nah insert xp disk and do a upgrade and reinstall xp it shouldnt wipe any of your old documents it just resets windows

 

re installing xp over a current version of xp that contains viruses etc is a no no for obvious reasons

 

with regards to your desktop, it sounds like the active desktop has been turned on. This has a habit of slowing down systems. Cant remember if xp pro has this though but its worth looking into.

What you can do though is click on start, then run, and type in msconfig. Click on the startup tab and uncheck everything that you do not recognize. If in doubt post up what is in the list and we can advise what to disable.

Once disabled, click apply and then restart. When it restarts you will get a pop up saying you have used the system configurator, just check the box and okay it.

 

it wont let me cut and paste the items but it seems everything in there is enabled whet should I look out for to disable?

 

paper and pen is a fine thing.
Write it down or have this web page open, and then manually type the info in the quick reply box

 

reinstalling a copy of xp on top is better thing to do then formatting your hd because you can always format later, only resort to formatting your hd at the last resort mate! everyone know that! installing xp on top should sort it out, then run spybot to get rid of the nasties, it should easier to get rid of the spyware after the reinstall as long as you dont log on the net and get a firewall up before using the net

 

I agree re installing windows is sometimes better than formatting and installing from fresh, however if you reinstall xp over an existing copy that is riddled with bugs and viruses they will still be there!! you said youself that existing documents are still there. Viruses and spyware etc dont just hide in obvious windows directories.

 

Rasher

try the following

Download and run AVG antivirus.. quarantine/kill as much as you can

Download and run Spybot search and destroy imunise and fix as much as you can

download and run cws shredder its self explanitary

download and run hijack this or hijack blaster, these can be set to protect home page hijacks

change your browser to firefox, stops a lot of ie issues

download and run cccleaner if your not sure on what everything does, ask!!
dont just delete because it may be a shared DLL

download and run a decent free firewall

most of the above can be obtained from the twocows website its a safe site!!


Mart

 

cheers will do

 

.,,,