Can't re-install XP

[Guest]

To make a really long story short, about a month ago I got infected with
malware and it totally screwed up my computer. Of the many problems I have,
whenever I try to open an application I get a prompt to choose what
application I want to use to open it. For example, if I try to open Word, it
will paradoxically ask me what I want to use to open it. Sometimes choosing
the same application from the list works, sometimes it doesn't. Of the
numerous other problems I have, I can't open many critical files such as
Control Panel.

I've tried fixes such as System Restore but nothing works. I want to do a
clean install of XP, but when I put the CD in my drive, the prompt screen
loads but when I click on "install XP" simply nothing happens. Is there
anything I can do?

Thank you in advance for any help.

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[LVTravel]

Have you tried booting the computer with the XP CD in the drive? If it goes
into XP you need to change the boot order in the bios to boot from the CD
first. After powering up the PC (with the CD in the drive) you will see a
screen for a short time telling you what key or key combination to press to
enter Setup. Press the key. If you aren't fast enough, reboot again and
hit the key as soon as you see the message. Once you change the boot order
save and exit. You should then be able to boot from the XP CD and either
repair XP or delete the partition and reinstall from scratch.

You can't run the install XP from within XP itself.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I want to do a
clean install of XP, but when I put the CD in my drive, the prompt screen
loads but when I click on "install XP" simply nothing happens. Is there
anything I can do?

You can't format the Windows drive from within Windows, since that
would leave Windows without a leg to stand on.

Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if
necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean
installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when
prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

 

[Guest]

I changed the boot order so that my CD Rom drive was first, but then when I
booted up with the XP install disk in my drive, all I got was a flashing
white/grey bar in the top left hand corner of the screen for several seconds,
then the computer proceeded directly to load XP.

Please help.

 

[HeyBub]

I changed the boot order so that my CD Rom drive was first, but then
when I booted up with the XP install disk in my drive, all I got was
a flashing white/grey bar in the top left hand corner of the screen
for several seconds, then the computer proceeded directly to load XP.

So change the boot order to CD - then nothing. If your machine doesn't boot,
then the problem is most likely one of two things:

1. Defective CD
2. Defective drive

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I changed the boot order so that my CD Rom drive was first, but then when I
booted up with the XP install disk in my drive, all I got was a flashing
white/grey bar in the top left hand corner of the screen for several seconds,
then the computer proceeded directly to load XP.

Please help.

Normally, you get a prompt asking you to press any key to confirm
booting from the CD, then if you don't press it it defaults to the
next boot device, usually the hard drive. Are you sure you aren't
missing that prompt, perhaps at the bottom of the screen? Even if you
don't see the prompt, try pressing a key when you see that flashing
bar.

Other than that, I have no suggestions for you. This is not a Windows
issue, but has to with some combination of your hardware--the CD drive
or motherboard/BIOS.