I allowed someone who wasn't careful to use my computer.
I allowed someone who wasn't careful to use my computer.
Unfortunately, it didn’t work at first, but finally it functioned in disk management by assigning a new drive letter. I’m not sure if the BIOS settings were reset to defaults or if those five restarts helped. Once it did let me set a new letter, everything changed. But whenever I tried to open the drive or check its status, it kept saying I didn’t have permission or needed to adjust security settings. It was frustrating, especially since I only change drives when absolutely necessary. I spent about three hours researching before work and am planning to make a flash drive this weekend to fix it. Thanks everyone!
normally id disagree, but in this case, most likely. im just glad he didn't do something entirely beyond my knowledge... cuz like im a hobbyist man, there's a lot i don't know. but each time something new happens i try to fix it before resorting to buying new parts, i learn more and im able to help more people. He will get what he deserves : )
I shared a message in DM. For others facing similar issues, here are the key points: If you must extract data from the computer, copy the necessary files to an external storage and run a scan with your antivirus. If available, upload them to VirusTotal for analysis. If you're the only machine connected to the internet, visit the support page for your motherboard model and look for a 'Drivers' or 'Support' section. Download the newest network interface driver and save it to a USB drive or external storage. This ensures internet access during Windows reinstallation. Some network cards may fail initially, so having the driver on a USB or HDD helps install it and restore connectivity. Update or flash your UEFI from the motherboard manufacturer's site (BIOS flash). Even if you're using the same version, updating it can remove malware or rootkits from partition tables. Clear your drives completely using the secure erase function in UEFI to eliminate threats like malware or advanced persistent threats. Restart your system and reinstall the operating system. Visit the motherboard support site, find the 'Drivers' or 'Support' tab, and download the latest chipset drivers. For AMD systems, download the newest chipset driver packages directly from AMD's website.