Can someone give me a step by step instruction for fixing a computer with a virus? I have a Windows XP cd, and am going to try reinstalling windows.
are you sure you need to re-install windows? when was the last time that's be done? (if it's 3+ years, i'd do the re-install. if not, don't bother).
Do you have all the appropriate drivers or other CDs that came with your computer?
If you do re-install windows, make sure you have the network card/wireless card driver somewhere else (thumb drive, cd, etc). If you reinstall windows and don't have a network driver, you can't go online to get the network driver WITHOUT the network driver (like a catch-22).
Its an older PC with no discs. It was given to my brother.
ok then format it. make sure about the network driver though, for sure.
I'll try. Thanks.
You should check out this free program: http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/index.htm
It will grab all the current drivers on your machine so you can restore them after the install.
have you run an Anti-virus program to check for viruses?
You can get AVG Free, or Avast!... or use HouseCall or something.
He had Norton Antivirus on it. It didn't do anything.
Norton Antivirus is kinda crappy, because people get it for free and don't realize it stops updating unless they pay for it. So the antivirus was probably years out of date.
Get AVG Free and run that on there. http://free.grisoft.com
i liken Norton requiring the $50/year as blackmail. Customers pay it b/c they're scared not to. They don't know what will happen if they DON'T pay it so they keep paying.