept outside of Windows partitions/volumes. The code in MDR is run atstart up. . There are a few legitimate reasons why you wouldnt be able to load your computer in Safe Mode, however themost likely reason that a bootkit has infected your Master Boot Record.The Master Boot Record (MBR) - it is stored on your hard drive but kept outside of Windows partitions & volumes.Crucially, the code in the MBR is run as your computer starts up (before Windows) which makes it a great place for a virusor rootkit to hide.This infection method allows the malicious program to be executed before the operating system boots. As soon as BIOS(Basic Input Output System) selects the appropriate boot device (it can be a hard disk or a flash drive), the bootkit thatresides in the MBR starts executing its code. Once the bootkit receives the control, it usually starts preparing itself (reads& decrypts its auxiliary files in its own file system that it has created somewhere in the unallocated disk space) & returnsthe control to the legitimate boot loader overseeing all stages of the boot process.The main feature of a bootkit is that it cannot be detected by standard means of an operating system because all itscomponents reside outside of the standard file systems.As part of their self defense mechanism, some forms of malware will setup this bootkit to prevent you from loading SafeMode with Networking.If you suspect your computer might be infected, then we suggest that you backup all your personal files & folders &remove those infections as soon as possible.

Cant boot into Safe Mode! - Virus Removal Guide

This page is a comprehensive guide, which will remove the Safe Mode infection from your computer.Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point STOP & ask for ourassistance.To remove this infection, we can use any of the below methods:

OPTION 1: Remove Safe Mode virus in Windows regular modeOPTION 2: Remove Safe Mode virus with HitmanPRO KickstartOPTION 3: Remove Safe Mode virus with Kaspersky Rescue Disk

OPTION 1: Remove Safe Mode virus in Windows regular modeIf you are having problems while trying to download the below utilities, you can use a USB flash drive to transfer thesetools on the infected computer.

STEP 1: Remove the ZeroAccess rootkit with ComboFixTrojans may infect your Windows services, so we will need to run ComboFix to replace these files.

1. Download ComboFix from any of the below links.

COMBOFIX DOWNLOAD LINK #1(This link will automatically download ComboFix on your computer)COMBOFIX DOWNLOAD LINK #2(This link will automatically download ComboFix on your computer)

2. Before running this utility, please follow the below instructions:o Close any open browsers.o Close/disable all anti-virus & anti-malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of

ComboFix.Temporarily disable your anti-virus, script-blocking & any anti-malware real-time protectionbeforeperforming a scan. They can interfere with ComboFix or remove some of its embedded files whichmay cause unpredictable results.

o WARNING: ComboFix will disconnect your machine from the Internet as soon as it startsPlease do not attempt to re-connect your machine back to the Internet until ComboFix has completelyfinished.If there is no internet connection after running ComboFix, then restart your computer to restore back your

connection.3. Start the ComboFix scan:1. Double click on ComboFix.exe & then follow the prompts.2. Accept the disclaimer & allow it to update if it asks.3. When finished, it shall produce a log for you.4. Restart your computer

Additional Notes:o DO NOT mouse-click ComboFixs window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.o DO NOT re-run ComboFix. If you have a problem, reply back for further instructions.o IF after the reboot you get errors about programs being marked for deletion then reboot, that will cure it.

STEP 2: Remove any malicious registry keys with RogueKiller1. You can download the latest official version of RogueKiller from the below link.

ROGUEKILLER DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will automatically download RogueKiller on your computer)
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#safemodehttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#safemodehttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#hitmanprohttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#hitmanprohttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#kasperskyhttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#kasperskyhttp://download.bleepingcomputer.com/sUBs/ComboFix.exehttp://www.forospyware.com/sUBs/ComboFix.exehttp://www.sur-la-toile.com/RogueKiller/RogueKiller.exehttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#safemodehttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#hitmanprohttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#kasperskyhttp://download.bleepingcomputer.com/sUBs/ComboFix.exehttp://www.forospyware.com/sUBs/ComboFix.exehttp://www.sur-la-toile.com/RogueKiller/RogueKiller.exe


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Double click on RogueKiller.exe to start this utility & then wait for the Prescan to complete. This should take onlya few seconds, then click on the Scan button to perform a system scan.

2. After the scan has completed, press the Delete button to remove the malicious registry keys or files.

STEP 3: Remove the Safe Mode virus with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREEMalwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is a powerful on-demand scanner which will remove Safe Mode malicious files from yourcomputer.

1. You can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free from the below link, then double-click on the icon namedmbam-setup.exe to install this program.

MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will open a download page in a new windowfrom where you can download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free)

When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the setup process, then at the

last screen click on the Finish button.
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2. On the Scanner tab, select Perform quick scan, & then click on the Scan button to start searching for the SafeMode malicious files.

3. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for Safe Mode virus as shown below.

4. When the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scan has finished, click on the Show Results button.


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5. You will now be presented with a screen showing you the computer infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malwarehas detected. Make sure that everything is Checked (ticked), then click on the Remove Selected button.

6. Once your computer will restart, open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware & perform a Full System scan to verify thatthere are no remaining threats.

STEP 4: Remove Safe Mode infection with HitmanPROHitmanPRO is a cloud on-demand scanner, which will scan your computer with 5 anti-virus engines for any possibleinfection.

1. Download HitmanPRO from the below link, then double-click on it to start this program.HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK(This link opens a new webpage from where you can download HitmanPRO)

IF you are experiencing problems while trying to start HitmanPRO, you can use the Force Breachmode. To startHitmanPRO in Force Breach mode, hold down the left CTRL-key when you start HitmanPRO & all non-essential processes are terminated, including the malware process. (How to start HitmanPRO in Force Breachmode - Video)

HitmanPRO will start & youll need to follow the prompts (by clicking on the Next button) to start a system scan withthis program.
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2. HitmanPRO will start scanning your computer for malicious files as seen in the image below.


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3. Once the scan is complete, youll see a screen which will display all the infected files that this utility has detected,

& youll need to click on Next to remove this malicious files.

4. Click Activate free license to start the free 30 days trial & remove all the malicious files from your computer.


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STEP 5: Fix the Windows Defender with Service Repair by ESET

The ZeroAccess rootkit will corrupt the Windows Defender, Windows Update & Windows Firewall services. To restorethese services to their initial configuration, we will run the Service Repair utility by ESET

1. You can download Service Repair utility (from ESET) from the below link.ESET SERVICES REPAIR DOWNLOAD LINK(This page will automatically download on your computer

ServicesRepair.exe utility from ESET)2. Double click on ServicesRepair.exeto start this utility, then click on Yes button & allow for your computer to be

restarted.

STEP 6: Remove Safe Mode adware from your computer with AdwCleaner.The AdwCleaner utility will scan your computer & browsers for Safe Mode adware files & registry keys, that may havebeen installed on your computer without your knowledge.

1. You can download AdwCleaner utility from the below link.ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will automatically download AdwCleaner on your computer)

2. Before starting AdwCleaner, close all open programs & internet browsers, then double-click on theAdwCleaner icon.

If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.

3. When AdwCleaner program will open, click on the Search button as shown below.

The program will now start to search for adware files that may be installed on your computer. When it has finished it willdisplay a notepad screen that contains a log file of all the adware extensions, files, & registry keys that have been
http://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#kasperskyhttp://www.sur-la-toile.com/RogueKiller/RogueKiller.exehttp://malwaretips.com/blogs/cant-boot-into-safe-mode/#kasperskyhttp://www.sur-la-toile.com/RogueKiller/RogueKiller.exe


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detected. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, please close the Notepad window &continue with the next step.

4. To remove the Safe Mode malicious files that were detected in the previous step, please click on the Deletebutton on the AdwCleaner screen.

AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to reboot the computer. Pleasedo so & then click on the OK button.

5. AdwCleaner will now delete all detected adware from your computer. When it is done it will display an alert thatexplains what PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) & Adware are. Please read through this information & thenpress the OK button. You will now be presented with an alert that states AdwCleaner needs to reboot yourcomputer.Please click on the OK button to let AdwCleaner reboot your computer.

OPTION 2: Remove Safe Mode virus with HitmanPRO KickstartIn this step we will need to create a bootable USB drive that contains the HitmanPRO Kickstart program.We will then boot your computer using this bootable USB drive & use it to clean the infection so that you are able toaccess Windows normally again.You will also need a USB drive, which will have all of its data erased & will then be formatted. Therefore, only use aUSB drive that does not contain any important data.

1. Using a clean (non-infected) computer, please download HitmanPRO Kickstart from the below link.

HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will open a download page in a new web page from where you candownload HitmanPRO Kickstart)2. Once HitmanPRO has been downloaded, please insert the USB flash drive that you would like to erase & use

for the installation of HitmanPRO Kickstart. Then double-click on the file named HitmanPRO.exe (for 32-bitversions of Windows) or HitmanPRO_x64.exe (for 64-bit versions of Windows).

3. Now, remove the HitmanPRO Kickstart USB drive & insert it into the Safe Mode infected computer.4. Once you have inserted the HitmanPRO Kickstart USB drive, turn off the infected computer & then turn it on. As

soon as you power it on, look for text on the screen that tells you how to access the boot menu.
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The keys that are commonly associated with enabling the boot menu are F10, F11 or F12.5. Once you determine the proper key (usually the F11 key) that you need to press to access the Boot Menu, restart

your computer again & start immediately tapping that key. Next, please perform a scan with HitmanPRO Kickstartas shown in the video below.

6. HitmanPRO will now reboot your computer & Windows should start normally. Then please Malwarebytes Anti-Malware& HitmanPRO, & scan your computer for any leftover infections.

OPTION 3: Remove Safe Mode virus with Kaspersky Rescue DiskIf any of the above methods did not clean your infected computer, we can use a Kaspersky Rescue Disk Bootable toclean the Windows registry & to perform a system scan to remove the Safe Mode virus.To create a bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk, we will need the following items:

A clean (non-infected) computer with Internet access

A blank DVD or CD A computer with a DVD or CD burner

STEP 1: Download & create a bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk CD1. You can download Kaspersky Rescue Disk utility from link below:

KASPERSKY RESCUE DISK DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will automatically download Kaspersky RescueDisk (kav_rescue_10.iso) on your computer.)

2. To create the bootable rescue disk, we will need to use the ImgBurn program. You can download ImgBurn fromthe below link, then install this program.

IMGBURN DOWNLOAD LINK(This link will open a new page from where you can download the ImgBurnprogram)

3. Insert your blank DVD or CD in your burner, then start ImgBurn & click on the Write image file to disc button.4. Under Source click on the Browse for file button, navigate to the location where you previously saved the

Kaspersky Rescue Disk utility (kav_rescue_10.iso), then click on the Write button.

Thats it; ImgBurn will now begin writing your bootable Kaspersky Rescue Disk.

STEP 2: Start your computer using the Kaspersky Rescue Disk1. Once youve got the Kasperky Rescue Disk in hand, insert it into the infected computer, & turn off & then turn it on

again.2. As soon as you power it on, you will see a screen that tells you to press any key to enter the menu, so please tap

any key to boot your machine from the Kaspersky Rescue Disk.
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3. In the next screen, you will need toMode & press ENTER, to start the

STEP 3: Scan your system with Kaspers1. Within a few short secs you shouldfront & center as shown below.

2. Switch tabs to My Update Center,virus definitions.

choose a language, then you click on Kaspersky Raspersky Rescue Disk.

y Rescue Disksee the full working environment, with the Kaspersk

hen click the Start update button so your program

scue Disk. Graphic

Rescue Disk screen

tarts loading latest anti-


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3. Switch back over to the Objects Scan tab, select the drives you want to scan, & then click the Start ObjectsScan button.

4. Once Kaspersky Anti-virus detects the Safe Mode virus, select Quarantine or Delete to remove this infectionfrom your computer.


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5. Once the anti-virus scan has completed, restart back into Windows regular mode by clicking on the KasperskyStart button (lower left corner), & selecting Restart.Once your computer restarts in Windows regular mode, download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware &HitmanPRO, then once again scan your computer for any leftover infections.

Documents

Cant Boot Into Safe Mode - Virus Removal Guide