Here's one heck of a computer problem

[FamousMoe]

Let's start from the beginning. I let a friend of mine download a whole lot of songs last night from Kazaa, but I dont believe he ran norton antivirus on his downloads after he was done. Anyways I woke up this morning and I noticed my computer was on the windows xp logon screen. Which was weird because I didnt restart it, and I had no recollection of anyone else. Ok so I start messing around a little bit and the screen flickers. Ok thats fine, didnt harm anything. Then My computer restarts. Hmmm...At first I think it was someone messing with the wires and just accidently unplugged it. Well it wasnt, the computer restarted again next time I started it. So I thought it was a virus, I got in there and tried to norton it, but it was just restart. I got a whole lot of files checked with no virus, before the real trouble started.

Ok, it restarts again and I go to try and finish my virus checking. I start up my computer and under temperature and all that good stuff, everything is in red letters. And the numbers are all off. It wouldnt let me go to my bios or anything, so I'm still thinking its a virus. I get back into windows and it restarts as soon as I get there. I start my comp back up AGAIN only this time it doesnt get past the first post screen. The one where it tells you how much memory you have and such. So I turn my computer off and on a few more times to see if it might fix itself.The last time it worked my it said I had less memory than I did, and it told me the overclocking failed.

After that my computer just stopped turning on. I've reset the cmos, I've disconnected everything that isnt needed to start the comp, I've removed/added memory, nothing. Any help would be appreciated.

Comp Specs: epox 8rda mobo, 2/256 corsair 2700 ram, 120 gb hdd, 20 gb hdd, geforce 4 ti4200 4x, amd athlon xp barton 2500

[FamousMoe]

OK i got it started by disconnecting all of my ide cables, and resetting the cmos a couple of times. Now it starts up. BUT! everything is still red and stupid looking. and I got a "CMOS checksum error - defaults loaded" message. (the battery shouldnt be dead. I just got the comp like a month or 2 ago)

Oh yeah, it wont let me get into the BIOS settings. It's like it doesnt care i have a keyboard set up or something. I've tried 2 different keyboards so I dont think thats it. *sigh* any ideas anyone?

[wavefront]

It doesn't sound like a virus to me. It sounds like a problem with the Bios or in the hardware (memory possibly).

[meese]

You may have a BIOS virus. The problem with these is that you need to detect and clean them before you ever reboot the pc. Once you reboot the odds are slim to none that you can recover. It seems if you do have this type of virus you need to replace your ROM on your motherboard. Now if the ROM is hard soldered to the motherboard you will most likely need to replace it.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Appl..._20597956.html

[thekingofpain]

Try system restore and back it up to a point before your fullfingered friend got involved...

[Strawbs]

It sounds more like a hardware issue! something may have overheated (CPU, RAM), and is no good any longer.

[phlatline]

It sounds like a hardware prob 2 me as well. Did u OC the processor a while back. That could b cozing it 2 over heat, which could b ur prob.

[FamousMoe]

I never tried to overclock. I dont even know how to. Thats why it weirded me out when it told me it couldnt overclock. I dont know what could be the problem. It does sound like hardware, but what kind of hardware? And why wont my keyboard work so I can get into the bios settings.

[nurdonsite2]

i think messe is right, it sounds very much like u have a BIOS virus. if u do, ull probebly need to replace ur mobo.

[Strawbs]

Just because the CMOS battery is only a couple month's old doesn't mean it can't be dying! It may have been one of millions of dud ones! Could the CPU thermal paste have dried out?