On Windows 7 and malware removal

[spiff]

I'm doing a clean install of Windows 7 on an oldish desktop that (I suspect) has quite a bit of malware/viruses/random garbage which I do not want.

My first question is:

when installing Windows 7, I saw that I have three partitions, one of which is of the type OEM (reserved), and another is called 'primary'. I'm not sure what either of these partitions do, but I decided to keep them. Is there a way in which malware can exist on one of these partitions, and somehow move to my windows 7 partition?

My second question is:

when installing Windows 7, evidently all my old files will be placed in windows.old. Can harmful files be carried over this way? Will simply deleting this directory effectively clear them out?

[catgate]

Hello spiff,

I know next to nothing about W7, but I do know that what you are suggesting could lead to a lot of heart ache and strife.

I suggest you give much more detail of the oldish desktopbecause it may well not be up to the job. More detail will enable the experts to give you more meaningful advice when they appear.

Most of the folks on WF have been building up new machines for W7, although I imagine if the spec. were high enough a good clean out in all the corners might do at a pinch.

[spiff]

Hello spiff,

I know next to nothing about W7, but I do know that what you are suggesting could lead to a lot of heart ache and strife.

I suggest you give much more detail of the oldish desktopbecause it may well not be up to the job. More detail will enable the experts to give you more meaningful advice when they appear.

Most of the folks on WF have been building up new machines for W7, although I imagine if the spec. were high enough a good clean out in all the corners might do at a pinch.

The machine easily meets the system requirements for Windows 7 (which isn't the problem). I just want to be able to remove all traces of my previous setup to prevent chance of infection

[catgate]

If you want rid of everything why not just do a total HD format. That should get rid of everything.

/>http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_format_a_hard_drive

[Hb_Kai]

My first question is:

when installing Windows 7, I saw that I have three partitions, one of which is of the type OEM (reserved), and another is called 'primary'. I'm not sure what either of these partitions do, but I decided to keep them. Is there a way in which malware can exist on one of these partitions, and somehow move to my windows 7 partition?

The OEM partition could possibly be a recovery partition used alongside the recovery disc you got from the people/company you originally got your PC/laptop from. And if you have a primary partition, that should probably be the one that you're using for the operating system installed on the hard drive.

It's possible about the malware. Scan them first to make sure.

My second question is:

when installing Windows 7, evidently all my old files will be placed in windows.old. Can harmful files be carried over this way? Will simply deleting this directory effectively clear them out?

Possibly. And by deleting files on a Windows machine, you're only changing its directory to "?" or something, meaning the data is still there but is to be overwiped when you use the memory for something else so that's all you would be doing for the virus. Scanning the folder and removing viruses that way would be a better option.