How do I wipe out my only hard drive?

Question

I am running on Windows XP and have run into some problems with viruses. My friend suggested I wipe my hard drive. I have found software to do so (Active Kill Disk- http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm)

I have read over the manual and it suggested before using the software the following should be done:

Will I be able to use my Hard Disk Drive after Active@ KillDisk erase
operation?
To be able to use HDD again you need to:
• -Repartition the hard drive using a standard utility like FDISK.
• -Reformat partitions using a standard utility like FORMAT.
• -Reinstall the Operating System using a bootable CD-ROM.

How exactly do I do all that?

Do I perform those operations AFTER I use the Kill Disk software and then pop in my same Windows XP CD to re-install the OS?

have AVG virus-scan and spyware software and Zone Alarm. All are free...but i still have like 30 trojans on my computer...
because of these I can't access my "Control Panel" or other options to get access to my "C" drive.

i don't have the Windows XP disk and I can't download it either to make a copy. The trojans have blocked me out of the ability to download files OR to do a system restore.

Answer 1

You probably don't have to wipe the drive out -

Try this first. Restart the PC, tapping the F8 key while its starting. Enter Windows in Safe Mode. Log in as Administrator. Right click on the My Computer Icon, select properties. Click the System Restore tab, shut off system restore. Restart the computer (in safe mode again). Run the disk cleanup utility (start->programs->accessories->system tools->disk cleanup), select everything and remove it all.
Run AVG. If you have the free edition, go to the settings and make sure it's set (under the complete scan settings) to scan ALL files, not just .exe/.com/.dll. Run the scan. It should remove most of the trojans. They love to hide in the System Restore directory because programs can't remove files from that directory.

Restart and pray. Hopefully everything is working. If not, you still don't have to wipe the drive. Reboot the computer with the windows cd in the drive. During the installation, you will be asked if you want to replace the existing files or overwrite them - select overwrite - this is known as a "In Place Windows Installation" or windows repair. It reinstalls Windows files without wiping the drive. Things like printers and web cams may need to be reinstalled, but you won't loose all your programs and data.

Then stop doing whatever is gettin you the virus's...usually (in no particular order) -

Downloading cracked or pirated software,
finding "cheats" for games,
porn sites,
clicking on banner ads,
using limewire, winmx, kazaa, etc... to download free stuff (nothing in life is free),
not having an updated Windows OS
using Internet Explorer in general (use Firefox instaed, more secure)
Not having an updated Antivirus (AVG updates automatically, but the free version isn't perfect -really really good for free, but not perfect)
Not having enough protection (AVG free and a firewall isn't going to cut it) - try AVG Internet Security (Antivirus, Antispyware, Antispam, Firewall) - it works wonders. Get it at

http://esd.element5.com/affiliate.html?affiliateid=200064498&publisherid=50169&target=http%3A%2F%2Fwww6.grisoft.com%2Fdoc%2F41%2Fus%2Fcrp%2F0%2F%3Faffid%3D200064498

Hope this helps.

Jason

http://www.onestoptechnologyshop.com

Answer 2

Read up on reinstalling windows at www.windowsreinstall.com

Sounds like you need a format reinstall done, but next time , try AVAST from www.avast.com for your antivirus solution, I switched from AVG and it found 6 things AVG had missed !"

Answer 3

put your XP disk in the cd and then reboot and repeatly press F8 key and reboot form CD drive

and sit back it will do all the rest for u

make sure u have the 25 numbers that matches the disk
XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX

Answer 4

http://www.ehow.com/how_6026_format-hard-drive.html