Re: Boot sectors and virii

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"Rock" <rock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uS3y37udFHA.3012@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Croaker wrote:
> > Are there virii/trojans that will survive a format and reinstall of
> > Windows XP PRO/Home using the XP setup (through the cd)? If I have a
> > previous install of XP and run through setup to reformat(NTFS) the
> > entire partition and then reinstall XP, Does this not rewrite the master
> > boot record, after wiping the partiion clean?
> >
> > I ask this because when i clean XP boxes I have never had to resort to
> > formatting and reinstalling. I usually can fix the installation. I was
> > talking to some "techs" that insisted the only way to be sure you get
> > rid of all trojans and virii is to do a low level format. I have never
> > had to resort to thirrd party stuff to fix windows, and these guys were
> > the kind of guys who would reformat at the very hint of corruption.
> > They never attempt to fix an XP installation they just reformat and
> > reinstall. I think its some wierd throwback to the 98/ME era when
> > formattiing was a way of life. Anyway I had no real world experience
> > with an uncleanable boot sector virus that survived a clean and repair
> > and maybe a MBR rewrite, let alone a format/install (without the disk
> > wiping low level dealie). Are they speaking truth?
>
> FYI the plural of virus is viruses not virii.
>
> --
> Rock
> MS MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

No, both are correct. Its just a matter of choice which spelling to use to
describe the plural. Personally, I prefer "viruses" for simplicity sake.
But, have no problem with others that prefer "virii" or "viri". They
communicate the meaning obviously as you evidently understood the word, so
did I.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virii


.

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