Reload XP

[Dick Harrison]

Cannot get rid of CoolWedSearch malware.

I have run Ad-aware, Spybot, SpyBlaster and MS Antispyware --
then CWS, AboutBuster, Adware Away and a couple of tailored German
about:blank removal tools.

I may have gotten it today -- I am doing this for a friend, so I am not with
the PC often.

If it comes back -- I want to reinitialize the hard drive and reload windows
XP ect. He recently had to replace the hard drive -- so not very much data
on the PC.

Have not had to do this before -- what utility do I run to reinitialize the
hard drive (also have Norton). After initializing, will the XP CD auto
start for "D" or do I have do something?

Thanks in advance, (not optimistic that I killed about:blank)

 

[Jerry]

The XP CD is bootable. Set the BIOS to boot from the CD ROM drive and follow
the prompts.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.

3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.

4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

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

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

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

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

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

:

| Cannot get rid of CoolWedSearch malware.
|
| I have run Ad-aware, Spybot, SpyBlaster and MS Antispyware --
| then CWS, AboutBuster, Adware Away and a couple of tailored German
| about:blank removal tools.
|
| I may have gotten it today -- I am doing this for a friend, so I am not with
| the PC often.
|
| If it comes back -- I want to reinitialize the hard drive and reload windows
| XP ect. He recently had to replace the hard drive -- so not very much data
| on the PC.
|
| Have not had to do this before -- what utility do I run to reinitialize the
| hard drive (also have Norton). After initializing, will the XP CD auto
| start for "D" or do I have do something?
|
| Thanks in advance, (not optimistic that I killed about:blank)

 

[Dick Harrison]

Carey, -- Great instructions. One question as I have not worked with the
BIOS before and I do not want to mess it up. At start up (boot) I hit FC 2
and the BIOS setup came up. I went to the "start up" and it had listed 1)
Floppy 2) Hard Drive 3) CD -- each of these had checks by them. I can
remove the checks -- should I do this for the Floppy and Hard Drive --
leaving only the CD with a check mark. Then reboot with the XP CD loaded?

Will the XP setup return the BIOS to normal sequence or do I need to go back
to the BIOS and change it back.

Thanks, Dick

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral
hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before
installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect
the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your
main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.

3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.

4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the
existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the
primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support
website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the
following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

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

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

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

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

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

:

| Cannot get rid of CoolWedSearch malware.
|
| I have run Ad-aware, Spybot, SpyBlaster and MS Antispyware --
| then CWS, AboutBuster, Adware Away and a couple of tailored German
| about:blank removal tools.
|
| I may have gotten it today -- I am doing this for a friend, so I am not
with
| the PC often.
|
| If it comes back -- I want to reinitialize the hard drive and reload
windows
| XP ect. He recently had to replace the hard drive -- so not very much
data
| on the PC.
|
| Have not had to do this before -- what utility do I run to reinitialize
the
| hard drive (also have Norton). After initializing, will the XP CD auto
| start for "D" or do I have do something?
|
| Thanks in advance, (not optimistic that I killed about:blank)

 

[Alex Nichol]

If it comes back -- I want to reinitialize the hard drive and reload windows
XP ect. He recently had to replace the hard drive -- so not very much data
on the PC.

Have not had to do this before -- what utility do I run to reinitialize the
hard drive (also have Norton).

You do it as part of a reinstall of the system after booting the XP CD
direct. Enter Setup, and after the license agreement take New Install.
When it asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and delete the
current partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted at the next
stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one