BleepingComputer.com: httpd.exe & PING.exe problems

Well, when I try to enter the System Recovery Options by pressing F8 during restart, I am having some issues. It brings me to the menu where I can select Repair Computer...but when I select that, it doesn't ask me about keyboard language as it has in the past...it just takes me straight to the normal select user/log-in screen. When I log in, it's brings me to the regular desktop, rather than giving me the options to select Command Prompt. I tried it a couple of times in case I was missing a step but I get the same result each time.

I don't know about you but I'm losing hope...it seems my beloved laptop is refusing to let us fix it. Thanks again for you patience and persistence. I truly appreciate it.

We are thinking alike - I'm happy to keep plugging away here with you, but we are making very little progress. To be completely honest, it this were my computer I'd reformat and reinstall Windows. It is quite badly infected with a particularly nasty rootkit.

If you want to press on though, please do this:

Reboot pressing F10 as the PC powers up, which should bring up an 'Edit Boot Options' screen.
If it shows either of the following, hit backspace to remove them, leaving only the /noexecute=optin, then press Enter to continue.

[ /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN /MININT
[ /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN IN/MINT

Let me know if the /MININT entries were present and if you were able to remove them. Or, if you choose to cut our loses now and reformat, just let me know.

I agree that it's time to cut our losses. I'm not against reformatting as I have most of my data on external hard drives. The only thing I haven't been able to backup is my email files...can you tell me where to find them on my hard drive so I can copy them to my external drive? I use Windows Mail.

Then I should be ready to reformat but I have never done that before so I will need some directions please.

Thanks!

I think that is your best bet. Did your laptop come with a Windows installation disk, or does it have a recovery partition or disks?

Yes, I looked for it this morning and thankfully located it, along with the Owner's manual that tells me how to proceed so I will try that.

FYI-Last night, I tried to find online directions for backing up Windows Mail. So stupid of me, knowing the computer still had issues with google redirects and my anti-virus was uninstalled. Anyway, I ended up reinfecting the machine with an Internet Security virus...not exactly the same one as I started with but pretty similar. So, a complete reformat is definitely called for. Using a different computer I was able to locate a way to backup my email files so hopefully I haven't lost anything and will be able to restore my data.

I just wanted to say again that I truly appreciate all of your work on my issues. You were very patient and kind. I'm sorry to have taken so much of your time...I probably should have just reformated from the start but wanted to give fixing it a try. One positive...this process has been very educational for me. I will definitly be more careful in the future and if the worst happens, at least I have a few ideas of what to do.

Thanks again!

You're very welcome - I'm sorry we didn't have a better result though. Take care.

It appears that this issue is resolved, therefore I am closing the topic. If that is not the case and you need or wish to continue with this topic, please send me or any Moderator a Personal Message (PM) that you would like this topic re-opened.