How to make my PC virus free?

If your laptop PC is infected with a virus how do you format the hard disk and clean everything in it to make it completely empty like its new from the factory?

• Answer:

  Caution: this will remove all files from your hard disk. All programs and personal files will be lost. You need a windows start up disk (floppy disk) with the "fdisk" and "format" commands. Start the computer with the startup disk in. You'll get a promt, start the computer without CD-ROM support (don't install windows yet). From A:\ , run fdisk. Delete all the partitions, or if you know if a certain partition is uninfected, leve that one. After deleting the partitions, create a new partition (option 1). When the partition is done, reboot with the disk still in the floppy drive. Startup the way you did before. This time type "format c:" then "y". When the format is done (you might want to go to lunch if the hard drive is big), reboot your computer. If you have a bootable CD (WinXP, Win98 SE, or the restore disk from where you bought the computer), remove the floppy disk and put in the CD. If not, reboot with the CD and floppy disks in. Choose "start computer with cdrom support", type your CD drive letter (i.e. D:\), then type the installer (either "install" or "setup", use "dir" to find the .exe installer on your CD). You'll be installing windows... just keep answering the questions. After windows installs, you'll need to reload all your software, assuming you have the cds. I wouldn't back up your personal files as they may be infected.