need to format dell pc.. help please

Question

I have a dell pc.. need to format but have a virus on here.. I just need to know what is on the reinstall dvd disk.. can anybody help me? or any other help wil be greatly appreciated.

kites0852 · Answer

If you have the reinstallation CD for the Operating System (I.e. Windows XP Home/Pro, etc), place it into the drive, reboot the computer.  Press F12 (or F2) to change your boot options from the CD if it doesn't use that.    Once it starts to boot, pay close attention, you will be prompted to hit any key to boot from the CD, if you do not, it attempts a normal boot.   Once it starts to boot from the CD, it will begin a windows installation and one choice will be to reformat the partition.

tommyo1954 · Answer

Oh man... my mistake..    Disregard that reinstall website I mentioned above. I just realized you are using Vista. I don't think there is a Vista one there....    Sorry 'bout the error.  I need more coffee here, I guess...

tommyo1954 · Answer

Have you exhausted all efforts of trying to eradicate the virus ?  Have you run a couple virus scans in safe mode too ?  And temporarily shut off 'system restore' in case any viri are lingering in there ?   If you decide to reinstall XP, make certain you backup all important data & files (photos, documents, music files, e-mails...)  as the reinstall will wipe out everything on your drive.   When I did my very first reinstall of XP, I followed a nice tutorial from Paul Thurault's SuperSite. (correct spelling ?) I don't have the link for it right now but you would find it easily on google. That tutorial is well written.....   hey if I could do it, then it means it was rather easy, lol..:smileyvery-happy:

Dave dcse · Answer

Reformatting and reinstalling Vista is pritty simple. Just put in the DVD, restart and hit F12 and chose optical drive from the boot list. Then follow the prompts. The BIG thing you dont want to do is to blow away the other partitions on the HDD. There is a diagnostic partition and a restore partition. Just chose the biggest partition and install the OS there. While we are at it the restore partition should fix your problems. You access it from the F8 key at boot and at the bottom should be the prompt for restore my system. That is assuming you still have a factory immaged HDD. I am with you in format and reinstall/reimmage for virus removal. It allways works. Just remimber it removes ALL your data, so back it up first. Hope this helps.

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