[Lazuli]

I have a compaq laptop running XP SP3. it is infected with something which displays itself as Personal Antivirus. I read thru your Malware removal guide an then used it. Never made it further than an apparent completion of TFC. Problem is that for whatever reason I now have no anti virus software on the hard drive. I have now swapped the hard drive for an older one that was not infected. However I have many files on the infected hard drive which are not backed up. I do have an enclosure to run the infected drive as an external drive and I also have a one more license remaining on Norton Internet security 2009 in the box on a shelf. I have other resources, and coonsider myself advanced novice at this level of troubleshooting. I am comfortable with most hardware and or software tasks except registry editing. I need my hand held on that one. My question is, can I remove the mal ware on the infected drive by connecting it as an external drive, even though it is loaded with an active OS (XP SP3). What are your suggestions? Thank you very much in advance for taking the time to read my topic. By the way the HD in the laptop right now has passed your removal guide and contains a current install of avast and updated zonealarm.