reformatting and still have spyware and viruses

[Guest]

hello..

I just reformatted my comp with win xp pro becuase I had alot of spyware and
viruses. When I finished reformatting and installing windows, I still had
alot of spyware and viruses. Why is this? Isn't my computer supposed to be
clean once I reformat?

Another thing. When I'm setting up win xp pro, there's a screen that says
"let's take a few minutes to set up your computer." When I click next, the
computer freezes and I have to do a hard shutdown. This happened 4 times when
I tried reformatting 4 times. Why does it freeze?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Download the free thirty day trial version of DriveScrubber,
use it, then perform a "clean install" of Windows XP.

DriveScrubber
http://www.iolo.com/ds/index.cfm

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| hello..
|
| I just reformatted my comp with win xp pro becuase I had alot of spyware and
| viruses. When I finished reformatting and installing windows, I still had
| alot of spyware and viruses. Why is this? Isn't my computer supposed to be
| clean once I reformat?
|
| Another thing. When I'm setting up win xp pro, there's a screen that says
| "let's take a few minutes to set up your computer." When I click next, the
| computer freezes and I have to do a hard shutdown. This happened 4 times when
| I tried reformatting 4 times. Why does it freeze?
|
| Thanks in advance!

 

[JerryMouse]

hello..

I just reformatted my comp with win xp pro becuase I had alot of
spyware and viruses. When I finished reformatting and installing
windows, I still had alot of spyware and viruses. Why is this? Isn't
my computer supposed to be clean once I reformat?

Another thing. When I'm setting up win xp pro, there's a screen that
says "let's take a few minutes to set up your computer." When I click
next, the computer freezes and I have to do a hard shutdown. This
happened 4 times when I tried reformatting 4 times. Why does it
freeze?

Thanks in advance!

When doing a "clean" install, be sure you're not connected directly to the
'net. You will get infected during any period of vulnerability - as short as
five minutes.

 

[Kelly]

Thank you!

--
All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[BBUNNY]

dimples604 wrote:
| hello..
|
| I just reformatted my comp with win xp pro becuase I had alot of
| spyware and viruses. When I finished reformatting and installing
| windows, I still had alot of spyware and viruses. Why is this? Isn't
| my computer supposed to be clean once I reformat?

NO.....A format just rewrites the file system...

| Another thing. When I'm setting up win xp pro, there's a screen that
| says "let's take a few minutes to set up your computer." When I click
| next, the computer freezes and I have to do a hard shutdown. This
| happened 4 times when I tried reformatting 4 times. Why does it
| freeze?
|
| Thanks in advance!

 

[Guest]

Thank you everyone for replying! It was very useful!

 

[Guest]

Thanks!

 

[Guest]

Thank you

When doing a "clean" install, be sure you're not connected directly to the
'net. You will get infected during any period of vulnerability - as short as
five minutes.

 

[Guest]

Thank you so much!

 

[NobodyMan]

dimples604 wrote:
| hello..
|
| I just reformatted my comp with win xp pro becuase I had alot of
| spyware and viruses. When I finished reformatting and installing
| windows, I still had alot of spyware and viruses. Why is this? Isn't
| my computer supposed to be clean once I reformat?

| Another thing. When I'm setting up win xp pro, there's a screen that
| says "let's take a few minutes to set up your computer." When I click
| next, the computer freezes and I have to do a hard shutdown. This
| happened 4 times when I tried reformatting 4 times. Why does it
| freeze?
|
| Thanks in advance!



NO.....A format just rewrites the file system...

Stop giving advice as you suck at it.

A format can and many times will take care of viruses and spyware. If
it rewrites just the file system, then the references to the
viruses/spyware/malware will be gone as well, unless something has
infected the boot sector.

The problem here can come from other sources:

1. Failing to actually "format" the drive, but instead doing a repair
install over the existing install. This will replace the system files
but leave the bad things in place. Some folks just dont' use
nomenclature correctly, saying they "formatted" windows instead of
"installed" windows so this can't be ruled out.

2. Not deleting then recreating the system partition. This is the
best way, IMO, to do a full, clean installation as it wipes out
EVERYTHING.

3. Leaving the machine hooked up to the internet during installation,
without a NAT router or some sort of firewall device (hardware or
software) in place. Without that, worms will quickly infect the box
and start the process all over again.