I haven't installed Vista, but I have installed XP on many occasions. I suspect that the procedure is very similar, if not identical. I suggest you try to boot from the Windows Vista CD. Usually you hit <F11> or <F12> when the computer starts to boot (start from full shut-down) to get into the boot menu. Sometimes you have to get into the setup window (<F2> most often) and select the order in which the PC will try to find the boot disk. Select the CD-ROM first.

Once you boot from the CD, the procedure will be obvious. I recommend doing a clean install. Delete the entire partition and then re-create it. That will give you a "clean" install. It works better than trying to install Windows over itself. There are too many things that can still stay around if you do that.

(and stop clicking on unsafe stuff).

I have the same problem with a virus on my Computer and need to do a clean reinstall and I followed your instructions, but for some reason it will not do a install.
How can I get the old Windows xp of my computer, could you please help me!

Thank you in advance,
Mona

MWilken, your post appears to be a new one. You should have posted it in a new thread. Hopefully, someone with the capability will move it to a new thread.

What did you do to try to restore the operating system, and how did it fail?

I have Windows xp and I have a virus, I tried to do a clean install, but for some reason it does not work. Can some one please help me? I am going crazy!
I did look up some of the answers about reinstalling Windows xp and followed the instructions and it will not do a clean install. How can I remove Windows xp?

I appreciate any help!
Mona

What did you do to try to restore the operating system, and what error messages did you get when it failed?

Do you have an installation disk for Windows and do you have a disk with drivers on it?

Finally, have you backed up everything you want to keep (because everything that isn't backed up is going away)?

Its not a good idea to piggyback your question on someone else's. This can lead to confusion. You should start a new thread. So I've moved your question to its own thread.

I then found your own thread and merged the two

What did you do to try to restore the operating system, and what error messages did you get when it failed?

Do you have an installation disk for Windows and do you have a disk with drivers on it?

Finally, have you backed up everything you want to keep (because everything that isn't backed up is going away)?


I followed the instruction you gave to someone else, I have the Reinstallation CD MS Windows xp Professional, Including Service Pack 2, the drivers are on a separate CD.
I did boot it of the CD and I did not get an error, but it did not go to install, it just went to the HD and Windows came up and told me that I have a Virus. I have backed up everything I wanted to keep bevore that happened.

Mona

Boot the CD again. Follow the instructions. I don't remember the exact verbiage, but you probably picked the "Repair" option. Make sure you tell it that you want to install Windows.

Here's a link to a site that describes how to do a clean install:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

When you come to the part where you select an install partition (step 5 on Paul Thurrott's page), I suggest you delete the partition (hit "D") and then recreate it. I would also suggest formatting the partition -- don't do a "quick" format. Do it the long, boring way.

I think you won't have any problems doing it.

Boot the CD again. Follow the instructions. I don't remember the exact verbiage, but you probably picked the "Repair" option. Make sure you tell it that you want to install Windows.

Here's a link to a site that describes how to do a clean install:

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

When you come to the part where you select an install partition (step 5 on Paul Thurrott's page), I suggest you delete the partition (hit "D") and then recreate it. I would also suggest formatting the partition -- don't do a "quick" format. Do it the long, boring way.

I think you won't have any problems doing it.

Perito, I want to thank you very much, I did not get all of it done yet, but we had a major power out in Houston Texas, you are very intelligent.

Thank you,
Mona