How can I create a "known clean" disc of installers?

It's time for a periodic wipe. In the past, I've always been fully confident my setup was secure and thus I felt comfortable simply running virus/spyware scans and then creating a CD on my own computer which contained installer files for the re-setup.

I still highly doubt I have any infections, but this time around I would like to "know" that I am "100%" clean. Trouble is, I can't really think of an accessible computer whose security lockdowns I trust more than my own. The Geek Squad at bestbuy will create a CD for me for something like $50, but I don't even especially trust *their* setup.

This seems like one heck of a bootstrapping problem. The only thing that I would think would be fully safe would be somehow getting an XP SP3 disc direct from microsoft, and, say, an AVG installer disc also containing the latest updates. But I don't think I can do these things.

What are my next best options for setting up a CD/DVD of installer files which I can be confident is fully malware-free?

 

I don't normally bump threads here, but it's been over two weeks and I am curious to hear any advice on this subject. Thanks.

 

(I know almost nothing about this)...but I think I have read that even some MS CDs have worms in them....

 

Honestly, there's no such thing as perfect security. The best thing you can do is use an original Microsoft Windows install disk, and download the security apps directly from reputable websites (MG's always safe). The first thing I always do after (re)installing Windows, is download and install Firefox. Then, Comodo Internet Security (my personal favorite security app -- free, fully configurable firewall and antivirus). Then, I update Comodo IS, and install all Windows Updates. I move on from there.

 

My hope was to be able to have security software installed and updated before connecting the newly re-imaged machine to the internet for the first time.

Not sure if you are, but are you saying this method wouldn't be much more secure than simply installing XP + Service Pack 3 then going onto the web to download antivirus (AVG) and firewall (zonealarm) ?

 

Thanks. That is normally what I do, but this time around I'm not so confident that my PC is malware free. Thus I have to choose between making the install disc myself (and possibly reinfecting my newly re-imaged machine) or connecting to the internet with nothing more than Windows XP SP3 installed and keeping my fingers crossed while I download antivirus and firewall as quickly as possible before yanking the ethernet cable for safekeeping.