[xmichellee]

My laptop has some kind of trojan bla bla virus now. I can't do anything on that laptop. I can't even move files or copy/paste stuff or open an internet explorer window~

hmm, so i wanna reformat/reboot it.
must i have the CD to reformat it or is there any other way?
that laptop is really old (Windows ME)
aish~


i hope someone replies to this. I have sooo many things to do on the comp and i can't let it be like that forever... TT_TT

[awdark]

Okay ill take a shot...

If you reformat the laptop EVERYTHING will be gone. Is the data important?

Yes, you will need a Windows ME disk or some magical recovery disk (assuming it has some recovery partition that isn't damaged)

Im not sure if ME has a XP repair install option like Windows XP does. But there is a slight chance that you can install over your windows to preserve your files.

As strange as it sounds... after backing up the important files you might consider installing Windows XP or Windows 2000 instead since I am pretty sure ME isn't all that great. The only real question is how much ram you have. And how much that computer can handle. (Make + model number will help)

[aznfishyfart]

yse i agree
if u cant upgrade to xp or 2000 id say go back to windows 98
ME is really bad, i had it for a few months back in the day.....definately a nono

[Kiribati]

Considering you can't move files and can't open up an internet browser to get anti-virus protection, it seems to be a good idea to just reformat. Unfortunately that means loss of data, something everyone doesn't want to go through...

All I can try to help you with is the reformatting process. To answer one of your questions, there should be a boot disk that came with the Windows ME installation CD. A boot disk is basically:

A diskette from which you can boot your computer. Normally, your computer boots from a hard disk, but if the hard disk is damaged (for example, by a virus), you can boot the computer from a bootable diskette.

If you do find your Windows ME installation CD and/or your bootdisk, pop it into the drive and restart your computer.

You will be presented with four options:
* Help
* Start with CD-ROM support
* Start without CD-ROM support
* Minimal Boot

Choose "Start with CD-ROM support" and wait for the machine to go through the start-up process. Once the A: prompt appears type: "a:format c:" and hit enter. The system will reformat the drive and then display the amount of free space. It will also prompt you to enter a volume label, which is the name of the hard disk. Enter anything you like or simply hit the return or enter key for none.

Now your hard drive is ready for a new copy of Windows ME. Put the Windows Me install CD in the CD-ROM drive and type "x:setup" where X is the CD-ROM's drive letter. It is probably "D". Windows Me will then run the Scandisk utility on your hard drive to check for errors. Once done, click "exit" and let the rest of the install proceed. Keep your "Product Key" handy (that's the massive code on the back of the CD sleeve) as you'll have to input that before the installation proceeds.

Don't take this for granted, this was from memory, so I may have left out some information.
Hopefully it helps.

[xmichellee]

aw thanks for all your help guys <3
i don't mind reformating that laptop cos i have nothing in it.

i think ME is really lousy too. it's so slow and has to little space.
i'll go back to windows 98...if i can..

my dad said that he was gonna send that laptop to the shop to reformat it since i can't find any disc that came with it. lol.

so thanks for you replies too!

[awdark]

=( if you do that, wouldn't they charge you $100 for the OS and $30 for the format though...

[xmichellee]

^ Really? My sister went to reformat her laptop not long ago and the price wasn't reeeeally expensive. Maybe cos my dad is friends with the 'computer man?' Hehe..

So i guess there shouldn't be a problem <333