Start Over From Scratch

[Will LaPointe]

My computer was running Windows XP Home and is now full of spyware and
viruses. My son and his friends thought they could help and went through
several attempts at cleanup. Eventually they loaded Windows XP Professional
so both systems are installed. I have several conflicts, files that won't
run, browser that is hijacked, multiple counts of spyware and viruses...

I'd like to refomat the drive and start over from scratch. I've done that
on a Windows 98 machine but I can't find how to do it with my current
operating mess.

How do I reformat and start over?

Thanks,

Will

 

[Guest]

Will,

Please see the following instructions.

Spyware and Virus Removal and Prevention:
http://www.fixyourwindows.com/windowsxpsolutions.htm

How to optimize Windows XP, 2000, ME
for the best performance (Step-by-step Visual Guide):
http://www.fixyourwindows.com

Good Luck!

 

[gf]

Do you have your Windows disk?

It is retail, or OEM, upgrade? (how you precede matters)

Do you care about the data on the drive?

If you have a full copy of XP HOME, and don't care about the data, the
easiet way is to grab your self a bootdisk (windows 98se is fine, try
bootdisk.com), boot with it in the a: drive, fdisk your harddisk and delete
all partitions, remove floppy, then insert your windows CD, reboot.

In bios, your drive boot order should be a:, cdrom, then harddrive.

Sit back and follow along.

It would be very advisable to have current copies of ALL device drivers
before you start.