[wa4zwc]

I am planning on formatting my hard drive and reinstalling windows.

For security purposes what steps do I need to follow?

Do I need to download and install a firewall and an anti virus program first or do I need to do all of the windows sp2 updates first?

If anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to tell me.

Thanks,

Jerry

[stantley]

Before you do the reinstall at the minimum download SP2 and an anti-virus program. You could also get a firewall or use the Windows firewall that comes with SP2. Get the install programs and burn them to CD or copy them to an external hard drive if you have one.

Then before you reinstall Windows disconnect from the internet, install Windows and all the drivers you need, install SP2 and the anti-virus, then connect to the internet and go to the Windows update site to get anymore needed updates.

Another option is to get SP3 and there won't many other updates after that. Then reinstall all applications. Here are some sites with details on how to reinstall Windows XP.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...p_sg_clean.asp

http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_..._-_graphic.htm

[wa4zwc]

I have comodo pro install program on a disc and also nod32 antivirus install program on a disk.
Where do I get sp2 from to download and will it fit on a disc?

Thanks

Jerry

As a note of interest I have a dell computer, so I was planning on doing the re-installation files by pressing f11 at startup.

Is this a good idea or should I do some other method.

[stantley]

You can get SP2 here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en and it will fit on a CD. What did the PC have originally, SP1?

Yes, the F11 thing is the way to go, here's some documentation. http://support.dell.com/support/topi...g=&toggle=&dl=

[wa4zwc]

Thanks stantley

I have no idea if it had sp1 on it or sp2 when it was new. It's a 3 year old computer.

One more thing. I am using a third party (logitech) cordless keyboard and mouse which I assume will not work during the installation. I have a regular usb mouse that is not cordless, but I do not have a keyboard. Will the mouse be sufficient or do I need to find a keyboard somewhere.

Thanks

[stantley]

It's usually much safer to use both the basic keyboard and mouse that came with the PC during a reinstall.

[wa4zwc]

Thanks for all of your help stantley. I found the keyboard.