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Will reformating HD get rid of a virius


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Guest Loanshark
Posted

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?

  • Replies 14
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Posted

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

Guest Loanshark
Posted

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

>

>

Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]
Posted

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

Posted

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. ;-)

Guest Loanshark
Posted

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. ;-)

>

>

>

Guest AlmostBob
Posted

Re: Will reformating HD get rid of a virius

 

You should always format the drive yourself

 

 

--

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Catalog of removal tools (1)

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Catalog of removal tools (2)

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http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before use

 

Grateful thanks to the authors and webmasters

_

 

"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. ;-)

>>

>>

>>

Posted

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

Guest Ken Blake, MVP
Posted

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

Guest db.·.. >
Posted

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?

Posted

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. ;-)

> >

> >

> >

Posted

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)

Guest Gerard Espinas
Posted

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

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Guest David H. Lipman
Posted

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

Posted

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.


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