can i get rid of a virus by reformatting my drive. how do i reformat. also will i loose my windows XP.

please can someone guide me.

thanx

depends on the kind of Virus, most you can sort out by formating and yes you will definately lose you XP, ,have you got and XP CD? if not borrow one from somebody and format your HD and reinstall windows, hope that helps.

Reformating is not the only option but if you feel like reformating maybe  because you cant get a good antivirus then follow this steps

get a good window xp service pack 2 cd
select the option cd/dvd as the first boot device from your bios setup
then reboot the system with the xp cd placed in it
then follow the instruction

but be careful because if care is not taken u might loose some vital things especially if it is a laptop i will advice u get a specialise

n if u still find it difficult then u can mail me at omitsn@yahoo.com or call 08032504530

If you feel you dont have any critical files worth saving on your hardisk, then go ahead and format, But if you have some files that you just cant live without, then my advice is to go to a competent laptop/pc repairer who will remove your hardrive from the system and using an external ide/sata cable will scan your hardrive from his own pc and remove any virus there. he can also defragment the drive and scan it for errors. goodluck.

I dont ever recommend reformatting; not always a nice option on the long run cos u can never get the system exactly how it was.You finally observe that your installed programs and files will be missing later on.
I recommend you get an updated antivirus.Then you start your system in safe mode and do a system scan.I fit doesn't wor; then i am sorry you need to try samir101's advice sor your last resort will be to do a format but i hate the formatting option shaaa

YOU guys are missing what the initial poster said, he has a VIRUS, he dont even know what kind, now if its a new kind of VIRUs hows is the antivirus gonna work especialy in Nigeria eh, here in the developed world we dont use CD based antivvvirus we use networked ones ie, paid subscription to something like Mcafee, fru online,, but then again ours are on net 24/7 so get regular updates,

Now like the other guy said, if you have files you cant do without then take you HD toa technician to retrieve your files,
but in all, you cna only get rid of it by reformating and you got windows XP CD handy

now that dont always solve the case as we have what we call Boot Sector Virus, now that one resides in ur motherboard, thats Death of a PC cos in other for any technician to repair it, virus might transfer themselvs from your system to thiers, hard work abi

y r u guys talking like this,
as an engineer or IT expert i believe formmattin should be the last tin to do wen there is any system problem cos there is always a solution no mata wat,
so i will suggest that geebees should slave the hard drive and scan a thorough scanning on that drive that u slave,

buttttttttttttttt
if the virus is that latest virus by name (funny ust), then formmating or slaving will not work so all u need is to use the cleanser to remove that virus becos antivirus dont detect it (i mean most of them) that virus is bad (it came out early 2008),

so will give u the cleanser lata if that is the case,
ok?

am available for anybody's problem
bigamos4ral@yahoo.com

08030551776, 07082070074