Windows fix xp virus

To create this article, 34 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed , times. Learn more Has Windows been throwing a lot of errors at you lately? It could be that some of your critical system files have become corrupt. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but a Repair Installation can fix a lot of the problems. A Repair Installation will restore your computer's vital system files without touching your personal files.

See Step 1 below to learn how. Insert your Windows XP setup disc. Reboot the computer and enter the BIOS. Set the PC to boot from the CD first. Reboot again to boot from CD. Press R to select the Repair install. Select your copy of Windows. Set your preferences. Install all Windows Updates. Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers.

Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article Steps. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Author Info Last Updated: June 3, Backup your data. If you are seeing an error message, what does it say exactly and when do you see it, and as usual we don't know anything about your system so that leads to guessing.

Here is a pretty popular example of a Windows Installer error message that might be what you might see when trying to install a program or clicking the "Change" or "Remove" button in Add or Remove Programs on an already installed application: Windows Installer may be corrupted or your computer is in safe mode or perhaps this message: The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed.

This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support personnel for assistance. Instead of contacting your support personnel for assistance, do this: Click Start, Run and in the box enter: services. Look in the Services applet to see if the Windows Installer Service is even listed and you will find that it is probably not listed but it should be listed.

You don't have to set it to Automatic as it will start on it's own when it needs to start and you don't need it starting every time you restart your system and running all day when there is nothing for it to do.

The Service will start when it needs to start if it is able to start. Click OK enough times to save your adjustments and close the Services applet, restart your system to be sure the changes "stick" and see how things look now. If your installer is NOT version 4. Then check your Services again to be sure the Windows Installer Service is listed, and check your installer version again to be sure it is version 4.

Then test your original failure condition and report your results. User's post on November 11, Thank you very much. If the antivirus is not listed in the Add or Remove Programs list, you may have a huge erroneous antivirus installation or fake antivirus. With this window open, find the application you want to use to clear the selection.

If your antivirus software was not removed correctly, you may need to use the uninstallation policy provided by the antivirus software manufacturer. Below is a list of the removal methods. Should I remove old antivirus software before installing new? It is always best to uninstall the latest antivirus software before installing a new one.

Sometimes uninstaller programs or the software they remove can become corrupted. This can also cause problems, and the actual security software may be partially removed, but some will remain.

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. If you consider yourself an expert user, using Autoruns from Sysinternals. Do not use this software unless you are an expert user. Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0. If nothing else works, you can try and download Rootkit Revealer from the same site and run this software. If it reveals a number of discrepancies, consider taking your machine to a professional.

Just removing the malware may not be enough, you should consider backing up data and reinstalling Windows, to completely remove the malware. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. You Might Also Like How to. How to. About This Article.

Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: April 8, Categories: XP Instructions. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times.

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