long story short; Daughter AA1 with XP was infected with a virus and a rogue malware called security tools. could even boot to safe mode. so i got a external optical device and repartition c;\ then i read about the alt plus f10 during POST. TO LATE ONCE I REFORMATTED C eRECOVERY WAS NOT AN OPTION well i went to get ubuntu netboot remix. google it started a live session [ which means once you burn the ISO to a dvd , you insert it making sure in the BIOS to make the arrangements to boot from cd or usb device, at boot a menu will ask your choice, you pick- run from cd, not installation or demo.] this way I was able to look the contents of the hidden partition, copy it , to another mass storage device to then burn it to another dvd... while in the ubuntu environment no infection is possible, and since is unlikely the hidden partition is infected i have no worries, ubuntu is a unix OS derivative, SO IS ALMOST NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO BE INFECTED WITH VIRII. well that what many experts say any ways... all this work is for 1. preserving the hidden partition 2. create a recovery disk and perhaps then get rid of the hidden part not really sure 3. i can install ubuntu and have 2 OS. SO WHAT DO YOU THINK PEOPLE?
