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    Need To Wipe My Hardrive Clean

    Discussion in 'Toshiba' started by Sircas, Mar 16, 2010.

  1. Sircas

    Sircas Notebook Consultant

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    I have a Tecra M3. I have viruses which are now blocking my Internet (Lan & Wireless) capabilities.

    I am unable to activate Norton because of this.

    I have tried reloading Windows XP. However, systems states that cannot load an older version (currently have Service Pack 3).

    I would like to fix or cleare the current Window XP and start fresh.

    Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Sircas
     
    Sircas, Mar 16, 2010
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  2. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    Do you have the original XP install disc? If so, stick it in at boot, and go to your boot menu, select CD/DVD drive, and boot from that. Then you can reinstall Windows XP.

    And back up your stuff as well, the hard drive will be completely formatted, meaning nothing except the clean install of Windows XP will be there.
     
    Amnesiac, Mar 17, 2010
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  3. Sircas

    Sircas Notebook Consultant

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    I have tried that!

    "I have tried reloading Windows XP. However, systems states that cannot load an older version (currently have Service Pack 3)."

    I am loading the disk and following the menu!

    Whatelse can I do at the point?
     
    Sircas, Mar 17, 2010
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  4. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

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    Wait a minute? Are you loading it at BOOT? Before you enter Windows? Because it shouldn't be doing that.

    If you are, you could try the following:

    Download nLite. Download SP3. Slipstream SP3 into the Windows XP install disc. This SHOULD work.
     
    Amnesiac, Mar 19, 2010
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  5. thescreensavers

    thescreensavers Notebook Consultant

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    Yea, if your booting from the CD there should be nothing stopping you from formatting and reinstalling XP. "starting fresh" If you do this do not select the quick reformat. If not you can try nLite like CZX58 Shadow has suggested

    If you want to try to clean your current installation

    try Anti Vir Personal Edition which is free and Malwarebytes which is free( google em). Put them on a flash drive, and get into safemode tap F8 on boot up. From Bios screen

    Select Safe mode with networking and install and update them. If you cant update them just start the scan and see what comes up. If you cant install Malwarebytes try changing the name of the exe. If it still wont let you install anything, restart and select Safe mode, no networking nothing else just safe mode

    If you want to format your hard drive with out the WinXp disk, google Darik's Boot And Nuke, burn the iso to a disk, if you need a program "imgburn" is free

    boot from the CD and when it comes up type in "dodshort" that will take some time, when its done

    Just pop in the XP CD and install XP. Have your drivers handy

    Good luck
     
    thescreensavers, Mar 19, 2010
    #5