[actionlover]

My IE seems to be having a problem posting this thread.

[evilfantasy]

Here is a pretty good step-by-step from Lifehacker. How to format your hard drive and install Windows XP from scratch

Any questions just ask. Someone will know.

Note: Backing up your data is risky with Virut. You could easily be backing up the infection and reinstalling it.

For anybody wondering Virut is a computer killer. It infects every .exe and .scr file and install it's own IRC-Backdoor trojan and zombies the computer. Reformat and reinstall is the only way to know it's gone. It's polymorphic so no antivirus can contain it fast enough to remove it. It also infects already infected files with itself. It's a never ending process of fixing and infecting. It can't be quarantined because that will just cripple the computer since it infects ALL exe and scr files. That's system files as well...

[actionlover]

Evil,

Thanks for the return post. You are really such a nice person. My new questions are:

I have an 80GB Dell Dimension 3000 with XP SP3 ( from updates.) Dell does not give you an XP disc when you buy the PC brand new from them. I have an old XP SP1 disc from another old PC. I'm not sure that will work because Dell has a key encrypted in my 3000 and the disc and PC may not be compatible? What do I do about that?

What can I expect in reformatting? Can I save old OE info - address book, old e-mails etc.

My PC came with programs installed but Dell did not give CDs for those either. Can they be saved?

Will my NEC oem DVD burner still work without the original drivers on a reformat?

Can everything else ( files etc.) be transferred with the new reformatting?

I just bought a 1TB HDD...does that help things?

Perhaps I should be doing this in a new thread??

Thanks again Evil!

action

[Hybr!d]

Dell do supply OS CDs with all models. If you do not have one they may send you one for a small fee, usually less than buying th OS new ($70ish).

You can try using your other CD, the key will either work or it will not, if it does you're legal so don't worry about that. It's the key that keeps you on the right side, not the CD you use.

[cheesepuff]

For anybody wondering Virut is a computer killer. It infects every .exe and .scr file and install it's own IRC-Backdoor trojan and zombies the computer. Reformat and reinstall is the only way to know it's gone. It's polymorphic so no antivirus can contain it fast enough to remove it. It also infects already infected files with itself. It's a never ending process of fixing and infecting. It can't be quarantined because that will just cripple the computer since it infects ALL exe and scr files. That's system files as well...

oh s**t! is this the one that also prevents anti-software from up dating, being installed, and accessing any anti-software site? cuz my friend was infected with that, and i had to reformat his computer for him. I been looking all around for the name of this virus. I dont mean to hijack this thread, so i wont. I an just simply asking if that is the name of the virus i described.

[Hybr!d]

Originally Posted by cheesepuff

oh s**t! is this the one that also prevents anti-software from up dating, being installed, and accessing any anti-software site? cuz my friend was infected with that, and i had to reformat his computer for him. I been looking all around for the name of this virus. I dont mean to hijack this thread, so i wont. I an just simply asking if that is the name of the virus i described.

http://www.computer-juice.com/forums...us-rise-22233/