I'm trying to format a friends computer because it's SO cluttered with spyware, malware, adware, viruses, trojans, etc.

You name it, he's got it.

Well I recently showed him how to keep spyware off his computer but it's going to be nearly impossible to get rid of the current problems completely. He also just doesn't care about what's on there, so it makes sense to format.

Well I got the Windows XP install disc, popped it in and couldn't seem to get it to boot up. In every other computer all I have to do is put it in and it boots automatically. Ok well then I tried to manually enter the boot menu... and it's not there. Then I decided to just go into the Bios and change the boot sequence to first boot from CD... and I can't do that either. When he's boot up, the only options he has are the OS menu (he has several OS's installed for whatever reason. he doesn't even know. lol) and the boot options menu that lets me boot into safe mode and other forms of safe mode. Nothing about booting from CD or floppy.

I created an 'XP Quick Boot Diskette' floppy, and it wouldn't read. I was able to get one of the Dos boot discs to work but it was hardly functional. All I could do was access the floppy files. Couldn't view other directories or boot the CD or anything. I know the discs are good too because I tried two and both worked on my computer, just not on his.

Is this some kind of virus or something? What should I do?

I'm guessing it's somthing simple, but if not do you think I should flash and upgrade the Bios?

Let me know. Thanks.

Hi roryt2000!
Have you tried to reset the BIOS?
You can do this 2 ways. Make sure the PC is not connected to the wall socket first.
Then, you can either remove the mainboard's battery for a few minutes, or set the jumper next to that battery on the other 2 pins for a while, and then set is back and start up the PC.
Blue

If that doesn't work, try pressing DEL before it shows the OS menu. That should get you in the BIOS menu on most computers. You can also make a bootdisk that has CD access, there should be one on bootdisk.com. Look for mscdex that is the standard DOS cd-rom driver. Can you access the harddisk from the DOS disk?

I pulled the battery out and it booted directly into the bios. I changed the boot order to boot from CD, saved and exited. I put the XP disc in, and it still won't do it. It just boots normally.

OK, nevermind. All I had to do was put the CD in the other drive.

Thanks for the help.

One thing though. I still can't access the bios without removing the battery. Is there a way to fix this?

So everything works, but you can't access the BIOS at all?
How do you access the BIOS currently? Do you remove the battery, then place it back, and then it does work for a short time or some?