Clean Re-install Windows XP Prof SP1

[Dij]

Hi,
I think my pc is infected with some virus and it does not fuction properly
any more.
I am going to format both my drives, C & D and reinstall my Windows XP Prof.
SP1
onto drive C.
The questions are: 1. what will happend if I have to activate the software
again? Can I do this?
2. The present Window XP has been updated to
SP2, after installation, do I have
to download the whole SP2 again and
reinstall onto my SP1??

Dij

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I think my pc is infected with some virus and it does not
fuction
properly any more.
I am going to format both my drives, C & D and reinstall my
Windows
XP Prof. SP1
onto drive C.

That's like using an elephant gun to kill a fly. Formatting and
reinstalling should be a last resort, tried only after other much
easier steps have failed.

Your first recourse should be checking for and removing the virus
with anti-virus software.

The questions are: 1. what will happend if I have to activate
the
software again? Can I do this?

Yes.


2. The present Window XP has been
updated
to SP2, after installation, do I have
to download the whole SP2 again
and
reinstall onto my SP1??

Yes. Or else make a slipstreamed SP2 CD and install from that.
See
http://forum.aumha.org/viewtopic.php?t=7262

 

[Rich Barry]

You can reinstall WinXP on the same Computer as many times as you like. I
would disconnect drive D: until you get XP
reinstalled. You will have to download SP2 and install it again. If you
download it from the Windows Catalog you can
save it and use it over and over without having to download again. When
drive D: is reconnected you can format it from
WinXP.

 

[Guest]

Hey dij ,
If you feel the problem is getting worse and no virus check has turned
up anything , then yes reinstall. Rich was right on the money with his info
so no need to repeat it. I waited around for help a couple of times while
my anti virus found nothing or was disabled from hackers. It was not free and
it was updated! That was before I got into computer security. No one knows a
machine like the person who uses it every day all day long. Follow your gut
and protect your equipment a reinstall is nothing comapred to replacing a
machine after the virus has moved into the RAM. True not all viruses destroy
a machine but how will you know untill it may be too late? I lost a great Hp
machine waiting on help that never found anything. The case is here Bare
Boned. Nothing much was worth saving without risk to any new equipment. It is
your system, Your network, your call. Good luck . I mean that. Lets us know
how you are doing.
Ron J

 

[Guest]

Hello, if you format you'll have to reload sp 2 and if you unistall windows
xp from the computer so microsoft knows its off then you can put on again.
(It the software is OEM [Means it came on the computer when you got it] it
will NOT WORK!]

computergeek

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Hello, if you format you'll have to reload sp 2 and if you
unistall
windows xp from the computer so microsoft knows its off

No, uninstalling does not mean Microsoft knows it's off. They
have no way of telling.

then you can
put on again. (It the software is OEM [Means it came on the
computer
when you got it] it will NOT WORK!]

No, OEM does *not* mean that it came on the computer when you got
it. Although many OEM versions come preinstalled on computers,
they can also be bought (withhardware) and installed after the
fact.