Deleting EVERYTHING on a Harddrive

[[v]@bans]

How can I delete everything on my HD? You know how you can't see boot.ini in the command prompt by using the "DIR" but if you type c:\boot.ini the file executes. I'm sure I have spyware hidden in a similar way and I'd like to COMPLETELY wipe everything from my HD. What can I do?

[eeyrjmr]

you mean a format?
but you will need to re-install windows and all

spyware software (adaware et al) all ready know abt spyware tricks so just scan and virus check. find a reg cleaning software

[[v]@bans]

Well I have been getting a message sayign that i have spyware installed but it's displayed using a system announcer of sort. I have tried to format my harddrive, and installed a fresh copy of windows but I still get it. I was having an issue with the boot.ini saying that I had 2 version of win2k installed and it asked me which one I would like to use, but I kept getting that message after I deleted my partitions, formatting, which leads me to conclude that there is a certain amount of space set aside for this information, which inturn make me think there is further information stored in that space to continue this spyware bullshit that I keep seeing.


Ref: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=831781

I have have spybot and ad-aware running, but I continue to get that message.

[KoolDrew]

Could it be the mesenger service?

[awyeah]

@bans']Well I have been getting a message sayign that i have spyware installed but it's displayed using a system announcer of sort. I have tried to format my harddrive, and installed a fresh copy of windows but I still get it. I was having an issue with the boot.ini saying that I had 2 version of win2k installed and it asked me which one I would like to use, but I kept getting that message after I deleted my partitions, formatting, which leads me to conclude that there is a certain amount of space set aside for this information, which inturn make me think there is further information stored in that space to continue this spyware bullshit that I keep seeing.


Ref: http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=831781

I have have spybot and ad-aware running, but I continue to get that message.Edit your boot.ini. Remove one of the instances of Windows. That solves that problem.

In addition, what type of security software are you running? You mention you use ad-aware and/or spybot. How about antivirus software? Also, what kind of firewall do you have, if any? Software? Hardware? Both?

[[v]@bans]

No anti virus software, or firewall. I for the most part visit about 10 sites. This being one of them. like I said, all I use this PC for is gaming. My primary computer I use day to day is my Mac, and I don't usually have to worry about any of this on there.

[Deadlierchair]

@bans']No anti virus software, or firewall. I for the most part visit about 10 sites. This being one of them. like I said, all I use this PC for is gaming. My primary computer I use day to day is my Mac, and I don't usually have to worry about any of this on there.

You need to have anti virus software and a firewall of some kind installed. Simple as that. I'm quite happy with my combo of SP2 firewall and Norton 2005, but there are a bunch of combos out there. Zonealarm is used quite often for firewall, you might try that one out. For AV, I used to use http://www.free-av.com/ which was quite good.

[Lord of Shadows]

Could it be the mesenger service?
Sounds like it is to me, go to control panel->administrative tools->services, find "messenger" stop it, then disable it.

[awyeah]

@bans']No anti virus software, or firewall. I for the most part visit about 10 sites. This being one of them. like I said, all I use this PC for is gaming. My primary computer I use day to day is my Mac, and I don't usually have to worry about any of this on there. I see. You probably don't want to install extra software because you don't want it to slow down your system - that's understandable. Even so, I'd still recommend you install at least an AV package and a spyware package.

If you don't want to have anything extra running (which is really what would slow it down), I would still install Ad-Aware SE (which doesn't go resident), and then visit Trend Micro's House Call (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/) which is a free online virus scanner.

[[v]@bans]

No I have folded to the powers that be. I can't do ANYTHING without any of that software, so I have opted to install a Sygate Personal Firewall, which is extremely user friendly, Antivir Guard for my AV, and Spybot-S&D. I'm currently reading the www.BlackViper.com: Windows 2000 Professional and Server Services Configuration 411 To see what I truly need to be running to make up for the memory and system usage of those programs.

At this point running the system completely naked just brings my system to a snail's pace with viruses, spyware and God's knows what else. There is NO REASON FOR IT. If it wasn't for CoD, UT2004, WoW, HALO PC, HL2 or better said PC games I would honestly not even use Windows. I'm completely lost with this kind of situation because (sorry to sound like a commercial) but with my OS X I never had to deal with this kind shit. Oh well, at least I know now, thanks everyone because everyone has been extremely helpful..

On a side not I've heard good things about Grisoft AVG which is better? Grisoft AVG or AntiVir? Is it just a matter a preference? I'm about to install both just for the heck of it, to see how much of a hit my system takes. I am considering to max out my ram (4 gigs) and getting a AMD 3200+ so if that is the case that should make short work of those little progs.

[Timdog]

Uhm, you do know those popups are just companies trying to sell you software. I wouldn't worry about it as long as you still get good performance.