Reformatting help!!!

[DustBunny]

I need to reformat my system. Webrebates, Cashback, BargainBuddy, and the sorts have all burrowed into my system.

It is a Sony Vaio PCG-Z505LSK notebook running Windows 2000 Professional.

I know all the "format C:\" and junk, but after that, I'm not sure exactly how to go about reinstalling Windows. I have my System Recovery CD. Will it automatically load when I load it in the drive after reinstalling?

Inform me please!

Many thanks!

 

[mechBgon]

Since you have a recovery CD, put it in and run it, and it probably is going to simply re-image the hard drive, which is different than the usual "straight" Win2000 installation routines. Give it a whirl.

I'd suggest installing ZoneAlarm free firewall software before you connect the network or phone cable. Set strong passwords on all your Administrator-class accounts. Win2000 may require four or five trips through Windows Update before you've got all the Critical Updates, so keep going back until it's coming up clean. After that, run Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 1.2.1 and see what else it's needing. You can get MBSA 1.2.1 from Microsoft's site.

If you really want to stop unauthorized software installation (including spyware like BargainBuddy), make yourself a Restricted-User account for routine daily usage, and do the same for each other user of the computer too. Restricted-User accounts will never even see an ActiveX spyware-installer popup, and if they did it still could not install stuff with RU privileges (or lack thereof).

Naturally it would be smart to have current, properly-configured antivirus software too. Norton 2005 seems especially attuned to spyware, picking up some stuff that even Spybot S&D and AdAware 1.05 miss.

 

[DustBunny]

So after I reformat, I just plop the CD in there and it goes to work?

 

[dexmanone]

why reformat? just get some tools like ad-aware, xoftspy (fast), spybot or any of these good ones will get rid of junk.

use these to scan first, then;
go to Downloaded Program Files and remove anything fishy there, then;
go through your registry and search for key words like bargainbuddy, and so on. that should be all you need rather that reformatting your whole drive.

 

[DustBunny]

Reformat is well overdue... About 3 or 4 years... I've got all the anti-spyware/adware programs there are to have, but it's missing stuff and I'm having to clear more and more every few weeks. I just want to get it done with... I think I will do the Restricted-User account... That's a really good idea... But... Yeah I just need that one single answer so I can get it over with... Do I just plop it in and it will go to work? There's a recovery.exe on the CD. If it doesn't start on it's own, will it more than likely do it if I launch that?

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: DustBunny
Reformat is well overdue... About 3 or 4 years... I've got all the anti-spyware/adware programs there are to have, but it's missing stuff and I'm having to clear more and more every few weeks. I just want to get it done with... I think I will do the Restricted-User account... That's a really good idea... But... Yeah I just need that one single answer so I can get it over with... Do I just plop it in and it will go to work? There's a recovery.exe on the CD. If it doesn't start on it's own, will it more than likely do it if I launch that?

I expect it will reformat the drive during the re-imaging process, or else have the same overall effect (all reference to the existing data will be gone, fresh clean install). When the system starts up with the recovery CD in it, my guess is that it will either boot from it automatically, or else prompt you to press a key if you wish to begin the recovery process.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: DustBunny
Reformat is well overdue... About 3 or 4 years... I've got all the anti-spyware/adware programs there are to have, but it's missing stuff and I'm having to clear more and more every few weeks. I just want to get it done with... I think I will do the Restricted-User account... That's a really good idea... But... Yeah I just need that one single answer so I can get it over with... Do I just plop it in and it will go to work? There's a recovery.exe on the CD. If it doesn't start on it's own, will it more than likely do it if I launch that?

I expect it will reformat the drive during the re-imaging process, or else have the same overall effect (all reference to the existing data will be gone, fresh clean install). When the system starts up with the recovery CD in it, my guess is that it will either boot from it automatically, or else prompt you to press a key if you wish to begin the recovery process.

 

[DetroitSportsFan]

I expect it will reformat the drive during the re-imaging process, or else have the same overall effect (all reference to the existing data will be gone, fresh clean install). When the system starts up with the recovery CD in it, my guess is that it will either boot from it automatically, or else prompt you to press a key if you wish to begin the recovery process.

If it doesn't automatically, it will certainly give you the option to wipe the drive and start over. Just read the options you are given once the you've started the recovery.

 

[DustBunny]

Problem being I can't really get the recovery to start in the first place. There is reading from CD during boot, it seems, but it's not booting from the CD... It's retarded... And I can't get into BIOS to see if I can even boot from CD... When I boot it says something like "For Setup, press F8". So I press F8, and it just asks me how I want to boot Windows (Safe mode, safe mode with networking, safe mode with command prompt, etc.), nothing to get into the BIOS... This is rather annoying... I just want to get over with this... Grr... I'm going to mess around with things and try to get it to work If you can help me, please do. I'd be much appreciative!

 

[Uncle Bob]

Copied from Sony's Web Site

Q: The computer will not start up from the System Recovery CD, but will startup from the hard drive.

SOLUTION:
Follow this procedure to troubleshoot the notebook computer when it will not start to the System Recovery CD but will start to the hard drive.

IMPORTANT: If another CD/DVD drive is being used, it must support bootable CDROMs and be 100% ATAPI compliant. If the drive does not conform to these requirements, a recovery may not be possible.

Clean the System Recovery CD with a soft dry cloth to ensure it is not dirty or damaged.
If another computer is available, try starting to the Recovery CD on that computer.
NOTES:

If the second computer does not recognize the Recovery CD, the disc may need to be replaced.
If the computer starts to the CD and produces an error message stating that the CD is not for that computer, then the disc works properly.

Reset the BIOS defaults.


IQ Knowledge Base Article C94679

How to reset the BIOS to its default values.

SOLUTION:
Follow this procedure to reset the BIOS to its default values.

Restart the computer.
At the SONY screen, press the F2 key.
In the PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility window, press the RIGHT ARROW key until the Exit menu is selected.
On the Exit menu, press the DOWN ARROW key until Get Default Values is selected.
Press the ENTER key.
In the Setup Confirmation dialog box, press the ENTER key.
In the PhoenixBIOS Setup Utility window, on the Exit menu, press the UP ARROW key until Exit (Save Changes) is selected.
Press the ENTER key.
In the Setup Confirmation dialog box, press the ENTER key.


IQ Knowledge Base Article C150343 at http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/support/
contains full instructions concerning system recovery

good luck

 

[DustBunny]

Victory! Thanks guys! Bizarre fix here: I couldn't get into the BIOS, but in attempting to do it, I decided to hold the delete key... That, somehow, caused it to boot from the CD... First thing I did was get all of the critical updates... Took about 3 hours... Then I got AVG, Yahoo Toolbar, and all those goodies... Then I made a Restricted user account and I am now using that. Thanks for the help guys!