Should i re-install xp, or should i un-install, and install again?

Question

My computer's getting very slow (spyware, trojans etc), and my computer's not exactly a new one anyway, so it gets slow very quickly. I want to wipe EVERYTHING off, and start over again, and TRY not to get any viruses... What should i do, and can it be done easily (ie, without my dads help)... I don't weant my dad knowing that i've done this, cos he gets mad at how i trash my computer (can't blame him really, lol).
Also:
I KNOW i have viruses+trojans on my computer, so how come AVG doesn't pick them up?
Thanks! :D

Answer 1

if you are suffering from virus issues then the best option is to re-install as this is going to give you the better end result.

If you choose to back up any data make sure you virus scan it before loading it to your new install!

Reloading XP is simple enough but you need to have a few things in place before starting.

You need to be sure you have a windows XP CD to match your current install, this of course should match the licence sticker on the machine. Without the licence number you are not going to get far. Ideally you need to have either a driver CD (from the mainboard) or download the drivers first and save them to a USB drive or other external source. This should ensure you have an easy set up experience.

As to AVG, no AV program is perfect! The free 2011 version is the best one they have produced to date, it is a response to the Microsoft Security Essentials program and what options and features it offers. Everyone has there own personal opinion of what is the best AV option, I use AVG at home (the Internet Security version) and at work PC Tools Internet Security edition and I find both are good. As a repair centre we get a wide variety of installed AV programs on the client machines and the ones that give the biggest issues seem to be Panda, Norton and McAfee with the free version of Avast possibly being the worst when it comes to infected machines. Others swear by Avast and the others and each to his own, generally it comes down to the areas of the internet you surf, how often you update it and certainly whether you have the paid for or free versions.

Answer 2

First of all you should make sure your AVG virus definitions are up to date otherwise it won't recognise some of the newer virus's. Also if you use AVG Free I don't think it detects spyware, try getting an anti-spyware aswell there are some free ones search google.



If you re install windows that's fine, but it will get in the same position again if you don't maintain it properly.



You really should:



Remove old unused programs



Remove unwanted files to free up HDD space



Defrag the HDD (I prefer defraggler rather than the windows defrager)



Run disk cleanup





just doing these few things alone can really help keep your pc running smoother, if you don't know how to do them you can easily look them up in google as it will be good for you to learn anyway.



If you want to start again from scratch, you need an XP cd, make sure you have the XP Product key before you do anything, you will need drivers for your hardware e.g. graphics card, network card, wireless network card, usb controllers etc...



It is best to plan these thing's in advance otherwise you could be stuck with a computer unable to connect to the internet and with poor graphic quality and your dad would then notice.



Also don't forget windows have a certain amount of times they will let you use your product key, even though you own it... You will then have to ring them up and explain why you have exceeded this amount, which will show on your phone bill, so I would check up how many times you have used it too.



The best thing to do is delete the partition completely and format the whole drive.



Back up all the data you want first otherwise you will lose it.



Sorry it is not in more detail I don't have to time to go into it much more. Do some more research in google first and learn a little bit about it. There will be some helpful guides for you to read about somewhere.





Edit-



I agree norton was never a good anti-virus for me, whereas AVG was fine, just a bit slow :(, if you do as suggested and install windows 7 (do not get vista 0_o, because then you will see what a slow pc really is :/) don't use Mcafe, there are problems (unless they have now been fixed) that cause blue screen of death every 10 minutes or so which is not very fun.

Answer 3

Sometimes they can hide or your anti-virus or the anti-malware hasn't been told where to look for a specific virus yet.



Before doing a clean install, try running your anti-virus and anti-malware programs in safe mode.



Restart your PC and start taping the F8 key. A menu will appear.



Select Safe Mode with Networking. A clean version of Windows will start. This will take a few minutes so hang on. Things will look different too, but that's okay.



Once Windows is loaded, run a full scan with your anti-virus program. Delete everything that it finds.



Open your favorite web browser and download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. Install, updated, and run a full scan of that, too. Delete everything that it finds.



Restart your computer again but let it boot up normally this time. Your virus and malware problems should be cleared up.



Now, if you want to complete start over then you'll need the user's manual. It has instruction on how to use the recovery disk or recovery partition that should have come with your PC. If you don't have the manual, you can download it from the manufacturer's web site. Just search their support section for your model number and you'll be directed to the downloads available for your PC.



If your PC didn't come with a recovery disk or partition then, at the very least, it should have come with a Windows OS disk. Pop it into your optical drive and restart. You'll be asked if you want to boot from the optical drive. Choose to do so.



Once the installer is loaded, tell it to format the hard drive and begin the installation. The format will wipe the drive clean of all files, viruses included.



Make sure to back up any files you want to keep.

Answer 4

Antiviruses are not always that efficient in detecting some malware or trojans, so you better format your partition and re-install the operating system cause getting rid of those viruses you have will take 3 times longer than to just re-install. But if you want to spend few hours cleaning everything try this http://www.malwarebytes.org/ and this http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/avptool2010?level=2

Answer 5

Well AVG Is A Anti-virus, Not Anti-Spyware/Malware.



Neither is it a Suite, So t's ONLY A AntiVirus.



If You want to Wipe it.. Burn Dban to a CD, Restart and Boot the computer from the Dban CD. Type.. autonuke .. and hit enter. This will Eradicate Any Data/Viruses Ect.

http://download.cnet.com/Darik-s-Boot-and-Nuke-for-CD-and-DVD/3000-2094_4-10151762.html



WARNING: Remove any USB's Ect Or They Will Get Wiped Aswell.



Then Install Your OS.



Hope it helps :)



P.s: The Best Free Security..



Avast Anti-virus -> http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html

Remember to Register Avast.. It's Free.



MalwareBytes Anti-Malware -> http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html



Best Paid Security suite -> http://www.eset.com/us/home/smart-security



Also NEVER.. I Repeat.. Never Ever Use Norton.. Crappy thing.

Answer 6

Yes, you should reinstall XP



I have an experience of viruses from many countires. And some of them cannot be cleaned or even quarantined by any updated antivirus.



So you should reinstall the windows. But,

The way to reinstall should be different than before.



If your first installation using n. methode. Now to reinstall use fat methode.



After installation is finish,

Install antivirus as the first program and do online update. Activate Real Time Protector ((some AV do automatically after installation)

Answer 7

Go to remove or uninstall programs and delete watever u don't need. Reinstalling your os won't help much and will cause an annoying process and will take a while. Instead get a payed virus protection program, a registry cleaner and a decent firewall( usually included in a virus program) AVG isn't the best program out there so there's no surprise it won't detect a lot of viruses or Trojans. Also get familiar with what process names most viruses use and learn to remove them safely via task manager.

Answer 8

AVG free is good for being free, but it's free. Make sure it's updated and scan again.



It might not be viruses slowing your computer down, it could be registry errors and other crap. Reinstalling windows will help.



Just reinstall, it will reformat the drive and wipe everything clean.

Answer 9

option 1 : Change your AV (Buy original AV and update it and "Full Scan" your computer once)



option 2 : Re-Install XP (As most the virus(Trojans main code) will only be present in System drive... except "worms" )



option 3: TOTAL format ^_^.

Answer 10

first off, avg isn't that good, norton's better

free trail at norton.com for 30 days on antivirus



back to the main point:

to install xp, just put in your xp disk to cd drive, shut off your computer, restart

it will tell you the everything will be wipe, yes, follow instructions

better not to backup your computer before doing this, the viruses might spread

remember, you want to wipe out everything

have your cds ready to put everything back

and you're done

simple reboot

Answer 11

first recover some files and then format it and install a pirated windows 7 ultimate from your friend or someone