TheVille

hi all, long time no see. Been having computer problems lately and need help. My laptop (dell m170) is pretty infected with viruses etc. It is very unstable and sometimes locks up rigt after boot-up. Obvious answer is run a virus scan program. But it won't work unless its connected to the internet and I can't connect. Pretty much everthing will make it lock up and not turn off.
OK, how about a fresh install of windows? The computer is used and I've wanted to do it anway. When i run the windows disk, the install prompt wants to restart the computer. Then it starts windows again and locks up! Thats it. And yes i do have the correct disc and code for windows.
Oh yes, went to windows restore and found no restore points since restore was turned off. Weeee!
Any ideas on how i can get the compter stable enough to reinstall windows?
Thanks.

Completely format your system, whiping everything, then reinstall. This sucks, because you lose everything, but at least you'll lose the viruses as well. If you want/need to save any files from your current install, which aren't already elsewhere, you can consider burning the stuff on to discs to port them over to the newly formatted drive and installation - remember though, you may take viruses with you, so before copying any of them to the new system, make sure you've got an AV program up and running, and scan the disc, and every file you pull off of it. Personally, I would then destroy the discs, to avoid accidental future exposure.

If that isn't an option, go buy yourself a good AV program on disc, and run it from the disc. You don't need to be on the net for it to do that. I use Kaspersky myself, but there are plenty that should get you to the point where you can reconnect and remain stable well enough for any clean-up you need to do.

Boot from the windows disk (go into bios and make sure it's set to boot from CD first). When you get the command prompt open (you might have to go into the repair menu)
, use

Format C:\



(I think is the proper syntax)

Let it format and then load windows on your clean HDD.

Its FDISK C:\ but booting into command prompt means you need a boot disk, not just a windows install disk.

Thanks Beeron, did just that, disk is reformatting right now. Had some questions regarding partition size, but I think I wangled my way through it. I hate using a computer that someone else has used/abused with all their crappola. Price was right so I couldn't pass it up. Thanks for help yall

Fixed! All spanky new os!

[quote="bigfoot_hunter";p="144560"]
Fixed! All spanky new os!
[/quote]

good to hear

[quote="MrBlah";p="144489"]
Its FDISK C:\ but booting into command prompt means you need a boot disk, not just a windows install disk.
[/quote]

you're stuck on win'98!

As far as i know, FDisk is not on XP, or Vista...

I tried to use FDisk on my XP box to no avail.