How Do I Erase The Entire CMOS?

[low1]

Hello,

I am not sure if this post belongs here or in the Virus forum, but here goes. . .

I have 5 computers, none work, due to a Virus. What virus? A virus that must be pretty new because neither the latest versions of Norton nor McAfee can detect it.

What OS are the machines running? Win98 and Win2K.

I need to know how to *TOTALLY* wipe out CMOS as this is where the virus/worm is living.

I have managed to wipe my HDD clean by doing a low-level format.

I have flashed by BIOS, ran DEBUG routines to erase CMOS and the hard drive, removed the battery and moved the jumper to "clear CMOS" settings over night - still it is not wiped. When I go into CMOS after all of this and set a password - either User or Supervisor, it never prompts me for the password. I have noticed that when you flash the BIOS, it does now rewrite over every part of the CMOS - this is why I need to erase.

When I try to install Win98-SE or Win2K, I know the virus is still present. . .I know that Win98 Second Edition OEM does no open up by telling my I should back up my files before I install. . .nor does it have an Autoexec.bat file with routines that I have not heard of. . .etc.

Any help is greatly appreciated. . .

Thanks,
Lo

 

[kevinbrown22]

The virus ic Chinoble or CH* can't remember the last letter.
This cannot be fixed except by replacing the BIOS chip.
Sorry no good news.

 

[kevinbrown22]

Win95.CIH (aka Chernobyl)
This is the most common name for the Virus I posted earlier.

 

[gargouille]

Are you doing a backup of the BIOS? (sounds like you're a pro so probably are)
Sure that we'd all benefit if you'd notify CERT of the contents.

Obviously, too, my skills are not up to yours.

How can you tell the BIOS isn't being totally overwritten?
(maybe from what I just suggested)

If you don't have it handy here's the Cert link:

http://www.datafellows.com/cih/

Let us know how this comes out...there are lots of computers under the care of everyone 'round here.

 

[Kicket]

try this, might work:

download bio to a clean book disk
flash bio
set w/protetion


ff

 

[Bobg1]

Just a format is not enough on the drive. You should start with an fdisk and also fdisk the mbr. A low level format does not clean a drive, just resets bits.

 

[WMH]

Unfortunatly (as you know), you can not just replace a BIOS chip on a motherboard. After clearing the CMOS, remove the memory chips and let set for abit (unplugged). Then flash the BIOS with the latest and greatest. If this is CH, it's probally fudged. This is not a new virus (ie; win95).

Any help in removing this virus can be found on

http://www.antivirus.com

Hope this helps somewhat, WMH
MCP+I, MCSE

 

[Snickle]

You may be able to salvage the computers/motherboards with help from

http://www.unicore.com/

, they can supply new CMOS chips, may even have a sale going on.