Bios Update Failure.

[Abyssal_Kutku]

Long story (kinda) short.

i got a virus, is a really mean virus, encrypts all my files, prevents antivirus programs from opening and redirects downloads.

virus survives 3 factory resets, 3 hard drive formats and a reinstallation of Windows.

This leads me to believe it has gotten itself into the Bios of my computer.

so i downloaded the latest bios for my system, in this case

HP Consumer Desktop PC BIOS Update (ROM Family SSID 2AF3)

through the installer on another computer i installed the bios update to my usb,

inserted it into my main pc, Held down Windows Key and B, while booting my computer.

this resulted in Beeps, and Wrooms from my computer, 10 minutes later, nothing happened.

I decided to boot the installer directly from inside infected computer, but this resulted in a failure too.

saying that the downloaded bios isnt compatible.

What i am asking is how i should go about removing old (maybe) infected bios, and reinstalling this new one.

[TheOldMan]

Upon looking at the support page for that model, there is at least one other BIOS for another ROM family.  Could it be your model has the ROM Family 2B17 instad of the ROM Family 2AF3?

BTW: it is extremely rare for a BIOS virus, but not impossible.  I would suggest replacing the hard drive and do a clean reinstall of Windows.  Not using any software from the old setup.

[Abyssal_Kutku]

Tried all of the bios listed there.

2 started up, but said that they werent compatible with my computer.

2 others crashed with a ERROR: 8743

i will try a total complete reinstall of windows.

something i forgot to mention is that when i start my computer, ever since i got the virus, i get a

Hard Drive 6 Error, (3f&)

used the uefi diagnostics, and no errors were found.

this error even persists when i remove the hard drive.

[TheOldMan]

That is a curious thing.  That would tend to make me believe that some hardware has been damaged, too.  While it is not impossible for a virus to damage hardware, it is rare.  It could just be a coincidence that hardware failed at the same time but you could try booting to a live CD of Linux ( ubuntu is now big enough to use a DVD) just to see if there are other things going on, too.  Leave the hard drive disconnected and try to boot to the live OS before going to the trouble of reinstalling Windows.  If the Linux works OK and you do not find any other troubles, it could be a hard drive controller failure causing those weird things.  It could be what you first suspected, too.  Report back if a determination to these errors is found.

[Abyssal_Kutku]

i will try getting a cd with linux installed,

in the meantime, is there a way to forcibly install a new bios? just want to get that out of the way, incase that is the problem.

[TheOldMan]

If you can get the Live OS to load, then you might be able to load a new BIOS in  DOS.  I will need to check on that once you verify the PC can actually boot to something.

[Abyssal_Kutku]

Managed to get Linux Ubuntu 1.5 Live OS loaded, but there are some errors upon startup,

Invalid Status 0 (expected 1)

Multiple (errno= 16) errors.

ending with a, Giving Up.

To clarify things.

When i boot my computer, The HP logo displays.

Regardless if i press ESC or just let it run, And regardless if i have my Hard drive installed or not.

a Blue screen with the message:

Hard Disk Error

Run Hard Disk Test In Diagnostics.

HardDisk 6 (3f6)

F2 Diagnostics

to repeat, this happens whatever i do, and only after this has happened can i get into another menu.

To continue from this point, i need to go into diagnostics, then i need to exit diagnostics.

after which the system will continue, either with Startup menu (if i pressed ESC before) or just to boot windows (if i did not press anything during HP logo)

[TheOldMan]

If the Ubuntu would not load (assuming the hard drive was disconnected for this test) and you are getting an error about the hard drive, then there is most probably a hardware problem.  The (errno= 16) from Ubuntu indicates a probable hard drive failure, but with no hard drive attached, it points to the controller.  Being that is part of the motherboard, it is beyond a normal user to fix or replace that problem.  The only solution would be to try a PCI-e controller.  I have no idea what that might do if the OS load can still see the bad controller.  I have a SATA III controller added on my system to boot from instead of the normal controller, but the normal controller still works.  You could try a similar device just for testing, if you want.

Other than trying the add-on controller, I think a new motherboard will be needed.

[Abyssal_Kutku]

i messed up, did not try booting ubuntu without a hard drive, i will try that and come back to you.

[Abyssal_Kutku]

Tried Without a harddrive, Same error. still booted up tough.

Before i buy a new motherboard, could you tell me the way to replace my motherboard BIOS through Ubuntu?

i want to exhaust all the options.