Reinstalling Windows?

[drd]

Hey guys,

My computer has pretty much stopped being able to use/work any MS products (like MSN and WMP) after I removed a virus.

So now I'm thinking if I reinstall Windows should that fix the problem?

Thanks

 

[chuck007]

What was the name of the virus you removed? It might give us a hint as to what to look at next.

A clean installl (fdisk + format) should fix your problems, but back up your data first (if you can).

 

[drd]

I've formatted the hard drive and re installed windows quite a few times.
And the improvement in performance is quite substancial.

You get to get rid of all the registry errors and all the viruses and spyware that infests most computers.

Ok, I dont remember the exact name of the virus, all I know is that I'm stuck with shitty Web Messenger.

Now, how do I go about formatting the hard drive? and is it OK if I have a "copy" of XP which was used in the initial install?

 

[Keebler Elf]

Be aware that Microsoft now has their Genuine Advantage program in place which will not allow you to download any updates (e.g., Service Pack 2) if you aren't using a legitimate copy of Windows XP.

 

[woolf]

Also, the first thing you should do after reinstalling XP is to install a virus scanner, spywear scanner, and firewall.

I'd recommend the following free ones if you don't have any commercial ones, or other preferences:

AVAST Virus scanner (during the install you can, and should, register for a "license key" that they send via email that lasts a year, and is renewable after it expires.

Zone Alarm Firewall

SpyBot Spyware scanner

And finally, get Firefox browser and stop using Internet Explorer.

 

[WoodPeckr]

Avast question?

Also, the first thing you should do after reinstalling XP is to install a virus scanner, spywear scanner, and firewall.


AVAST Virus scanner (during the install you can, and should, register for a "license key" that they send via email that lasts a year, and is renewable after it expires.

Read good reports on Avast and decided to give it a try...hey the price is right.
Ran Avast manually just to see it do its thing. Then set up the XP Pro, task manager to run Avast automatically as a weekly 'scheduled task'.
However all XP does is start off Avast, and only does a memory scan and doesn't go on to do a complete PC scan as scheduled! Tried playing around with it but couldn't get it to go past the memory scan. Have to do the complete PC scan manually! Anyone got any ideas why it won't scan completely as scheduled?
All the schedule settings in XP 'scheduled task manager' seem OK.

 

[woolf]

I don't really schedule regular HD scans, as when you think about it they are not usually necessary.

Once you do a full manual scan to make sure you don't have a virus laying around, then the active scan that happens every time you open or download something should catch anything that tries to enter your machine ... doing a regular scheduled scan is simply rescanning everything that has already been scanned.

I know that a lot of big corporations have started disabling their scheduled HD scans as being too much overhead for the very limited value they bring.

Personally I do a manual scan every 3 months or so (where I work they make us change our passwords every three months, so I do it when my passwords expire.) And even then I've never found a virus during this scan.