After going 1 year without an antivirus program the comp finally got a big virus...yay.

Everytime I start the computer now it shows, we have lost certain files and therefore will not have access to all the momory that was on this computer, all saved settings while on computer will also be terminated upon shutting off computer. And when I start my computer it is just like it is after installing windows. It says, click here for help on using windows xp, and all of my previous icons, and all my saved files are gone!. The Sasser worm still infects this computer and it is now ****ed beyond reason.

It is probobly best to reformatt computer. I know there is more than 1 way to format and reinstall windows on a computer, anyone know of a relitively straight forward way? I am trying to explain to my brother how to do it (infected as well) and he cant seem to do it properly through the way I explain it. Anyone know of a good site that walks through a format and reinstalling xp/98?

 

get a windows 98 boot disk
put in floppy disk
make sure bios boots from floppy before Harddrive
can't remember if FDISK allows you to format, or just partition try it, if no format - then type "format c:" once thats done, then go "fdisk" to create partition.

Once done reboot, from floppy you can begin windows install

 

really....I was creating a windows file on computer in dos, and then doing copy *.* in c:/win xp.

I have never even used the boot disk...
where do I check bios from floppy?

 

thats just one way....seems to be the easiest, or how i would do it.

BIOS is before you get to the bootup.....it'd be one of the F keys....F2 or F8 or F10....dependant upon who makes your BIOS

 

usually f1 or delete keys

 

OK,

If you have WindowsXP, the CD is bootable. Most versions of Windows 98 are bootable as well.

Try this first though:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com...r/FxSasser.exe

Its the Sasser Worm removal tool. It should nix your problem.

***NOTE***
For the Windows 98 Computer you HAVE to boot in safe mode to run the tool, in XP just boot normally.

Check the link from Symantec if you're looking for detailed instructions but you can just double click the file and let the tool handle your business.
http://securityresponse.symantec.com...oval.tool.html
If youre bent on formatting, witha bootable OS disc its pretty easy.... just let the disc boot into setup and kill the partition from the setup program (yes there is a way). Don't let it repair, a virus can still remain resident. Theres an option to delete partition, so choose that, and when it asks for a location to install windows, select the only option which should be UNPARTITIONED SPACE.

[ October 19, 2004, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: s.l.i.m. ]

 

thnx, but ive tried that sasser removal. It is for the older, less annoying 1. It made me disable my system restore so now I cant go back, and it didnt find the sasser. Plus thats the least of my worries now because most of my hard-drive is gone, and files are being placed in wierd places.

I will drop by some computer shops and try to pick up a boot disc...thnx guys, any more suggestions?

 

You know they have hacks that allow anti-virus protection until 2041 for Norton Anti-Virus, right ?

 

AVG download at http://majorgeeks.com/download886.html

I was running PC Cillin and got a back door. GRRRRR So I went back to AVG It works and the price is right FREE!

 

Best thing to do.. Wipe the drive clean and start fresh..

I have been fighting with a friends pc for the last 3 days.. Loaded windows xp . upgraded to SP2, got the rbot trojan within 5 minutes of being online.. We tried for a day just to remove it using various tools and such to no avail.. formatted again last night and reloaded.. only way to deal with a virus..