And I want to help her by reformatting/reloading Windows XP on her computer...thus a quick way to delete whatever she has on it...that is clogging it up...

How might I go about doing this?

I've seen it done before when I was dating a computer whiz know it all...but that was then and this is now...

12/25/2005 11:30:04 AM

pop the installation cd in...and reboot your computer. Follow the directions.

12/25/2005 12:07:38 PM

when it asks where you want to install it shows a list of partitions. you can use the installer to delete all the partitions on the drive and create a new one. it will format the new partition for you. use NTFS.

12/25/2005 12:54:23 PM

Thanks guys.

But what if no partitions show up....

She just got an IPOD and is having trouble using it because she has junked up her computer so much...she needs a how to be protect my computer guide for dummies...

12/25/2005 1:20:36 PM

just download adaware, spybot, and the antivirus stuff the school gives out

if you are not a complete idiot those 3 are all you need

12/25/2005 2:11:01 PM

Nope, doesn't get everything off.

She has like programs that got installed and massive amounts of shit.

I just hope that this helps out and she doesn't have viruses like I had when I first was introduced to high speed internet...(she's had it for a while and her computer has been messed up for a while...it's almost to the point of unusable)

12/25/2005 2:23:42 PM

educate her before you reload

12/25/2005 2:27:09 PM

ok well tell her to get hijackthis, cwshredder, microsoft antivirus beta, adaware, spybot, ccleaner, spyware doctor, zonealarm pro, and the stuff that ncsu gives away for free

if that doesnt fix it you should reformat

[Edited on December 25, 2005 at 2:33 PM. Reason : seriously]

12/25/2005 2:33:10 PM

fuck all that...just go for the fresh install. As long as she backs up all her important information, then you'll thank yourself for reformatting from the getgo. Trust me.

Run the installation cd, delete all existing partitions, then create a new partition (this will automatically format everything), and just let it do it's thing. Within about 45minutes you should have a nice fresh computer.

12/25/2005 8:52:49 PM

Quote :

"tell her to get hijackthis, cwshredder, microsoft antivirus beta, adaware, spybot, ccleaner, spyware doctor, zonealarm pro, and the stuff that ncsu gives away for free "

Or just invest in a comprehensive suite for peanuts a month.

12/25/2005 8:58:05 PM

yeah i was basically trying to save her from that option

i figured quietly could do all the downloading shit, but when it comes to freshly installing a computer you need the xp disks and all that shit and seeing as it wasnt even her computer i doubt she knew where the installation disk would be

but yeah what tamim said is waaaaaaaay easier and better, cause for every virus you delete think how many it DIDNT catch

12/25/2005 8:59:23 PM

autoruns, a properly configured and updated xp install, and SAV9 and some common sense/eduation are all you need to keep a machine clean. firefox/opera and a decent mail client like outlook (not express) or thunderbird help as well.

12/26/2005 3:42:52 AM

Quote :

"tell her to get hijackthis, cwshredder, microsoft antivirus beta, adaware, spybot, ccleaner, spyware doctor, zonealarm pro, and the stuff that ncsu gives away for free "

mostly useless tools for someone like amy to use, besides cwshredder will remove next to nothing if she even has any spyware in that category, and hijackthis will probably cause amy to remove the wrong thing and fuck the computer even more. and microsoft's anti-virus beta is actually anti-spyware.

just download

adaware, spy-bot, spysweeper (trial) and install all those and run the updates then reboot and run the computer in safe-mode and run all three tools, then go to http://www.trendmicro.com and run their web based virus scanner and remove any virus' it finds. problem solved (mostly, could get into more detail and other tools but i doubt amy would be able to do that)

12/26/2005 5:43:55 AM

oh, ccleaner is nice too

12/26/2005 1:01:58 PM

ccleaner is mainly used to clear out all the junk that slows down spyware scans

12/26/2005 1:02:32 PM

yeah i run it like once a week or so and it gets like 70mb of shit atleast like every time

12/26/2005 6:16:56 PM

apparently it doesn't get all the 'likes' in your sentences

12/26/2005 6:56:27 PM

^

ehe cant read into sarcasm very well can we

[Edited on December 26, 2005 at 7:32 PM. Reason : .]

12/26/2005 7:32:04 PM

^obviously never met drunknloaded IRL

12/26/2005 7:33:42 PM

I got philihp on the job now when he gets back from Vegas!

12/26/2005 8:40:35 PM

haha i just realized i said like in that sentence like 3 times

12/27/2005 8:01:05 AM

Quote :

"like 3 times"

12/27/2005 1:33:23 PM

I apologize glovko, I didn’t think anyone could be that fucking stupid. I should realize who I’m up against on this website.

12/27/2005 1:35:35 PM

qiunn, accepted.

12/27/2005 1:36:45 PM