Dell Inspiron 6000 + Virus + New Install of Win. XP

bkribbs

bkribbs

New Member
hey.

I just fixed the monitor on the Dell Inspiron that my dad gave me, so I will now be using it more often. A few questions:
1. What all do I need to wipe it, and start fresh with a new install of XP proffesional (this is what it has now)?
2. I think it has a virus, if I reinstall windows, the virus will be gone, right?
3.It is running really slow. If i wipe it and start fresh, will it speed up?
4. If i dont wipe it how should i speed it up?
5. Is it capable of running windows 7? or should i stick with xp?
 
Oh. Also, I need to backup the files. I have an rlexternal hard drive. What's the best way to back it all up?
 
If it has a virus, why don't you run this procedure so we can get it removed.

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from here or here and save it to your desktop.
  • Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
  • At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to
    • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
    • and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  • then click Finish.
  • If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version. Please keep updating until it says you have the latest version.
  • Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
  • When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
  • Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
  • A log will be saved automatically which you can access by clicking on the Logs tab within Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

If you continue to experience problems after doing this, please post a HijackThis log by doing the following:

Download the HijackThis installer from here.
Run the installer and choose Install, indicating that you accept the licence agreement. The installer will place a shortcut on your desktop and launch HijackThis.

Click Do a system scan and save a logfile

Most of what HijackThis lists will be harmless or even essential, don't fix anything yet.

Post the logfile that HijackThis produces along with the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware log
 
so my main question is: what do i need to reinstall windows xp. i have the disc for xp professional sp2. once i install it, what do i need to do? do i need to upgrade to sp3? oh and where is the key for the cd? is it on the computer or where? i want to make sure i have it before i wipe the hdd. oh and how do i go about reinstalling xp? do i format the c:\ drive? or do i jsut pop in the xp disc and it will do it for me.?
 
Since it seems you have an install cd from microsoft and not from Dell then the key would be in the documentation that the cd came in. If its a reinstallation cd from Dell then its preactivated and cdkey is not required. You boot to the cd, delete existing partitions, repartition, format, install windows. Afterwards, you will need to install all the remaining drivers that windows didn't automatically install. Upgrading to SP3 would be personal preference, not required to do so.
 
johnb35 said:
Since it seems you have an install cd from microsoft and not from Dell then the key would be in the documentation that the cd came in. If its a reinstallation cd from Dell then its preactivated and cdkey is not required. You boot to the cd, delete existing partitions, repartition, format, install windows. Afterwards, you will need to install all the remaining drivers that windows didn't automatically install. Upgrading to SP3 would be personal preference, not required to do so.
Click to expand...

actually, i guess i didnt clarify. i have the microsoft cd from dell. so does this mean that i dont need a key? and what do i need to partion it into? 2 partions? how many? and what size?

<edit>
also do i need an internet connection while i am doing this? because i will be on the plane for 2 hours later, which would be a good time to do it.
</edit>
 
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No key is required to enter when installing windows with Dell systems, its preactivated. How big is your hard drive?
 
johnb35 said:
No key is required to enter when installing windows with Dell systems, its preactivated. How big is your hard drive?
Click to expand...

70.9gb is my c:\ drive

is the ***'s Documents part of the hard drive? because it is coming up as 32 gb., and i dont know if it is part of the 70 or not
 
Are you right clicking on C drive in my computer and clicking on properties and then looking at the capacity? Is that the only drive you have in your system? All users documents are part of the total space. If you have that small of a drive, it would be hard to partition that into 2 drives and have enough space for programs and data. You might want to consider buying a bigger hard drive. Use the old one for Operating System and programs and then using the new one for data only.
 
johnb35 said:
Are you right clicking on C drive in my computer and clicking on properties and then looking at the capacity? Is that the only drive you have in your system? All users documents are part of the total space. If you have that small of a drive, it would be hard to partition that into 2 drives and have enough space for programs and data. You might want to consider buying a bigger hard drive. Use the old one for Operating System and programs and then using the new one for data only.
Click to expand...

yeah its just 70. i dont really need more space right now, and couldnt afford one even if i did. should i look at what the partions are before deleting them, then just use the same numebrs? or what do u think? and do i need to have an internet connection while reinstalling xp?
 
Well, your gonna have to back up your data before reinstalling windows. I think I would just leave that size drive as one partition.

No, you don't need an internet connection while installing. If you don't know what you are doing, then you should leave it someone that does.
 
johnb35 said:
Well, your gonna have to back up your data before reinstalling windows. I think I would just leave that size drive as one partition.

No, you don't need an internet connection while installing. If you don't know what you are doing, then you should leave it someone that does.
Click to expand...

Nah. I'm doing it myself. I just haven't done it with windows Ina year or 2. So I do or don't need to partition it?
 
I would leave it as one really. It's not really big enough to make it 2 partitions. You'll run out of space on one them if you split it.
 
johnb35 said:
I would leave it as one really. It's not really big enough to make it 2 partitions. You'll run out of space on one them if you split it.
Click to expand...
Ok. Was the reason you said to partion it just to have one for programs and the os and one for my music vids docs and whatever else?
 
yes. That way if you ever have to reinstall windows, then most of your data will be on the separate partition and you wouldn't need to back it up.
 
johnb35 said:
Depends on the system specs. How much ram and what processor is in it?

When you get it up and running download the windows 7 upgrade advisor, it will tell if it can run it or not and it there would be any issues.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...90-7659-4bd9-9e51-2497c146af15&displaylang=en
Click to expand...

i have it running right now, im just waiting for my dad to get home so we can get all his files off. it just runs really realllllllly slow right now. im checking now. thanks
bkribbs
 
Doesn't sound like you have enough memory. That laptop's max memory is 2gb. Your better off staying with XP it thats what is installed on it. If it vista, you should go back to XP.
 
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