Will formatting eliminate all the viruses in my pc?

Question

I am runnning Windows XP Pro on my personal computer and it is has been infected by so many viruses. I tried scanning and deleting it using an anti-virus software but it didn't help.

Answer 1

Formatting isthe last chance. You first try to carryout system restore to a day previous to the day when there was no virus or any problems. It may be a few weeks or months back. You have to decide the date. Detailed instructions are posted at http://fixit.in/systemrestore.html The problem will be solved. Then,You insatll a standard antivirus soft ware such as Norton, AVG , Avast ( free antivirus software and Ad-aware, Ewido ( free spyware removers). You can download free softwares at

http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html

After running the virus scan delete all temprory internet files including off line content and also unwanted files and temp. files. Finally, carryout a defragmentation . Your system will be back to the normal...!

Answer 2

It might. The Memory Resident or BIOS/CMOS ones are unaffected by a format. Run a AV program, a good one with all the most recent updates in Safe Mode. Best to run 3 or 4 AVs in safe mode.

If more Viruses were not written every day, who would lose money?

Thats why its best to run 2 or 4 AVs in Safe Mode. Absolute best advive, make a backup of the system before it ever goes on the internet, it is going to get a virus, they all do.

A Format, Re-Install is the only answer for any PC that goes online.

Windows/Apple hide there Source Code now, so a technichian or a geek really cannot fix a broken machine.

Thats another reason why all my most important data is on my Debian/Linux Hard Drive. Windows is just to play games on.

Answer 3

Formatting your hard drive will remove all viruses, as long as it's a full format of all partitions. However, formatting also completely erases all of your personal files and folders. So if there's anything on your computer that you wish to keep, you should back it all up to some blank cd-r's or dvd-r's before formatting.



It should also be noted that there are some types of viruses that can reside in the MBR (master boot record) of a hard drive, which will not be deleted when formatting your partitions. These viruses are rare, however. But you can ensure that the MBR is clean by typing "fdisk /mbr" at the command prompt before formatting the drive.



And make sure to visit the Windows update site after reinstalling Windows. Some of their updates prevent viruses from infecting your computer in the first place.



Good luck!

Answer 4

Yes it will but no matter what anyone tells you, its not an easy project! You first need to consider what software you want to keep and find out if you have the installation cds! You WILL lose data no matter how hard you try to back up files, you will probably also lose a ton of drivers and spend the next week lookin for driver files! All of these wont do you a dam bit of good if you are gonna turn eight around and infest your PC again!



Midoofus! You know about enough to be a danger to your PC!

Answer 5

DO NOT FORMAT! YOU CAN FIX THIS, AND NO RESTORE WONT FIX IT, YOULL HAVE TO TURN IT OFF TO FIX IT. BUT YOU WONT LOSE ANY CURRNET DATA JUST RESTORE POINTS. i just cleaned two computers with the same exact problems, first down load windows live onecare and spybot. very good and free. AND DO WORK! you just have to know how to use them, most people dont do it correctly and the virus returns. download them update the virus definitions when your done turn off system restore cause the virus's are stored there, run one care virus scanner, and let it finish. remove all the virus programs. then put the computer in safe mode, unplug your modem. and run spybot.... update spybot first before putting in safe mode. and has your desktop been hijacked too? with a symbol of virus protection and you cant right click the desktop? if so then do this. go to control panel, click appearance and themes, then click change the desktop, click customize desktop, then click the web tab on the top. this is whats hi jacking your desk top, delete it and leave my home page. this will stop the annoying desktop pop ups. and you can restore your desktop. you might have to restart. note: dont hook your modem up again until youve gotten rid of everything. then you can turn system restore back on. if your not sure its in start/programs/accessories/system tools, and click sytem restore, then restore setting and turn it on/off and they are phony pop-ups its not a real virus its a company wanting you to buy there spyware scanners and its just a pain in the a$$ there very annoying. somenames there called, privacy protection, smitfraud, win32 net booster/blaster. there just ads and not real virus's

Answer 6

Yes, formatting will eliminate all viruses on your PC. It will basically erase your hard drive. You will also have to reinstall Windows XP Pro - make sure you have your Windows registry key and drivers available!

Answer 7

Formatting hard drive could remove some types of viruses but some other types cannot be removed by that way as they are resident in the memory of the PC.



For the viruses you cannot remove, you can try searching about their names at symantec web site and you would find all the detailed information on how to handle them correctly.

Answer 8

Yes, unless it is a boot sector virus... Low level format your hard drive, and make sure there is no way for a virus to survive. Low level formating makes the whole hard drive zeros.



zach

Answer 9

how sure are you that it is a virus??have you tried to scan it?

if you are absolutely sure that those are virus that keep on destroying your computer then try first to download the latest antivirus with the latest virus definitionl..

if you want your computer to be formatted, be sure that you have the right drivers for your PC..anyway you can download those drivers on the internet..

and,,, of course, BACK UP your important files..Ü

Answer 10

YES! THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO!. THEN GET THE AVAST HOME EDITION ANTIVIRUS (IT'S FREE!)



http://www.avast.com/i_kat_207.php



VERY RELIABLE ANTIVIRUS!!!

Answer 11

yes, it will delete all the virus and also your file, be sure that you backit up

Answer 12

1000 % sure