New topic.

For those that don't remember my long annoying post, that are hard to understand because I just keep mumbling about issues as they pop up. As a refrense heres one thread http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1300773#post1300773 Just to show you I did many things to try to clean my pc but maybe its just poop. BUt I got more issue.

Alrighty, Let's just get pasted the computer virus, bad stuff that could be on my computer infecting it and Ill tell you that I had someone "reformate it" From what I know about reformating I think it was done some really messed up way or something. I havn't totally look at or look through this computer, I just got it back on the internet to post and see what you guys say. (Hopefully this time wont go bad and won't load)

Anyways Iam running windows xp Dell Dimesion 4700:

I was stuck before I had to get it "reformated" I was stuck at beggining saying "looking for floppy diskette" press f2 to continue or f12 to go to setup utilities" There was no way for me to go to safe mode- everything I did I could only go to a blue screen with what I think is the bios. It had maintaines, pc info, etc and It had function of going to factory setup. Well I did that factory setup and I had it"reformated".

Anyways my problem is I think its not reformated correctly (half *** the job) or something. Also I got problems with the computer still. I was just roaming the folders in c: program files etc... and I see many folders that I HAD on the computer before the "reformate" . Like for example spybot folder - it has all files in it.. cept the main icon to open and use it I believe. Alsoo other things Like games I had.. It has misc things/files in these folders but I don't recognize the main icon to open and use it in them. So my computer still has many things On the computer in folders. BUT when You look at destop its clean just internet explorer and recycling bin. And settings are all blank. Anyways on add/remove it has nothing cept like 4 things on it.. whats really weird is it don't even have internet exxplorer to get rid of it.. Why? Another thing thats weird is it has folders.. I had back in day before this reformate on c: something.. and Its just weird. Another thing is.. my computer popped up saying infected! And Iam like wtf? Also another thing is.. everything is like set to nothing.. after this nice "reformate" I had no sound as 1 of my problems.. and I had to go to dell... to download audio.

So some questions and questions from you guys can help.

Some things are was my computer reformated? I think it is but it was poopy job and mess things up. It has many files that I had on it before the reformate but the files aint workable. They are full of misc files but not the main icon to open and use. Also Settings are all cleared like sound was. And I had to get that downloaded from dell website. Do I need to download everything like java or winzip and etc all over again? Its not on add/remove but stuff still works on the internet.. so kinda weird. Also why is barely nothing in add/remove cept adope, dell resource cd, some modem thing, some google toolbar, driver pk, 2 intell things, sigma tl audio, soundmax(what I downloaded from dell), and windows pk3 . I have no java or anything else showing its on my computer. But theres folders with many files in them. SO I was thinking of just deleteing manually on some these folders.. I know what is not useful and Just re downloaded them again. Also about my virus/whatever is my problem. After this reformate it popped up some window in bottom right saying scanning for virus.. like it was a spyware or virus itself.. something thats not on this computer.. but Iam tired of scanning and deleting wrong stuff. .. so someone help with this virus stuff too? I can scan and not delete hopefully... and just post and see if its bad and right to get rid of... maybe you guys can tell me how to stop from deleting it.. and just scan, post and delete later...? Another thing is Iam still having issue with when i start up the computer it says floppy diskeete seek failure, press f1 to conintue.. and I do.. and this time it works.. but guy said its okay and works.. another thing the guy said he works for big *** company and I told him what i scanned from here.. and He said its not needed to scan and use protection.. you just need to reformate every so often..:/ So many you guys can help me with different things. Whats really weird is theres files of alot of what I had on it.. and yet add/remove is more clear. And my c: says over half the computer is full of stuff?!? wtf?! shouldnt be if nothing is on add/remove not even internet explorer thats on it?! Another thing maybe you can help me with setting settings or whatever I need to use this computer now? Everything is showing and just weirder and harder to do stuff?

 

I was tring to play a game online. And it said I needed java and adope flash player? And on this link http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=149858 for java it wont load page.. just goes slow and page load error. Also is java and adope flash player same thing or no?

 

Sounds more like a Repair than reformat. A reformat should clear everything.
Do you have your Dell disks and another hard drive?

 

No I have nothing of the disk, cept the utilties disk ( I believe) I had this guy come in and I think he was just tired of working with it each day and did half *** job. I was on a screen saying couldn't get in cause it was looking for floppy diskette. but now iam still seeing some of the stuff I still had on it, and add/remove is empty.. cept those few things. And I just don't know what the guy did. I personally don't have the disk tho. He came and was free.. But poop on stick on the job lol.

 

Here is a best option for you, if you can spend a few $$.
Get a brand new OEM XP disk. Less than $100.
Insert in CD drawer and select Autorun. When asked, use entire partition. Will delete everything on hard drive, reformat, and install a NEW copy of XP.

 

Sorry for my newbie ness but whats OEM (operating something)? Is it the reformating disk? Also if so I thought there was more then just 1 disk (thought a reformate and a utilities disk... atleast. Also where can i purchase this disk? IF I went this route later on... My thread still stands!

 

XP Home with SP3 disks can be purchased at just about any computer parts store.
May have to shop around to find an OEM version though. Difference (besides price) is that an OEM disk can not be used on any other machine. A retail version can be used to do repair install on others if you use the original machine key codes. ( I think I have that right). OEM is cheaper than retail.
May have to track down some drivers though. Dell puts some proprietary things on their machines.

 

Hi All,

OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer. Means the part/disk etc was bought by the manufacturer for use in his computer to sell and it may not be exactly like the MS version. hrlow is correct all the way.

Good Luck, Jim