installin windows xp on dell spyware infested laptop

[ssk_the_gr8]

the laptop is a dell inspiron 1100 with celeron processor
it is my grand fathers....& even with original norton internet security suite 2006 installed he has manged to infect it by visitin some random sites & make it very slow

so now it is with me ...i have to repair it i am a ubuntu user & dont know much abt installin windows xp so i'd like to ask some questions?

1)its become slow since the last month so should i use system restore?
2)he has lost his windows xp cd so i am borrowing a pirated version of windows xp sp2 from a friend
....so is their any difference between the pirated & original windows.? i have heard people say that pirated windows have hidden keyloggers & trojans...is it true? if i use the original(legal) product key from the dell laptop with the pirated windows...will the windows installation be able to pass the windows genuine advantage test...( i read somewhere in the forum that pirated windows can be changed to legal by puttin a legal key??)

3)their r 3 partations so during the new install how do i format all of them....or if someone could plz give me step by step instruction on the installation of windows xp it would be really helpful

thanx in advance

ps-plz answer quickly

yaar nobody's helpin me on this one...i know the questions r basic but plz help me

[Choto Cheeta]

Before reinstalling try fixing the problems...

U know most of the time Virus hide at the system restore folder personally i would keep the feature off...

anyway, Get CCleaner, its a great software to remove junk from the system to free up load, uninstall un-necessary applications... and Defragg the HDD...

Update the Norton AVS and get Spyware Search and Distroy from http://www.spybot.info

[ssk_the_gr8]

but norton AVS also looks for spyware even then i should install spybot

[Choto Cheeta]

Originally Posted by ssk429

but norton AVS also looks for spyware even then i should install spybot

No harm is installing Spybot... you will always have the option to uninstall it...

[ssk_the_gr8]

hey its their i guess i should update it & then scan

ps-can u plz clarify my 2nd doubt i.e question no.2

[Choto Cheeta]

There is a problem, with that one..

Now if you have geniune windows, then you should have a sticker paste to the Lappy (Bellow it may be) which will have the Product key, yes u can use it to reinstall the Windows, but the local pirated Disk are Volume Licance disk, so the Product key u have (OEM) wont work with that CD, therefore u have to find a OEN installation disk for it...

also forgot to say, run a live update Install the SP2 from there or download it from MS site...

[ssk_the_gr8]

will a hcl windows xp oem cd do....or i have to get dell

[Choto Cheeta]

Originally Posted by ssk429

will a hcl windows xp oem cd do....or i have to get dell

there is no such HCL OEM Windows or Compaq or Dell, they are just sticker on top of the actual disk, any OEM Windows (make sure version is right Pro or Home) will do..

[ssk_the_gr8]

ok thanx mate...
will a xp home license key work with xp pro disc..

guys help me out plz

helloooooo someone answer me plz

[Choto Cheeta]

will a xp home license key work with xp pro disc..

No, I dont think it would work

[s18000rpm]

why dont you run Standard Recovery?

if there's a Recovery Partition present, then you dont need a OEM disk, you can install XP from that partition itself.

[ssk_the_gr8]

how can i acces the recovery partation?

[s18000rpm]

if its there, then during booting, Dell will show press F10 (or something else) to start "PC Recovery".

read the Dell manual or give them a call, later wud be better.