Computer virus

[tkegal]

A while back, I was surfing some sites, when I came upon one with a virus.
It somehow got downloaded and now I have non stop pop up ads at a very fast
speed. I can't get rid of it and there is some sort of protection program
that I didn't download and I can't get rid of it.
I decided to just gut my computer and start from scratch. I have Windows
XP. But when I put the reinstallation disk in, it said it couldn't install it
because I have a newer version of XP.
Now I don't know what to do next. I can't get on the internet because when
i connect it to the internet I get all of those pop up ads, so I can't go to
Microsoft.
Does anyone know what I can do? It's still a great computer, and I need it.
Help!

 

[nass]

A while back, I was surfing some sites, when I came upon one with a virus.
It somehow got downloaded and now I have non stop pop up ads at a very fast
speed. I can't get rid of it and there is some sort of protection program
that I didn't download and I can't get rid of it.
I decided to just gut my computer and start from scratch. I have Windows
XP. But when I put the reinstallation disk in, it said it couldn't install it
because I have a newer version of XP.
Now I don't know what to do next. I can't get on the internet because when
i connect it to the internet I get all of those pop up ads, so I can't go to
Microsoft.
Does anyone know what I can do? It's still a great computer, and I need it.
Help!

So, are you performing a Clean install or Repair/install?.
If you intend to wipe out the HDD, then you will need to perform a clean
install of the Operating system, bear in mind that all Data (unsaved ones on
removable media will be lost for Good!).

If you are trying to Repair/install very bad idea, the Virus will generate
and infect the Boot sector (it depends on how smart arse it is?).
My advice to take the machine to your Local Repair shop for repair and
Backing/rescue your data if any.

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
HTH.
nass

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I decided to just gut my computer and start from scratch. I have Windows
XP. But when I put the reinstallation disk in, it said it couldn't install it
because I have a newer version of XP.

Two points:

1. If you have SP2 installed, and your XP CD is without it, it is an
older version than what's installed. That's why you get the message

2. There are ways around the above, but they are irrelevant. You are
doing the reinstallation incorrectly, and that's why you are getting
the message. A proper reinstallation begins by formatting the drive;
once the drive is formatted, what version you *had* on it doesn't
matter. 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