My xp commputer has been disabled by a Malicious software/vrus such that I cannot perform a clean install as cd drives are disabled. I believe the the virus has deleted programs from the hard drive. Will replacing the hard drive with a new one ( Seagate barracuda 7200.10 80GB) solve problem, and if so, how do I format new drive? Any help appreciated.

"I cannot perform a clean install as cd drives are disabled" Booting off the CD occurs before Windows loads. The chances of a virus affecting the ability to boot off a CD are slim. Have you checked your boot order settings in the BIOS? "I believe the the virus has deleted programs from the hard drive" How would you know that without checking? "how do I format new drive?" Partitioning & formating can either be done using the Seagate software or during Windows installation. But I think you shoud take a little more time & try to remove the infection, if that is what you actually have. A better place to ask would be the Security & Virus forum.

I've been to that forum and have not had success. As I posted over there, every attempt made to run a scan of my computer with programs like Malwarebytes or hijackthis have failed--the scan just terminate before completing. When I put the operating system disc into the d drive at start up, it fails to boot. Part of the problem is that I have no desktop. Whatever got into the computer--possibly rootkit type malware--caused desktop to disappear, including start menu. I can run some programs via task manager. My plan was, after all scans to identify the bug failed to do so, to do a clean install since I was able to save files using Task Mgr. Problem now is cant get disc to run. Also, in safe mode having the same problem--no desk top or start menu. Is there another way to dump hard drive and reinstall windows from disk?

you need to boot from the cd and, this has nothing to do with the HD. As a matter of fact, you don't even need a HD to boot from the cd. If you don't believe me disconnect the HD and, try booting from the Cd. "Have you checked your boot order settings in the BIOS?" did you do this? larry

1st of all, you need to double check the boot order setting in the BIOS to make sure your CD drive is listed before the HDD. 2nd, when you attempt to boot off the Windows CD, you need to "press any key..." when prompted. If you don't, the system will bypass the CD & move on to the HDD. If you're not seeing the prompt, it may be hidden behind the splash screen. 3rd, don't guess that you have a rootkit. Run a program such as "rootkit revealer" to confirm that one is present. If there is, then it's just a matter of determining the best way to remove it. Many times, repairing the MBR will take care of it. http://www.filehippo.com/download_r...

"you need to double check the boot order setting in the BIOS to make sure your CD drive is listed before the HDD." With the limited functionality this vrus/malicious infection has caused (see respone 2 above), together with my being a computer novice, could you give me instructions for checking bios boot sequence.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixth... This will walk you thru it.