Is it possible to reformat my PC/comp if I can't find any of my disks that came w/the system? Can s/e help?

Question

I know my comp.'s infected w/some kind of virus and it should be pretty bad b/c my Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, etc) don't work at all even when I tried uninstalling and reinstalling them. When I try to open it, I get "this application must be installed to run, please run setup from the location where it was orignally installed." All day yesterday, my comp. kept closing programs and at one pt. the task manager was disabled and I couldn't access it. I tried deleting unknown programs and w/e all day yester. and it helped a bit, but even my Norton got infected and is missing components + won't run. IE won't let me type in urls or access favorites and in order to get to a site I have to run a search w/yahoo to access anything. And w/e I start up my PC, a get a black screen that can be closed and minimize that has the C:\winnt\ in the tab. I always get an error causing me to close the window from IE or AOL or any prog. I use saying scvhost.exe has a error and has to close. Thx

Answer 1

Sorry to hear that.

You could request the CD from your manufacturer (HP, Dell, Etc)

They will charge you $10 to send it to you. Or the other option would be to buy it. It is pretty expensive. If you are going to a University, you could buy it from them very cheap.

In case you can't do that, then try to fix your operating system. I've been through that and I've been able to fix them.

If you have windows XP, it will be a lot easier. Go to Start => Run

Type....=> msconfig
Click OK

Select Selective Start up and uncheck Load Startup Items.

Notice that you have an option to do System Restore, but that will restore your system to the settings that were last saved.

When you unchecked Load Startup Items click OK. and then it will tell you that it is going to restart. Restart the computer.

Once it restarts.

Download from Microsoft the latest service pack and Windows Defender and an Anti-virus.

First Run Windows Defender to remove all spyware. Try to run a second one to make sure you are free of spyware (Try Ad-aware or Spybot)

Then run the Anti-virus. You can download one for free from www.grisoft.com (Look for AVG Free Edition)

After you've cleaned spyware and viruses, run the Service pack and after you finish, your computer should be back to normal.

Hope it helps.

Answer 2

If you "reformat" the hard drive then you will need some kind of software to reload on it. You will either need to get some disks if you want Microsoft, or you can use other software. For example, you can download system like Centos - a really nice, windowing system, free. You can also use OpenOffice, to replace the Microsoft Office programs, and even read their files. Or check out Linspire - inexpensive windows replacement.

When you have a system running again, be sure to so two things:
1) get an anti-virus software package and keep it up to date
2) be careful and cautious about what web sites you visit and what emails you open.

Answer 3

Hi --

You can absolutely wipe your drive, using something DBAN. But it sounds like you want to reinstall Windows and your Apps. If you don't have the disks, it's not going to work, i'm sorry to say.

If you're just doing web/email/music and some light office apps and you're a bit technically minded, you might want to consider Ubuntu. You won't get spyware or viruses like you've had with windows.

I've put some links to dban and ubuntu in the sources bit. You can order, for a few dollars a live ubuntu CD to see if it fits your needs.

Answer 4

sure you could. see you later as you're utilising a living house windows XP setting up Disc it is going to artwork with both OEM discs & save offered variations of the product. in case you both have OEM installations then it truly is purely the case of putting their product key in even as the set up software asks for it. Then the setting up will proceed as widespread. an similar is going if you're both utilising save offered XP discs. the only time you'll encounter issues is in case you attempt to enter an o.e.m key right into a save offered setting up disc (or any incorrect way round). The setting up software will purely allow you to understand that you do not have a valid key & will refuse to finish the setting up if so.

Answer 5

Try F12 if WinXP check your boot window, throw in the anti-virus CD before you reboot it would run a virus check at boot.