#Im in big Trouble!!

56 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

mellow notch
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Good Morning Guys,

I've been having a problem for the past two days, starting on Friday evening. I connected my PC, which hadn't been used for five months, to the power supply and booted it up. As usual, I encountered issues with the RAM sticks, indicated by the memory light. After some attempts, I managed to resolve this.

I updated everything necessary to the latest version and even removed unnecessary files and apps, including a folder named "WCH.CN," which Google shows is known as WCH Ransomware. I simply deleted it after scanning with Microsoft Defender, which found no issues. However, I wanted to be extra cautious and tried to open Malwarebytes, but it wouldn't start due to an unknown error. I then attempted to reinstall Malwarebytes. When I proceeded with the setup, a blue popup appeared, which shouldn't have happened (see attached screenshot).

I wanted to get to the bottom of this issue and fix it. Meanwhile, a cumulative update was downloading, so I decided to restart my PC after successfully installing the update. During the restart, while the update was being applied on the blue screen, my PC suddenly stopped booting and got stuck at the motherboard logo. It then attempted automatic repair, which, of course, didn't work.

I reset the BIOS to default settings, but that didn't help either. I also tried to enter Safe Mode, but that didn't work and always led me to the blue recovery screen. I searched online for solutions and tried to uninstall the last update. However, I needed to enter my password, not the Hello PIN, to proceed, which I unfortunately couldn't remember. I reset the password through my Microsoft account and tried entering it on my PC, but it didn't work, likely because the PC didn't have internet access to update it.

Now, I'm stuck without knowing what to try next, short of resetting the entire PC, which wouldn't work either because I need to enter my password. I'm writing this in hopes that someone might be able to help me. Thank u

Screenshot_20240929_092330_Google.jpg
shut nacelle
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Well, a reinstall would just require your MS account to login.

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The more important question is, have you backed up important files that the ransomware didn't get?

mellow notch
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i guess i dont have very important files other than projects in blender and CAD

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and i have access to my MS account from another device but not from this pc, idont know why. i guess because i updated my password while my pc was stuck in the recovery mode screen

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But I mean I don't think this is ransomware because, like I said, how is it possible for this to be on my PC, even though I haven't started it in five months?

shut nacelle
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SHRUG I wouldn't keep it connected to the internet at least

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I'd try to extract your files in safe mode

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If you Shift click the Restart button in the login screen, you should get brought to WinRE where you can access command prompt

mellow notch
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yeah thats what i tried to do but i even cant get to safe mode. I´ll do a pic wait

shut nacelle
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From there I want you to type in notepad.exe and use that open dialogue as a mini explorer

mellow notch
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I can only go to this screen and to my bio settings. Other than that, it's not possible. But if I want to get into the command brand, I have to put in my password, which I don't have.

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shut nacelle
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If it doesn't work with a blank password or old pw, you'll have to create a bootable Windows USB on another working PC and boot your PC from that, then rather than installing Windows, select ‘Repair this Computer’ that will give you access to the Recovery Environment from there.

mellow notch
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So you mean if I select "Repair this PC" I can save my files or restore a saved restore point?

shut nacelle
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Both may be possible, yeah

mellow notch
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or do you Know maybe if i can contact the MS Support for helping me to see my old PAssword? or no

shut nacelle
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They won't help you with that

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if you can even reach them, they'll just reset the pw

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but not on a machine that wants old info

mellow notch
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to not lose my Data

shut nacelle
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No? Unless you have an extra disk you want to install Windows to

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Installing Windows is destructive mind you, the entire disks content gets deleted

mellow notch
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but where i can get the files than? or are they gone

shut nacelle
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Let's take a step back, try to create the USB first then we can take things from there

mellow notch
shut nacelle
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Np

mellow notch
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Hello again and good evening @shut nacelle, I'm back with very good news, I guess😃! I booted my PC with my brother's Windows system (with another NVMe SSD) and my old SSD together. I scanned the whole 500GB disk for any malware or viruses, but luckily, it didn't have any. So my question now is, "Why didn't my PC boot up with my SSD?"

shut nacelle
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o/

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Glad it was solved.

I just guess the install was broken

mellow notch
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but how. could it be from a new update?

shut nacelle
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Doubtful, but looking at the screenshots... I can just guess bitrot

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Or a degrading disk

mellow notch
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Another question: should I back up my files on my new SSD (not including Windows, of course) so that I can more quickly install my previous settings, apps, etc.? Or is that a bad idea for some reason?

shut nacelle
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Ye, backups are always good. More so if it's transferred to an external disk or the cloud.

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(Try not backup apps, they're disposable as they need to be reinstalled)

mellow notch
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Okay, I will first install Windows on a brand-new SSD and then import the backup. By the way, I need your opinion and experience. Which is better: Windows 11 or Windows 10 from a performance perspective or just overall?

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And I guess if I want to upgrade to Windows 11 from Windows 10, I need to buy an activation code later, am I right?

shut nacelle
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W11 is the future

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the key is valid for W11

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so thats never an issue

mellow notch
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Okay, then I'll go for it! But I still need to install Windows 10 first, then Windows 11, right? And how was I supposed to find out the activation key without getting access to my previous Windows?

shut nacelle
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Not exactly, it should be upgraded right away jim

mellow notch
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how

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should i do i mean

shut nacelle
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the key will still be valid

mellow notch
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okey, but thats only if i install it to my old ssd not to a brand new one?

shut nacelle
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you can choose ofc!

mellow notch
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but how then the system will now that i already have the key??

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sorry for those questions but i dont understand therefore😃

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is this saved on the motherboard? (Product Key)

shut nacelle
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The key is linked to your MS account and if its a prebuilt, embedded in your BIOS so itll automatically reactivate

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So I'm sure the process will be flawless

mellow notch
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So now, one last question, I hope at least: how should I format the old SSD? Should I just format it using the default settings, or are there any better suggestions? (Of course, I'll do a backup first.)