Virus On System Reformatting An Option?

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.

If you feel you don't have any critical files worth saving on your hardisk, then go ahead and format, But if you have some files that you just can't 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.

YOU guys are missing what the initial poster said, he has a VIRUS, he don't even know what kind, now if its a new kind of VIRUs hows is the antivirus going to work especialy in Nigeria eh, here in the developed world we don't 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 can't 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 don't always solve the case as we have what we call Boot Sector Virus, now that one resides in your motherboard, thats Death of a PC    because in other for any technician to repair it, virus might transfer themselvs from your system to thiers, hard work abi