Viruses have killed my windows xp I need wrote:
> I was infected with a terreble bloodhound and trojon viruses and all
> sorts of spyware and adware. I visited the wrong sites and it has
> killed my computer. I did spend 5 hours on the phone with Norton and
> killed the viruses it cost $70 however I got a really cool trojon
> virus tool that kills these viruses, and my Ghost spycatcher killed
> the spys.
>
> The problem is I was hyjacked and the virus changed everything, I
> can't get my background to work and I recieve all sorts of debug
> errors and the whole system is just screwed up. I just spent $109
> for widows xp service pack 2 to upgrade thinking I could just
> reinstall windows xp again, it will not because I already have
> windows xp and not windows 95 or 98. I need to get this machine up
> and running, I did not make a backup and to restore windows it will
> not let me go to the time before the viruses. Does anyone know what
> I need to do, this machine is three months old, I paid the upgrade
> fee however it is worthless.
> My email is Babcock795@msn.com
> Thanks
> James

[In my opinion - others may differ] I hope you backed up your important data
[if you have any] because you are going to have to re-install Windows.
Repartiton the harddrive during the install process. You can re-use the
Windows CD-ROM disc and product key. It should reactivate no problem. The
'Upgrade" disk can be used to perform a clean install - you may need some
'verification' media - any Windows 98 /95 CD-ROM will do - borrow one. If
you are afraid to do it yourself, take it to a local computer shop and they
should be able to install from your upgrade Windows XP SP2 CD-ROM for about
50 bucks [for labour] or so.

[However] You could do an "in place" upgrade install. That is, you install
Windows over the copy already installed. It's called a repair install. It
might work, although you paint a picture of a really screwed system so I
doubt it.

[To Add] If you want to be thorough, get MaxBlast software from Maxtor and
do a thorough zero-fill of the harddrive. This is the only way to be sure
you've gotten all the little devils on a thickly infested harddrive. Then
install Windows.

Windows XP SP2 is a reasonably secure operating system, if you use it right.
Download the weird and wonderful though, and you can have problems - so if
you want to avoid infestations in the future don't download wierd stuff.
Make sure the two "Install on demand" options are turned off in Internet
Explorer [ Tools > Internet Options > Advanced tab ].