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Can worms/virus/trojan still infect after Format + Fresh XP install?

Appledrop

Appledrop

Platinum Member
reformatted, then installed xp, but there is still bursts of 100% cpu load, and very laggy operation... he also said that his taskbar changed from xp style to classic then back again on itself at one point!?!?

is it possible for a bad program to stay after format+fresh windows?

what could be doing this??

thanks...
 
Wouldn't be possible unless the installation disk had a virus on it.

Have you installed any virus scanners to check? When the CPU goes to 100%, what's application is using the CPU the most in task manager?
 
well, when the bursts of lag happen, the cpu load in processes does not add up to 100.. so im thinking either a hidden process , or a hardware issue.. also, the XP disc is authentic...

thanks
 
Mostly a question here - but I've been led to believe that, yes you can still have a virus after a reformat if it's in the MBR (older typr viruses). I thought you needed a LL Format (writing zero's really) to handle that sort of thing. Is this correct?

Fern
 
He probably got the virus again by doing the same stupid stuff that got him the first virus. I see that very often where people just go back to using their computer the same way and making the same mistakes again and again.
 
Originally posted by: XZeroII
He probably got the virus again by doing the same stupid stuff that got him the first virus. I see that very often where people just go back to using their computer the same way and making the same mistakes again and again.
Click to expand...


not to rip on the thread starter but i hear you man every time i go back home theres 4 computers riddled with spyware and popups and every time i leave they are clean and every time i return its the same thing i wonder if my family does this on purpose to keep me coming back 😛
 
Originally posted by: Fern
Mostly a question here - but I've been led to believe that, yes you can still have a virus after a reformat if it's in the MBR (older typr viruses). I thought you needed a LL Format (writing zero's really) to handle that sort of thing. Is this correct?

Fern
Click to expand...

Nah, just boot up with a Win98 setup disk, and at the command prompt type in fdisk /mbr. Wipes out the master boot record.
 
What I'd try is a download of "KILLDISK.exe for XP. (It's free) Wipe the HDD clean. Repartition & Format and before reloading XP unplug your cable to the network/ISP; reload XP; reattach the network cable; then immediately go to Windows update and get the update that blocks MYDOOM.(I think it's the MYDOOM that gets into the unpatched XP.) Then get all the Critical updates installed. Before any other apps. If you are SP2 I believe those patches are already there. But for XP SP1 you need to get to windows update pronto.
 
Originally posted by: XZeroII
He probably got the virus again by doing the same stupid stuff that got him the first virus. I see that very often where people just go back to using their computer the same way and making the same mistakes again and again.
Click to expand...

I hear you on this one. However, in defense of the user, I did format/re-install a while back, no network plugged in (installed XP with SP1 from CD). Plugged in the network, immediately did windows update, when it finished and rebooted, I already had a virus on the computer. That was just insane, it was back in the MSBlaster days, I couldn't believe it. So, from now on I install a virus scanner/software firewall before even running windows update...
 
Originally posted by: SagaLore
Originally posted by: Fern
Mostly a question here - but I've been led to believe that, yes you can still have a virus after a reformat if it's in the MBR (older typr viruses). I thought you needed a LL Format (writing zero's really) to handle that sort of thing. Is this correct?

Fern
Click to expand...

Nah, just boot up with a Win98 setup disk, and at the command prompt type in fdisk /mbr. Wipes out the master boot record.
Click to expand...

A format/reinstall should overwrite the MBR anyhow.
 
Run a virus, trojan, and adware scan. If they come back clean, your problem is most likely not malware related

a few links for you....

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

http://security.symantec.com/s...angid=ie&venid=sym

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/#free

http://www.pestscan.com/

It's also a good idea to delete your cache (and emptying the recycle bin) before running the online scans, since this will make for a quicker scan and some viruses live in your web cache.

There really isn't any reason to have to reformat a system because of viruses, there are plenty of really easy to use removal tools for all of the major viruses. You might find something obscure, but then again, an obscure virus isn't really doing it's job now is it. Symantec has some excellent virus removal tools that you can download from thier site with really good instructions.



 
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