My friends computer is so riddled with viruses that its unbelivable. So he wants to totally wipe everything and start over like he just bought the computer. How do I do this? Its a Dell Dimension E521 with windows XP Home edition. Help would be appriciated.

If you are absolutely sure, I think the command prompt for formatting is "Format C:\" (If your OS is on the C drive) make sure its booted into DOS prompt not windows as I don't think you can format a drive with the OS on it.

Run the OS CD whihc can with the PC.

 

Insert into DVD/CD drive, reboot your pc. When it say hit any key to boot from CD hit a key.

 

Choose to delete and format the drive followed by install windows.

To the first responder, FOrmating the C drive will not reer the computer back to factory installation. It will make it where you cant use windows and have to install an OS.

 

 

 

The only computer I can think of off-hand , that you can do a system recov, is the Compaq Persario (sp?).

 

 

 

If you have a recovery CD that came with your computer, that might work.

bballer, just to say, they're not the only computers you can do system recovery. All computers are supposed to have either come with recovery cds/dvds or a recovery partion. In other cases, windows will prompt you to make recovery cds (which mine did + I have a recovery partition on my Hp media computer).

I don't think XP home has recovery.

 

 

 

Using google would have found you an answer much quicker, but if he has an installation cd then put it in, boot up and change the boot priority in the bios to boot from cd before hard drive. Then just save and restart, and follow the prompts.

 

 

 

If he doesn't have an XP cd than he can either buy an OEM copy fairly cheap from ebay, or obviously the slightly more... free method.

 

 

 

He could try restoring, but I'm not sure that he can. I don't know a whole lot about it so I could be wrong.

Wow, I thought all windows XP versions had recoveries, that's what I'm used to see with every other Windows I saw (I.E. Windows ME, XP(my version) and Vista). Means I have it because I have Professional.. (I.E. Media Center Edition).

Seriously, why all the confusion about such a simple thing? Just back up all the stuff that he does want and then format all drives and reinstall Windows (By pressing F12 while the computer is starting up, selecting the CD/DVD drive and letting the CD take you from there). There's nothing complicated about it.

 

 

 

I thought of something to say on this line too, but that would be flamebait.

It is simple, assuming he has an installation cd. At least in Australia, if you buy a pre built computer you don't get a cd with it.

It is simple, assuming he has an installation cd. At least in Australia, if you buy a pre built computer you don't get a cd with it.

 

 

 

im not so sure about that. you might be right but im fairly sure some of them come with cd's, and the ones that don't have recovery partions anyway.

I don't know anybody that has bought a pre built computer and has gotten a cd or recovery partition.

I would suggest against backing anything up from the current drive. If it's incredibly riddled with malware, chances are that the second that you copy over the old files onto the formatted drive, you'll end up in the same spot.

 

 

 

I've known of viruses that are so resilient that they can come back after a full reformat.

 

 

 

So to be sure, Guttman it up or just buy a new HD.

Oh dear God, I haven't noticed the most important thing in this thread!

 

 

 

Make absolutely sure that you have an XP install disc, NOT an XP recovery disk. If you have the latter, your friend will be sourly disappointed.

 

 

 

Besides that, while I don't really prefer using it to wipe a hard disk, the XP install disc comes with an NTFS partitioner built-in. If you wanted to reformat, just delete the partition, then reinstall.