I have a Computer Reformatting question!!!!?

Question

I'm not very smart when it comes to computers. I have a computer that has windows xp home edition with no Reformat disk. My computer has a system restore option on it, but there is a virus (I think) that wont let me restore my computer. I am convinced that my computer has many viruses on it, for example I can set my homepage, and it even wont let me set my desktop (wallpaper) and it restarts by it-self, and there is more but getting back to my question. Can I just buy a New version of Windows XP, and erase my Memory on my computer /w all those nasty viruses and load the New XP, and that should take care of the problem if thats even possible to do that? PLEASE I NEED HELP AND I CANT AFFORD A NEW COMPUTER!!!!

Ohh and I already bought a program called Fix-it Utilities 6 Proffesioanl. It works pretty well, accept it fails to remove 99% of all the dang viruses on my computer. It detects alought of viruses, but when it tries to remove them it ALWAYS FAILS!!!!

Answer 1

There's no simple answer to your question.

First, IF you have a Windows XP disk (Home,Pro or MCE) you should be able to run it for a full system re-write. Many people confuse the Microsoft Tutorial XP disks with the source disks.

If you feel you have viruses, any good anti-virus program will work. I'd recommend for Home Use - Avast Antivirus. Home use is free (registration is required), and it's a very strong AV program.

Also find Ad-Aware or Spy-bot on the web, and install one or both. This is more likely the culprit.

You don't mention if you are high speed or dialup. IF high speed, do you employ a Hardware Firewall? If you are not positive of the answer, you need additional support to correct this, as your computer is "game" to anyone wishing to hi-jack it.

You don't need a new computer, just take some time to protect your system. Those rules are simple - don't run or open any email you are not aware of the sender by name. Don't allow anyone access to your passwords. Actively manage your system security by running virus checks and adware checks. Read about this on many web sites, if you are unsure. If you have to buy a program to read about it, look elsewhere.

If you get all the adware and viruses off your PC, and you still feel it is failing, reload Windows (the disk should auto-load and walk you through the setup) and you should be fine. If you have a PC from any of the major manufacturers, often, Windows disks are not supplied, contact your manufacturer for a system restore disk.

Answer 2

What I would do (and I am not a computer expert - just someone who works with computers for art and design and has to keep multiple machines running at all times) is run a SCANDISK (from DOS/COMMAND PROMPT) to check the condition of your hard drive. Then google "stinger" which is a free virus removal tool. Install and run stinger. I'd also get "Ad Aware" available at www.download.com (do a search for Ad Aware by lavasoft) and install and run it. If things haven't fixed themselves to a workable state and you want to wipe everything out and start over, then I would spend the $99 or so to get an OEM Windows XP SP2 (that's what it cost me at Fry's Electronics). Backup everything you want/need to a CDR, zip or other backup. Insert the new XP disc and restart. It should load from the disc. Follow the prompts, but do the option that (re)FORMATs the hard drive - this will erase anything and everything on the hard drive, so you will lose whatever isn't backed up!!! First it will verify the condition of the hard drive (scandisk) and inform you of any damage. Then it will install a new XP operating system (OS) like you computer was new out of the box. This takes about an hour or two depending on the speed of your system and how capable you are with connecting to internet, etc.
***If the version of Windows you have is newer, it will tell you it cannot install. You will have to enter a DOS prompt (Command prompt C>) and type FORMAT C: presuming you only have one hard drive. this will wipe out the hard drive and anything on it!!! Backup important stuff first (as before)!!! Then restart and it will install fresh from the XP disc.
Unless a virus has caused a situation that physically damages the hard drive, or messes with the drive beyond repair you will basically be resetting your machine to a like-new state.

Answer 3

YOu confirmed it !! I'm sure there is an epidemic of this going around. This is the 3rd question on reformatting and reinstalling I've answered in 2 days.

Thankfully, you have described your problems very well, so I can give you some specific instructions to help your situation, which aint' necessarily reformatting and reinstalling the OS. Get online and download these free programs.

1. AVG anti-virus - download and run this program and delete any viruses it detects.
2. Download and run Ad-Aware SE
3. Download and run Spybot Search & Destrtoy
4. Download and run Microsoft Windows Defender
5. Start>All Programs>Accessories>Disk Cleanup
Empty the recycle bin
6. Start>All Programs>Accessories>Disk Degragmenter

Then reset your homepage to whatever you want. If you still have problems with your homepage changing, then search the homepage for deletion instructions. Chances are, you can uninstall it from the Add/Remove and reboot.

Good Luck

Answer 4

Easiest and cheapest solution is actually to contact your computer manufacturer and ask for a restore disk (or disks).

They may try to charge you - but even if you accept the charge it will be much less than the cost of a copy of XP HE.

I was end of the line support for a major computer manufacturer - and you're much better off choosing this approach. Buying a new copy of XP is kind of pricey, and it may also be missing software that you need to fully utilize your 'puter.

-dh

Answer 5

No, deleting the account does no longer get rid of the virus. I desire it would nevertheless. What you ought to do is.. a million. put in your restoration disk. 2. pass to the boot menu until eventually now the abode windows show comes up 3. pick boot from force. 4. shop on with the on show steps, which quicker or later will ask restore or format. click format, or it won't get rid of the virus. 5. After that the re installation and format will commence. 6. while this is done, it would start up like form new, without viruses. 7. until eventually now YOU OPEN ANY information superhighway CONNECTIONS set up YOUR ANTI-VIRUS software or you will possibly be able to desire to get yet another virus. once you have all of that carried out, you are able to commence utilising your computing device like general lower back. it is extremely useful to ascertain for updates to your working gadget nevertheless. desire I helped, -hoot- ;)

Answer 6

Purchase the new XP, boot it, completely delete the partitions, recreate, and reinstall. After reinstall, install an AV program and scan just in case you have a boot sector virus and such.

Answer 7

Download aefdisk from link
http://www.filetransit.com/download.php?id=6649
Copy it to a floppy disk then boot using boot disk, put in the disk with aefdisk and run it.
type this at c:
prompt aefdisk /delall
This will get rid of everything on your hard drive !!!!!

Answer 8

buyin a new Window software is not cheap and u will lose everything if u format ur harddrive.....y don't u buy an antivirus software, spyware.....to remove those virus u have.

Answer 9

Just get a copy of XP and reinstall it, that will fix anything