removing windows xp

I am just geeky enough to get myself into trouble, and wondering if someone out there can help. My neighbor got spyware, etc. on his laptop because he was running it with everything expired. The laptop would just shut itself down after being on about 15 seconds, saying it was protecting itself. There wasn't enough time to do anything. I installed a second version of windows and installed anti-virus and spyware through there. So now the system works. However, the wireless cannot see the router anymore, and I don't know how to get the second version of windows xp off. I'm really good at windows 98 (yes, I'm old), but I'm in over my head. Hoping someone can help. Thanks.

Sylvia

 

If the second copy of XP was installed on a different partition, you can just format that partiton. However, the boot.ini file on C: (c:\boot.ini) must first be edited to remove the boot up reference to the second installation. Info on that here; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022/en-us

If the original installation has been repaired, it should boot into that with no problems. You can then format the afore mentioned partition with the second installation on it.

If it hasn't, you may have to perform a repair installation.

Microsoft Instructions;
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q315341#top

Michael Stevens Instructions;
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm