Need help reformatting and re-installing windows 8

**kuripi** · 01 Feb 2013

Hi, I recently got a virus, MBR rootkit, on my computer called boot.tidserv and it's created an unknown disk partition about 2mb in size. I've ran all sorts of tests to get this virus out and nothing worked. I decided I wanted to reformat and re-install windows 8 pro onto my computer to clean it out. My original OS was vista. I purchased an upgrade to Windows 8 from MS so I only have the code at the moment. I'm not sure whether making an IOS DVD is a good choice at the moment since I still have this virus.

My computer model is HP Pavilion Elite e9180f running on 64 bit.

I want to delete this partition and re-installl windows 8 cleanly. But I'm a bit unsure how to proceed because I really don't want to screw the process up and I also really don't want the virus to survive and still keep infecting my computer. I was wondering if someone could guide me through the process or could point me in the right direction.

Thank you.

**LittleJay** · 01 Feb 2013

downloads

You could use Parted Magic, which has a secure erase feature to wipe your drive and then a partitioning tool to repartition and format your drive once it is clean. It runs from either a USB flashdrive, or a bootable cd. Check out the link above for more information if you are interested.

**theog** · 02 Feb 2013

Welcome to EightForums.

No need to reinstall old Windows install.

Clean the HD Drive, using Step one in this tutorial:
SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation - Windows 7 Forums

Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade

**DavidY** · 02 Feb 2013

I guess the tricky bit is making the ISO so you have something to install once you've wiped the computer?

I don't suppose you have access to another 64bit computer on which you could download the ISO?

**znod** · 02 Feb 2013

Originally Posted by kuripi

I want to delete this partition and re-installl windows 8 cleanly. But I'm a bit unsure how to proceed because I really don't want to screw the process up and I also really don't want the virus to survive and still keep infecting my computer. I was wondering if someone could guide me through the process or could point me in the right direction.

Thank you.

Try using this link to download ISO to another 64-bit computer using your product key (use option 1--should work). Use option 2 to be sure you have an ISO with proper UEFI support if running under UEFI. Use this link to eliminate files you don't want on the second computer. I would save them somewhere. Note that if you use your computer for the initial download, I am not sure if the ISO would be affected negatively. You could take the files mentioned in the second link off your computer immediately and store them elsewhere. You could make the UEFI ISO on, for example, a Win7 32-bit computer (i.e., there may be a problem creating the UEFI ISO on a machine already running Windows 8). Do this step at your own risk, of course.

**kuripi** · 03 Feb 2013

Hi, thanks for all your replies and suggestions. I had my IT friend help me with the process and now have a squeaky clean comp.

Thanks!!

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