Possible virus in bios
Cannot download or use antivirus from web or from disk. did clean install of win xp service pack 2 and still had problem. wrote zeroes to drive and did fdisk/mbr still have problem. shorted bios jumper, took out battery, reset bios defaults still have problem. Don't see how problem could be on hard drive after doing all that. computer was not connected to internet during install Hangs or gets error message when trying to use web based antivirus.
Computers & Internet - PC Chips - M871G Motherboard
Answers & Comments
AVG free version official site.
Trend Micro has several free online tools.
Avast has a free version.
All are virus free and work as well as any paid anti-virus software.
Microsoft Windows Defender isn't anti-virus software, it is anti-spyware. Since it is from Microsoft you know it is full of bugs and should be avoided. For anti-spyware use Spybot S&D or Malwarebytes.
The best way is to take out your HDD and get thoroughly checked up in another PC which has a genuine Antivirus, including Root Kit and ability to scan bootsector for viruses(QuickHeal has one). After getting it disinfected put it back on your M/c and do a clean Install of the OS.,,,,hope this will help 'cos once you viruses in the bootsector, its damn difficut to get rid of it.......sodeep
Since your OS is genuine microsoft, I would advice you to download the Service Pack 3. Do not attempt to install AVG Antivirus because most of the free versions available on the net are fakes and they themselves are virus Infected. If you are able to format it after having it thoroughly inspected by another PC, do a clean install without AVG, instead Use Microst Window Defender. Its good............sodeep