Reformat help, please.

Can someone please help me reformat my hard drive? I have got some nasty issues that just keep getting worse and worse. I went to the Malware page, have been through all of the steps (including sidesteps) twice. I had someone trying to help me for 3 days and we can't find what this is. I have had this computer a long time (since '03) and it has a lot of stuff on it. I think it may be time to clean house and take care of any current lurking bugs at the same time. Since we can't find what it is, this is the only other thing I can think of.

So: I am using a Dell Dimension DIM 2350 Intel (R) Pentium 4, 640 MB RAM, Windows XP version 2002.

I have my restore disks and am in the process of backing up the stuff I want to keep. It's either do this or buy a new pc, and right now isn't the best time for that. So, if anyone can give me walk through directions for doing this so I can print them out, I would greatly appreciate it. TIA.

 

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

That doesn't cover Dells proprietary install discs. They should be pretty self explanatory though. Personally, I would just install windows XP with the instructions in the link, and forget about the software that dell gave you, but that's just me. You can always get other anti-virus and firewalls, and use free ones in the meantime.

 

Thank you, Pyrate. It's not exactly "reformatting for idiots", but I think I can manage it. I just want to be absolutely clear that this WILL wipe out any existing file, .exe, bug, etc., right? It will put me back at square one like I was when I bought the computer? Then I will have to go through and manually reinstall any programs/info that I want to keep? (I just glanced through the site, I will have to print it out and go through it step by step). It seems a lot different than the last time I had to reformat, but I was on the phone with a tech support person then, LOL.

Is this something you would do if you had undermined issues that you couldn't find but you KNOW are there?

Thank you again. I appreciate the link. There are so many sites out there on this that you don't know what directions to follow and what not to!

 

When you reinstall the os it will be a clean install unless you have something truely exotic like it hiding out in bios. but for all intents and purposes when you hit format ntfs file system, everything will be gone. it's really easy.

I read somewhere you should wipe your system every three years, seems like you're a bit over due. good luck.