Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

[Loanshark]

I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager, registry,
or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove the
virius?

 

[Malke]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

Loanshark wrote:

> I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
> registry,
> or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove the
> virius?

Yes.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

 

[Loanshark]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius


Thanks for the reply, I was concerned the virius could remain in the
memory. Is that possible?
"Malke" wrote:

> Loanshark wrote:
>
> > I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
> > registry,
> > or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove the
> > virius?
>
> Yes.
>
> http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
> you will need on-hand
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>
>

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

Loanshark <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> Thanks for the reply, I was concerned the virius could remain in the
> memory. Is that possible?

In RAM? No.

> "Malke" wrote:
>
>> Loanshark wrote:
>>
>>> I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
>>> registry,
>>> or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows
>>> remove the virius?
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>> http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install
>> How-To
>> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows
>> - What you will need on-hand
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP
>> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
>> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

 

[Daave]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

"Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E2A7B004-87E6-46FD-AB10-DC07F2C404F5@microsoft.com...
>I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
>registry,
> or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove
> the
> virius?

Only temporarily. ;-)

 

[Loanshark]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

Thanks for all of the replies. One last question: Will reinstalling XP
reformat the HD, or is it 2 seperate steps?

"Daave" wrote:

> "Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E2A7B004-87E6-46FD-AB10-DC07F2C404F5@microsoft.com...
> >I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
> >registry,
> > or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove
> > the
> > virius?
>
> Only temporarily. ;-)
>
>
>

 

[AlmostBob]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

You should always format the drive yourself


--
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"Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0629EAAB-6081-4E39-9ACC-048746E4F8F5@microsoft.com...
> Thanks for all of the replies. One last question: Will reinstalling XP
> reformat the HD, or is it 2 seperate steps?
>
> "Daave" wrote:
>
>> "Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:E2A7B004-87E6-46FD-AB10-DC07F2C404F5@microsoft.com...
>> >I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
>> >registry,
>> > or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove
>> > the
>> > virius?
>>
>> Only temporarily. ;-)
>>
>>
>>

 

[Malke]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

Loanshark wrote:

> Thanks for all of the replies. One last question: Will reinstalling XP
> reformat the HD, or is it 2 seperate steps?

Read the information at the links I already gave you. It covers all these
sorts of questions. In short, you can delete the current partition(s),
format (Quick format is usually enough unless you suspect the hard drive),
and clean install Windows all from the XP installation routine.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

On Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:31:48 -0300, "AlmostBob"
<anonymous1@microsoft.com> wrote:

> You should always format the drive yourself


If you do a clean reinstallation properly, it performs a format as a
first step. It is entirely unnecessary and a waste of time to format
before you begin the reinstallation.

Just boot from the Windows XP CD (change the BIOS boot order if
necessary to accomplish this) and follow the prompts for a clean
installation (delete the existing partition by pressing "D" when
prompted, then create a new one).

You can find detailed instructions here:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

or here
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_install_windows_xp.htm

or here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm

or here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm



>
> "Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0629EAAB-6081-4E39-9ACC-048746E4F8F5@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks for all of the replies. One last question: Will reinstalling XP
> > reformat the HD, or is it 2 seperate steps?
> >
> > "Daave" wrote:
> >
> >> "Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:E2A7B004-87E6-46FD-AB10-DC07F2C404F5@microsoft.com...
> >> >I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
> >> >registry,
> >> > or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove
> >> > the
> >> > virius?
> >>
> >> Only temporarily. ;-)
> >>
> >>
> >>
>

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[db.·.. >]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

sometimes simple hardware
failure can be mis interpreted
as an infection.

there are also a number of
reasons other than an infection
which could deny you access
to the c drive.

however, if you know it is
an infection, then you would
likely know which one by
the data provided by your
anti viral.
--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>


"Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:E2A7B004-87E6-46FD-AB10-DC07F2C404F5@microsoft.com...
>I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager, registry,
> or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove the
> virius?

 

[nass]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius


Loanshark
When you will put the XP CD Installation media you will be prompeted with
more than one option like Repair/Upgrade and clean install and also if you
want to delete the old partition and create new ones and the format them with
complete/full format not the quick one!
Here is a Step-By-Step Windows XP: Installation
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/winxp/install.mspx
HTH,
nass
---
http://www.nasstec.co.uk
"Loanshark" wrote:

> Thanks for all of the replies. One last question: Will reinstalling XP
> reformat the HD, or is it 2 seperate steps?
>
> "Daave" wrote:
>
> > "Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:E2A7B004-87E6-46FD-AB10-DC07F2C404F5@microsoft.com...
> > >I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
> > >registry,
> > > or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove
> > > the
> > > virius?
> >
> > Only temporarily. ;-)
> >
> >
> >

 

[Leythos]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

In article <0629EAAB-6081-4E39-9ACC-048746E4F8F5@microsoft.com>,
Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com says...
> Thanks for all of the replies. One last question: Will reinstalling XP
> reformat the HD, or is it 2 seperate steps?
>

It all depends on your CD type.

Some Vendors include a rescue/reinstall CD that is not just an XP
Install CD, others include the full XP OEM CD.

If you're going to reinstall to wipe a machine, you really need to do it
by deleting all partitions, then reboot, then run the install again.

You can find directions online to BOOT FROM CD and take it from there.


--
- Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.
- Calling an illegal alien an "undocumented worker" is like calling a
drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist"
spam999free@rrohio.com (remove 999 for proper email address)

 

[Gerard Espinas]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

On Sep 28, 8:44 pm, Loanshark <Loansh...@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:
> I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive,  task manager, registry,
> or run.   Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove the
> virius?

Hi Loanshark,

Formatting An HD will definitely remove traces of all virus but I will
take a lot time and effort to install again a new OS.

My suggestion is to run an online scanner and i recommend
Trend Micro's "HouseCall" and its totally FREE.
http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/

Regards,

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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http://www.gerardespinas.com
http://www.myonlinecomputertech.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Join Now! Be A Gold Member of DIY COMPUTER FIX CLUB
http://www.ecademy.com/module.php?mod=club&c=6318
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[David H. Lipman]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

From: "Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com>

| I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager, registry,
| or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove the
| virius?

Except in the situation of a real virus that infects a boot record, wiping the disk and
re-installing the OS from scratch will remove more than 99% of all malware.

However, not all malware are viruses. Additionally, not all problems dealing with the OS
are malware related.

Most malware CAN be removed successfully given time and proper actions. These actions are
based upon knowledge of what REALLY is going on.

You say "cannot access the c drive" but then go on to you can't use the task manager,
registry or run.

Well, if you can boot from the OS to the point that you can try to run the task manager or
try to run registry tools or use the run function, then I put to you CAN access the hard
disk. The problem is you have some form of non-viral malware that is using operating
system policies that are disabling certain capabilities that the user enjoys and should
have by default. What can be disabled can also be re-enabled.

I will also put it to you that your post is short and makes assumptions. You state you
have a virus but in no way have you provided any information how you came to the
conclusion that you have a virus.

In the future I suggest that instead of coming to your own conclusions, leave yourself
open to suggestions at corrections and providing as many facts as possible. Fully state
what your problem is. Expand upon what you did to try to correct them. Provide all facts
and information pertinent to the situation you are seeing. Then ask for solutions.

In conclusion, you can wipe your PC and re-install the OS from scratch. However, if you
don't recognize and understand what the problem was in the first place, chances are high
that you will just experience once again.

--
Dave
http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html
Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

 

[Olórin]

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

"Loanshark" <Loanshark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F1EC5352-BE87-447C-AF1F-40E52B4C690A@microsoft.com...
>
> Thanks for the reply, I was concerned the virius could remain in the
> memory. Is that possible?
> "Malke" wrote:
>
>> Loanshark wrote:
>>
>> > I have a nasty virius and cannot access the c drive, task manager,
>> > registry,
>> > or run. Will reformatting the drive and reinstalling windows remove
>> > the
>> > virius?
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>> http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
>> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows -
>> What
>> you will need on-hand
>>
>> Malke
>> --
>> MS-MVP
>> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
>> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>>
>>

One further comment: when you restore your backed-up data and apps (you will
have backed these up, won't you, because all files on the drive will be
lost...), be sure you don't reintroduce the virus in so doing, from an
infected file.