[perryjoseph]

Assuming that I am not happy with the performance of my PC. And I suspect some virus. Will reformatting remove all traces ? I have heard somewhere that it still could lurk. Any reassurance on that ? Thanks

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Formatting does not actually remove the data on any media. It simply renames the files/directories.

I have not seen a virus "lurk" after reformatting, although I have to say that I really don't know that it can't.

If you really wish to wipe your disk clean. Download the hard disk manufactures disk utilities and zero out the drive... (low level format).

You can then be assured that no traces of the virus you're trying to get rid of will be left.

Note that once you zero out the drive, you will need to partition and format before you can install windows.

makai

[makai]

Formatting does not actually remove the data on any media. It simply renames the files/directories.

I have not seen a virus "lurk" after reformatting, although I have to say that I really don't know that it can't.

If you really wish to wipe your disk clean. Download the hard disk manufactures disk utilities and zero out the drive... (low level format).

You can then be assured that no traces of the virus you're trying to get rid of will be left.

Note that once you zero out the drive, you will need to partition and format before you can install windows.

makai

[Kat]

Please go to the malware forum and follow the instructions at the top....Especially the CLICK HERE .

That will give you several steps that will help you clean up 70 percent of all problems by yourself. If at the end of the process you are still having difficulty--and you may not be-- then post a hijackthis log in THAT forum.

If you are still having problems after getting a clean bill of health from the malware expert, please return to this thread.