win2k woes

[BOYD1981]

okay, i got a new pc recently and for some stupid reason i asked for win2k (sp4) to be installed on it, it ran fine up until i took it online and within 5 minutes 127 files got infected with various worms, ironically i was online so i could update my virus definitions and get myself a firewall.
i tried installing win2k over itself but i get told it can't because i didn't finish installing something but it doesn't actually tell me what...
i tried to do a clean install which goes fine up until the point i get an "INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_SECTOR" error, so i try installing from startup disks rather than the cd, i don't get the error this time, but i do get told that my hard drive couldn't be found...
i installed recovery console and tried booting the pc into that mode, but again i get the inaccessible boot sector nonsense.
now i want to just totally format my hard drive but i don't know how the hell to do it as there's no command prompt or anything...
there aren't any viruses on the pc now, but my firewall tells me that certain files try to get contacted by remote machines, and when i startup i get two file not found errors on asLM75.sys and AsmiHwIo.dll
so, ladies and gentlemen, my question is... how on earth do i fix this? i've only had the pc a week and already it's futzed.

[edit]

just found out those missing files are from my ASUS Probe software so nm about them...

[00jon00]

when you use the disc to install does it give you the option to delete or select an installÃ,  "partion" (or something like it)?

---Edit---
lol I meant Partition

[Ishmael]

I'd maybe send the PC back to where it came from, and put along a description of what it does, and a list of things I do next time they send me improperly set up stuff... another thing would be to take the hd from another, working machine, slave the main hd of the malfunctioning computer, and use the OS on the working, master drive to format the slave... theoratically it works.

[AGA]

Have you installed every possible Windows Update, and still get the error? Try doing that, running a virusscan and running a spyware check. If you still get the errors, reformat, reinstall Windows and DON'T go online until you're secure...

[BOYD1981]

that's the problem, i don't know how to reformat, and there aren't any option to delete partitions or anything, the win2k setup fails to acknowledge that i even have a hard drive.
i might have to just stick my spare 80gb hdd in here, install w2k on that, bung the 200gb hard drive in (the one i'm using now) then format it through windows and try again, then i can start a manhunt for whoever it was that created w32.welchia.b

[juncmodule]

Teaching someone how to reformat via the internet can be a bitch, but I'll give it a try.

First of all, you obviously have access to another computer, so that is good.

Do you have any other Operating System, or are you sticking with Win2K?

Using your other machine you need to create a boot disk.

1. Insert the Windows 2000 CD-ROM in the CD-ROM drive.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type drive:\bootdisk\makeboot a:, where drive is the letter of your CD-ROM drive, and then press ENTER.

I looked around and it looks like the Win2K boot disks take up about 4 floppies. From there the disks themselves should give you instructions. Try whatever fresh install options it gives you.

If you get stuck with this and it doesn't help then install an older OS. Try Win98 if you have it. Just FDISK and any virus that is still resident on the system should be taken care of. After you FDISK, Format. If you have questions about this just ask again and I will walk you through FDISK and Format for Win98.

I wish I could offer more help on Win2K but I don't have a lot of experience with it. It also sounds like you have a virus dug in pretty deep, so you may be forced to go with a Win98 install until you get things cleaned up, unless if those bootdisks help. Be sure you have NO cables attached to the computer except Mouse, Keyboard, and Monitor. This is REALLY important. If you have a virus don't give it a chance to infect a network, or reinfect the computer. Good luck!

later,
-junc

[Barbarian]

You may have to FDISK then delete your current partition then recreate a new partition before being able to properly doing a clean reinstall. The following link may help you: (I know it's for Windows 2000 Pro, but the same information should apply):

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/Install2kPro/install2kpro1.htm

[BOYD1981]

i've already created and tried using win2k startup disks, but i get the hard drive not found error, it's a 200GB SCSI drive which would only be a problem if i were using SP1 or SP2, but my win2k cd contains SP4 (also, it's win2k pro), and because it can't find the hard drive, i can't actually do anything to it.
if everything else fails i will go with the 80gb hdd idea, seems like my best option...
thanks for all the help