Member Avatar for manchurianCEO

Virus in linux machine???? Yes! under the following circumstances:

Please, before anyone jumps in with "impossible, there's no viruses for linux, you are stupid" read the post.

I got a friend's computer to fix, Gateway NV53. Fast forward, put a new HDD but it won't accept any windows installation disk. Vista, XP, 7, nothing. It just ignores them everytime and ends telling me no OS was detected.

I then installed Linux Mint 9 on the computer quiet succesfully. It aknowledged the DVD upon boot right away from the first time I put it in. The owner wants windows back in it, but every time I insert a windows disk it completely passes ignored.

I disconnected the CMOS battery for quite a while, twice, and the problem won't go away.

Reading more lead me to believe a virus is logged in the motherboard and it only attacks windows.

What can I do to clean the mobo from linux?

I downloaded the BIOS from gateway but I can't make it run now that the computer runs with linux.

Help and thank you very much!

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by mike_2000_17

Dani AI

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Short summary and recommended order of action (builds on advice from , and ):

Start with the simple, verifiable checks before assuming anything firmware-level. Test the Windows discs on another PC to confirm they boot, confirm the laptop’s BIOS/boot menu actually lists the optical drive (or USB), and try creating a USB installer from the Windows ISO — that will quickly tell you whether the problem is media/boot-mode related or something deeper. If a firmware implant (UEFI/BIOS rootkit) is a real concern, those do exist but are rare; removing them generally requires reflashing the firmware. (eset.com)

Quick practical checklist

  • Try the Windows DVD on a different machine (verify the discs boot).
  • Create a USB installer from Linux with WoeUSB (or from Windows with Rufus) and try booting the laptop from that; WoeUSB supports legacy/UEFI images. Example CLI usage (run on the machine you’ll build the USB on): 
    sudo woeusb --device /path/to/Windows.iso /dev/sdX

    See the WoeUSB project for details and options. (github.com)

BIOS / motherboard steps (if boot/media tests fail)

  • Use the BIOS jumper clear method instead of just removing the battery (it’s more reliable). Follow the motherboard/Battery/Jumper steps in your manual — Intel’s support notes show the standard jumper/battery methods. (intel.com)
  • If that doesn’t restore expected behaviour, pursue a vendor BIOS recovery: contact Gateway to request the correct BIOS file and recovery instructions for your exact serial/model (do not flash an incorrect image). Gateway handles BIOS requests directly. (gatewayusa.zendesk.com)

Advanced / last-resort options and cautions

  • Linux tools like flashrom can read/write SPI flash, but the project explicitly warns against using flashrom on laptops (high risk of bricking an embedded-controller laptop). Only consider in-system flashing if you understand the risks and have a verified image and fallback plan. (flashrom.org)
  • If a confirmed firmware infection exists, reflashing from vendor-provided recovery media or replacing the board is the safe remediation path; avoid random “fixes” found on generic forums.

Key cautions: always back up any working firmware image if possible, ensure stable power during any flash, and confirm exact model/serial before any vendor or third-party BIOS write.

Member Avatar for caperjack

Please, before anyone jumps in with "impossible, there's no viruses for linux, you are stupid" read the post.

isults , no wonder no one posted advice yet .lol

i no you markeed it solved ,but when i read it ,first thing to my mind was to change boot order in the bios .windows dvds are fussier than linux !

care to tell us how you solved it ,thanks ,have a nce day

Member Avatar for mike_2000_17

I disconnected the CMOS battery for quite a while, twice, and the problem won't go away.

You should try resetting the "Clear CMOS" jumper on your motherboard, it should trigger a flashing of the factory-original BIOS. That's usually better than unplugging the battery. And if that doesn't solve your problem, I doubt that flashing in the BIOS you downloaded is going to work any better.

Fast forward, put a new HDD but it won't accept any windows installation disk. Vista, XP, 7, nothing. It just ignores them everytime and ends telling me no OS was detected.
...
I downloaded the BIOS from gateway but I can't make it run now that the computer runs with linux.

A quick google search revealed that the gateway nv53 model has a BIOS flashing procedure that does not require any operating systems to even exist on the failed computer (which is smart!). Just read the manual (see the BIOS recovery section). You need a Windows computer to create the recovery USB device, but the actual BIOS flashing procedure is done from that bootable USB device and does not require that you boot up into Windows. I believe that in what you have downloaded from gateway, you will find a "Crisis Recovery Disk" (or CRISDISK) which is a small bootable environment that will flash your BIOS upon booting from it. Follow the instructions carefully.

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