format time!

[Crysalis]

Hey guys. I've been given a computer to fix. Basically its INFESTED with viruses and spyware. The owner did not put ANY (and i mean ANY) form of virus protection or spyware protection on it since they bought it. Its a compaq presario (yes... i know... they didn't research too well), so you know how it goes with that. Anyways, its so bad that I really just need to format the HD. Since this isn't a custom PC, I wanted to see what the best way of going about this is. I've done it many times to my computer, but its a custom system. This compaq has its own boot up screen and crap, so i wasn't sure if formatting would harm something that couldn't be recovered.

Should I just do a format c: ? What do I need to do to get it to the point to install windows XP? Obviously I have to set it to boot from CD, but i mean system file wise. Do I need to to use the /s parameter when formatting to keep the system files (autoexec, config.sys, etc etc). Any help is appreciated... as usual!

thanks

 

[PZEROFGH]

just stick the cd in and follow the directions on the screen. you wont lose anything, everything is on the cd. just do a darn reformat

 

[Crysalis]

i dont want to keep anything. Thats the problem... theres a virus on there that will NOT come off. It locks every scan program i put on it and can't reinstall them. Norton is screwed. I can't uninstall, reinstall, or install it.

 

[DJ-CHRIS]

Just pop the XP cd in and follow along.

Also, you can run a PC without spyware and virus protection if your smart, my Antivirus or spyware really hasnt done anything on my PC.

 

[Harper]

Just pop the XP cd in and follow along.

Make sure you set your BIOS setting to boot from CD first.

 

[Crysalis]

tried the XP CD. All i got was to use the system recovery, repair installation or exit. For system, recovery, i needed a disk i didn't have. I did do a fresh install of windows, but that isn't what i need. I need a blank hard drive. I'm just asking if i need anything to get XP to start installing before i wipe out the hard drive.

 

[BASSMASTER]

when you boot from the CD, choose to Install Windows XP. It will then bring up the screen where you can install it over the exisiting partition or create a new parrtition. just delete the existing partition, create a new one, format it and then the install will proceed from there.

If you just want a blank hard drive, get a windows 98 boot disk from www.bootdisk.com boot from it and type fdisk to delete and create your partitions, then reboot and type format c: to format them.

But your XP disc does the exact same thing as the boot disk will do, it just looks different.