to format or not to format

[newtocomputers]

my computer has been running bad .i ran norton internet security 2009 and it said i had 38 viruses i tryed to reformat but i only have 1 sata hdd hitachi deskstar 80 gigs.how can i reformat it on the same computer? i'm sorry i am running windows xp home.

 

[KeypoX]

I dont understand the question. But you cannot reformat your windows drive while in windows. It has to delete windows and all that.

You need to reinstall windows, during the reinstall you need to do a clean reinstall. And format your drive. First backup anything you need to keep.

I didnt read this entire procedure but it should be good for a clean reisntall of vista http://windowshelp.microsoft.c...2671033.mspx#section_2

 

[corkyg]

Are you saying that Norton 2009 could not clean up the 38 viruses? That is amazing! Why have it if it doesn't work?

ANyway, you can do a clean install by booting with your Windows DVD. If you don't have one, use the computer's restore opartition to do a clean install.