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Windows Forum / Windows XP / General Topics 1 / May 2008Re-loading XP
I've had to re-load XP a couple times over the past few years due to virus/spyware problems I couln't resolve. My question is, does doing this erase all errors on the drive and or registry? I ask because after my latest re-install, I was getting pop-ups telling me that my registry was corrupt, and that I should visit such-and-such website to correct it. This happened while trying to re-load DSL software from a CD. Is there a fix or is this PC doomed? Would a new hard drive take care of this? Any help is appreciated. > I've had to re-load XP a couple times over the past few years due to > virus/spyware problems I couln't resolve. My question is, does doing this [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > doomed? Would a new hard drive take care of this? Any help is > appreciated. It depends on what you mean by "re-load". A Repair install uses the existing registry - that's why you don't have to re-create user accounts or reinstall programs - and so registry problems *are not fixed*. It it was broken before, it will still be broken after. A Clean install starts with wiping the drive, requires recreation of user accounts and reinstallation of applications. A brand-new registry is created. If you're getting popups saying that your registry is corrupt that direct you to a website, your system is infected with adware. And that's the kind of thing a Repair install won't address. As to loading DSL software, you probably don't need that at all, especially if you have a router. HTH -pk Thanks, Patrick. I did initially try a repair install, and as you say, it did little to fix anything. But I also did a full install after that. IE won't connect to my DSL. That's why I was trying to re-load the software and encountered the problems. It leads me to believe that even after a full re-install, there are still registry problems. Any other suggestions? > > I've had to re-load XP a couple times over the past few years due to > > virus/spyware problems I couln't resolve. My question is, does doing this [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > HTH > -pk > Thanks, Patrick. I did initially try a repair install, and as you > say, it [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > full > re-install, there are still registry problems. Any other suggestions? If it's a clean install and if it's SP1 or earlier, you are probably getting Messenger Service spam (which means your registry is fine). All you need to do is enable the Windows firewall, which happens automatically if you upgrade to SP2 or SP3. More info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330904 You will see that there is a temporary "workaround": disabling Messenger Service (not necessarily a bad idea). But it's more important to make sure you have a working firewall enabled for much better security. Also see "How to turn on or turn off the firewall in Windows XP": http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283673 These are probably Messenger Spam pop-ups. With "always on" internet connections it may be prudent to physically disconnect the cable from the internet while you format the drive and reinstall Windows, only connect the cable after Windows is properly installed and secured, make sure that your firewall is turned on before you connect to the internet or else you will get unwanted pests within minutes of connecting to the net. There is no need to replace your hard drive, it wouldn't make any difference. When you format the drive before re-installing Windows there will be no leftovers from the old installation. John > I've had to re-load XP a couple times over the past few years due to > virus/spyware problems I couln't resolve. My question is, does doing this [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > while trying to re-load DSL software from a CD. Is there a fix or is this PC > doomed? Would a new hard drive take care of this? Any help is appreciated. > These are probably Messenger Spam pop-ups. With "always on" internet > connections it may be prudent to physically disconnect the cable from > the internet while you format the drive and reinstall Windows Either that or use a router with a hard firewall enabled. Alias , only > connect the cable after Windows is properly installed and secured, make > sure that your firewall is turned on before you connect to the internet [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >> CD. Is there a fix or is this PC doomed? Would a new hard drive take >> care of this? Any help is appreciated. > I've had to re-load XP a couple times over the past few years due to > virus/spyware problems I couln't resolve. My question is, does doing this [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > doomed? Would a new hard drive take care of this? Any help is > appreciated. By any chance is this a laptop with 2 drives (one where data is kept for re-installing XP, etc?)  SignatureA successful [software] tool is one that was used to do something undreamed of by its author. -- S. C. Johnson > I've had to re-load XP a couple times over the past few years due to > virus/spyware problems I couln't resolve. My question is, does doing [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > from a CD. Is there a fix or is this PC doomed? Would a new hard > drive take care of this? Any help is appreciated. The message is coming from a bit of malware and is lying. Before anything else, get the infestation off your computer using the available malware (virus, trojan, adware, etc.) tools. |
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