I stupidly opened and run a "greeting card",before I realised I'd scrambled everything,particulary lots of registery entries.Have got rid of lots of the junk with different adware removers.But i've decided to start again with a fresh install of every thing.Does "just" re installing windows do that or is there another way of formatting hard disc as well.Want to make sure thers nothing left. thank you
well, usually I go about things this way: I collect all the data I'll need and burn it to a DVD or something. Then I throw in a OS CD (usually my Windows XP Pro) and simply boot from it. At the start of the setup, I can delete partitions and form new ones, format them and then choose where to put the OS on. Formatting the HDD with the conventional built-in Microsoft tools will not erase all data (it can theoretically still be recoverable, at least partly with some fancy special tools), but form the view of the system, all will be clean and that's more than enough. All known spyware/viruses will die after a clean format-and-reinstall. Just make sure you put some real good protection on to your system after the setup (I use AVG free).
