Does Re-installing windows XP from original CD's clear all viruses off the computer?

No unless you fdisk then format the HD prior to reinstalling Windows. This will supposedly get rid of all impurities. The sure way is to low-level format the HD - a process best handled by someone who knows the ins and outs. i_XpUser

Boot from the XP cd and follow the directions for the format and install. Be aware you will lose all the data on the disk. http://computervitals.com/

here...strike F2 when u restart ur dell at the dell logo...highlight bootsequence and hit enter...use arrow keys...highlight ide cdrom and take it to the top position by using the minus key on the right hand side of ur keybboard...hit the esc key which is on the top left connor of ur keyboard...hit esc key again...it will ask u save and exit...put the windows xp cd inside the top drive...hit enter on save and exit...ur computer will ask press any key to boot from cd...the moment u see it...hit any key on ur keyboard...if u can't find any key(hahaha) then hit enter.u'll see windows setup...very soon u'll get three options...hit enter to insall windows...then hit F8 for the lisence aggrement...the u'll get the option which will be hit ESC to install fresh copy of windows...so hit ESC...now u'll get one or more partitions...use arrow keys and highlight the partition tht has the max. amt. of file size which will be c:partition NTFS...highlight it and hit the D key on the keyboard...then hit enter to confirm...then hit L key to confirm again...now u'll have unpartitioned space...highlight tht and hit enter to install windows...then choose format the partition using NTFS file system quick...now don't do anything u'll see an exciting new look on ur screen...just follow the prompts it's simple..very soon u'll be on ur desktop...now u need to reinstall drivers...chipset video audio network and modem for dial up connection...use ur dell resource cd...u need to put tht cd when u reach the desktop with just the recycle bin...u'll get an ok--next and finsh button...then u'll get another next button...now u need to select ur modem on the left hand side then select the operating system...in the topic select drivers...look on the right and side u'll find different drivers...these r the ones u need...1)chipset--intel chipset s/w installation utility,2)video...depentds on which video card was shipped to u. 3)audio...again depends on which audio card was shipped to u...4)network...again it depends on which network card was shipped. all the drivers are fairly easy to install...when u click on intel chipset s/w installation utility which is the chipset driver ...u'll get an extract button at the bottom of the page ...hit extract then hit continue..then hit ok ..then hit yes...if yes to all is an ooption hit yess to all...hit ok...hit install now then hit open/run...hit next...agree to licence...in the end it'll ask u to restart so restart ur system...if u still hv issue contact me on nuttyforest@hotmail.com also add ur serice tag which is attached on ur system ...it's five or seven digit...i'll be able to pull ur drivers from support.dell.com....if u want screenshots for windows refer to windowsreinstall.com or go to this link--http://tinyurl.com/5e3xp-----------try it it removes everythin from the hard drive...fdisk format is for win98 & winMe.

Wowee bobby, that's the longest sentence of all time. DerekW

I bought one version of Windows XP Home Upgrade. I am upgrading from Windows 98SE. I did the upgrade on my laptop no problems. Last night I was performing the upgrade on my desktop when I ran into the activation issue. I can't activate my software because it has been activated already on the laptop. Do I actually have to spend another $100 to buy another XP upgrade package? After I read the license agreement it would seem as if that is the case. Your comments are appreciated.

roberthathaway I'm pretty sure you have to shell out again (although maybe there is some way of talking MS around). I would start a new post about this on XP forum - they are the guys who would know best on this point. DerekW