windows corupted, help with reload

[wayne]

This on a small insignia pc (my girlfriends) 6 years old running xp home.
This is what happened I was not there so not sure of exact vergage. Got
notice from virus software that a virus had been stopped. Also got notice
that windows system files had been corrupted. Since then pc not running good.
Can not defrag except in safe mode, help and support center will not start.
In both cases says files not found but they are there. There is a whole
laundry list of issues. I have an in the box copy of xp home I bought just in
case I ever needed it. I feel the only fix I have is to reload windows, she
has lost the cds that came with the pc. My question is if I do a new install
of xp how is the best way to do it. What do i have to be careful about, do I
need to format and so on. Any help or suggestions is greatly apreciated. I am
not a pc genius but not completely wihout knowledge either.

 

[philo]

This on a small insignia pc (my girlfriends) 6 years old running xp home.
This is what happened I was not there so not sure of exact vergage. Got
notice from virus software that a virus had been stopped. Also got notice
that windows system files had been corrupted. Since then pc not running good.
Can not defrag except in safe mode, help and support center will not start.
In both cases says files not found but they are there. There is a whole
laundry list of issues. I have an in the box copy of xp home I bought just in
case I ever needed it. I feel the only fix I have is to reload windows, she
has lost the cds that came with the pc. My question is if I do a new install
of xp how is the best way to do it. What do i have to be careful about, do I
need to format and so on. Any help or suggestions is greatly apreciated. I am
not a pc genius but not completely wihout knowledge either.

Backup the data first...
burn cd's or DVD's of any info you need to save...
then boot with your XP cd, format the drive and reinstall.

 

[db.·.. >]

anti virus's are able
to delete the virus/infection.

however, they cannot
repair or restore the
genuine windows files
that were damaged and
corrupted by the infection.

so now that the system
is disinfected, you will
need to repair windows
by using the windows
cd.

the repair windows method
will compare the system files
on the disk to that on the cd
and will replace any corrupted
or missing files on your disk with
genuine ones from the cd:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

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

there is however a caveat:

the repair method above
won't be possible if the
cd is windows sp1 or less
and the computer has
sp2 or greater installed.

 

[wayne]

Thanks folks all good info. Just as an after thought could i have a corrupted
user???????