Date: 05/10/05 (Computer Help)    Keywords: software, virus, spyware

Question #1:
Hi I have windowsxp and spyware (there is also probably a virus--I found a trojan.). I want to reformat my harddrive. How do I do that? Is "reformatting" the same as "system restore"? This system restore is when the computer restores the system to a previous period. If I restore it to the time before the spyware came up, will the problem be fixed?
I can't find reformat in the "help" on my computer, and we don't have the windowsxp software cd. So, I'm considering that "system restore" is better because it won't delete programs I want to keep, like Windows Movie Maker and some sound programs.

Question #2:
Can I backup programs (and not need the windowsxp software cd)? For example, Windows Movie maker. Would I need to have the "installer" of this program? (I don't have it, I suppose.)

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computer_help/393387.html