i have a friend whose computer is rubber ducked, probably due to him never
having a firewall or virus protection.

i intend to back it up and then reformat the hard drive followed by a
re-installation of windows xp. 2 questions:

1. will this remove any viruses?

2. if i back up the files using windows xp back up in xp pro before the
reformat , can i then re-install/reinstate the files using windows xp home
edition for the new installation. in other words will the back up file from
the pro version open up when restored to a version of windows xp home
edition?

Hi

A reformat/reinstall may not remove all viruses. After the reinstall virus
check the system before you load any software. If the system has a
Broadband connection, disable that first.

Backing up data files shouldn't be a problem as they normally would not be
infected. And can then be used after the reinstall.

The only sure fire way to get rid of viruses is to perform a low level
reformat - but you'll have to get info. on how that be done from hard disk's
manufacturer's web site. That can be fraught with all kinds of problems
though.

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

"Steve UK" <stelker@nowhere.com> wrote in message
news:uVD5K0eEGHA.532@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
>i have a friend whose computer is rubber ducked, probably due to him never
>having a firewall or virus protection.
>
> i intend to back it up and then reformat the hard drive followed by a
> re-installation of windows xp. 2 questions:
>
> 1. will this remove any viruses?
>
> 2. if i back up the files using windows xp back up in xp pro before the
> reformat , can i then re-install/reinstate the files using windows xp home
> edition for the new installation. in other words will the back up file
> from the pro version open up when restored to a version of windows xp home
> edition?

"Will Denny" <willdenny@mvps.org> wrote...
>
> Backing up data files shouldn't be a problem as they normally would not be
> infected. And can then be used after the reinstall.

NOT NECESSARILY TRUE! There are numerous viruses/trojans that can infect MS
Office files, e-mail attachments, and (now) WMF media files, among others.
Before attempting any re-installation of data files, an active anti-virus app
should be installed on the new HD.


> The only sure fire way to get rid of viruses is to perform a low level
> reformat - but you'll have to get info. on how that be done from hard disk's
> manufacturer's web site. That can be fraught with all kinds of problems
> though.

A low-level format is certainly not within the realm of reality for a user with
the OP's apparent level of knowledge. The best he can do on his own is a HD
"wipe" using an appropriate app on an antivirus-protected machine, followed by a
repartition/reformat.