How to reformat?

I have been fighting with a virus for the last 3 days. I give up and I'd like to reformat my disk.

I can't even do that because my Dell came with a Service Pack 1a and then I installed SP2 that I downloaded from Microsoft. Now it tells me that I can't install my original OS.

I tried to look for the SP2 file, but the virus has disactivated the search function and it's impossible to look for a specific file unless if I know exactly where to look for.
Also the virus has killed my internet connection. If I have to download files, I have to do it through another computer and transfer by disk.

What happened to the format c: command? I thought that would do the job, but I guess I'm getting old. I couldn't get it to work.

If you could guide me to format my disk and start clean I'd be very grateful.
Thanks
Jim

Your Dell disk should have the capability to restore to factory settings regardless of SP2.

What is the Dell model & ####? I can show you the path to uninstall SP2 but it shouldn't be neccessary.

There are external tools to format the drive but I would be careful not to alter anything that Dell has in there. If you had a Microsoft XP CD then no problem but the Dell XP is altered to that Dell machine.

What happens when you try to use the Dell Restore?

I have a Dell Dimension 4700.

I have been fighting with this machine for a few days now. Somehow it started a reformat, as I was trying different options at the system start (the dell screen).

BUT it turned out that it has installed XP only, with no drivers. Result is that there is no internet connection, I can't execute a file from CD and I can't even copy a file to the hard drive.

When I run the Resource CD, it only shows me the devices that are installed on the computer but it doesn't install any drivers. It's info only.

I still do have the XP CD but I don't have the key anymore.

Thanks for your help

The Dell Recovery process is outlined here:

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...30030ABD62041A

You will also find the Dell drivers here:

http://support.dell.com/support/down...&os=WW1&osl=EN

If you are trying to use a Microsoft XP CD without a Product Key there is nothing you can do with that.