Continuation of XP Installation problem

[stressed out]

Just an update on my previous post. Thanks for your answer Rojash, i think you may be right that i installed twice. What appears to have happened is that someone gave me the pc and the system had been completely wiped by previous owner so installed XP, later when i went online to put anti viral protection on i had viruses coming throyugh and notifications that Trojan was trying to get in so i did'nt know what to do and thought that if i re-installed XP it would start from fresh and i could go from there... Small problem though, when i re-installed i must have stored it in a different place on the system as now it's telling me i have little space left but i hardly have used any at all!

I've just had a look at where these files are and it tells me that the 1st XP is in C, (where it should be but that's the one thats infected), and the second one which i have been using unaware that another still existed, is in SWAP D! Which is not infected but has alot less space.

What can i do from here? If i have to re-install how do i backup my data and all the files i have since installing?

Hope you can help, thanks

[vehelpfulguy]

You can backup your files using a CD or DVD rewriter if you have one.

If not buy a small USB key that plugs in the USB port and acts like an extensiion to your hard disk. Move your files to there. You can get these for about �20, They look like this:

http://www.barnard.edu/edtech/usb_key.jpg

When you come to re-install XP make sure you delete ALL the partitions (C, D, etc), then format the whole drive (NTFS), then create only one partition for your whole hard disk.

This should leave you with just a C drive of the whole hard disk, with XP on it.

[vehelpfulguy]

As soon as you install XP get your protection on.

In fact it is best to download the protection FIRST, before you reinstall XP, then put it to CD or DVD.

After you install XP, but BEFORE you go online, install your anti virus software, firewall and other protection from the CD or DVD.

Note that you should put Windows XP service pack 2 on as well. This MAY already be included inside your XP if it is a fairly new disk (check the CD label).

If not, make sure you put service pack 2 on as soon as you install XP. This provides lots of extra security for XP.

Note SP2 is a VERY large file and may take a long time to download from the web. Try to get it on CD if you can, placs like PC world may have a free copy.

The install order should be

1) Windows XP

2) SP2 (if needed)

3) protection (firewall, anti-virus)

4) latest XP fixes from the Microsoft web site (see Windows Update from the IE Tools menu)

Good luck