How do I Wipe My Computer Clean?

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Guest

I have SpyBot, Norton and SpyBlaster and they cannot get rid of all the
Adware, Spyware and Viruses that my son onadvertantly put on my computer
after his vacation here. I think that i need to do a clean install. My
question is how do i do this? Simply reloading Win2000 will not get rid of
the "about:blank" virus. I think that i need to wipe the computer clean (it
has been continuously operating for over 5years). Is ther web site that
will guide me through this operation and incidentally tell me how to find and
save such thinks as my favorites and my outlook contact list.
I am sure that i do not wish to replace my son, so i need some help with the
computer. I am thanking you in advance.

Cardinal Coolshoes
 
Coolshoes said:
I have SpyBot, Norton and SpyBlaster and they cannot get rid of all the
Adware, Spyware and Viruses that my son onadvertantly put on my computer
after his vacation here. I think that i need to do a clean install. My
question is how do i do this? Simply reloading Win2000 will not get rid of
the "about:blank" virus. I think that i need to wipe the computer clean (it
has been continuously operating for over 5years). Is ther web site that
will guide me through this operation and incidentally tell me how to find and
save such thinks as my favorites and my outlook contact list.
I am sure that i do not wish to replace my son, so i need some help with the
computer. I am thanking you in advance.

Cardinal Coolshoes
Click to expand...


Formatting the hard drive to solve a virus or spyware problem is rather
like using an axe to trim one's fingernails. Sure, it'll probably get
the job done, but it's rather messy...., and almost always unnecessary.

However, if that's what you want to do:

Simply boot from the Win2K installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
To do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup
disks. The set of four install disks can be created from your Windows 2000
CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom and execute
makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow the
prompts.

When you get to the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions
found. After you delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again
restart the pc booting the CD-Rom or setup disks to avoid unexpected drive
letter assignments with your new install.

Be sure to apply these to your new install before connecting to any network.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I have SpyBot, Norton and SpyBlaster and they cannot get rid of all the
| Adware, Spyware and Viruses that my son onadvertantly put on my computer
| after his vacation here. I think that i need to do a clean install. My
| question is how do i do this? Simply reloading Win2000 will not get rid
of
| the "about:blank" virus. I think that i need to wipe the computer clean
(it
| has been continuously operating for over 5years). Is ther web site that
| will guide me through this operation and incidentally tell me how to find
and
| save such thinks as my favorites and my outlook contact list.
| I am sure that i do not wish to replace my son, so i need some help with
the
| computer. I am thanking you in advance.
|
| Cardinal Coolshoes
 
Here are some tips to consider regarding your existing data. Naturally these
steps must be performed prior to the clean install procedure outlined by David
Patrick.

All of your Outlook data is contained in one file, usually named outlook.pst. If
you search using *.pst, you may also find archive.pst, which is where the
content of user designated folders are archived. You may have to allow hidden
files to be
shown via Folder Options to find these files.

As an alternative, see this link for a free backup utility for Outlook 2000 and
later versions:

Outlook 2003 Add-in: Personal Folders Backup
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&displaylang=en

Note: If you use the backup file and burn it to a CD, the same rule applies
regarding the removal of the read-only attribute after transferring back to the
HDD.

After reinstalling Outlook (or the Office suite), transfer can be made by
importing your old data from a copy of the previous
*.pst file. This is usually done by burning a copy of the pst files to a CD-R or
CD-RW disc, then copying the file to the rebuilt system, remove the read-only
attribute of the file, and then import the data.

As an alternative, if your hard drive is partitioned or if you have two hard
drives on the system, these PST files can be stored there and then accessed
after the C drive is rebuilt and updated again.

In regards to Internet Explorer's Favorites and Cookies: Simply launch IE and
click on File > Import and Export Wizard, then Export your Favorites to a folder
or a floppy disc. It will generate a small file called Bookmark.htm. This file
can then be Imported back into the system using the same Wizard on your rebuilt
system and your Favorites will be recreated.

You should do the same routine with the cookies, if you access any websites that
required a signup.
 
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