have virus, can i format only windows partition?

**jinjin** · November 13th, 2012

ok i run dual boot ubuntu and widows xp i just got a virus on my windows xp. is it possible to format only the windows xp partition leave the ubuntu intact and still have it work in a dual boot? previously, when i had a virus on my xp, i would format the whole drive and reinstall both ubuntu and windows xp and reconfigure everything and that was a pain in the butt since ubuntu was perfectly fine and i still had to reinstall programs, move files and take care of system even though it didn't have the virus.

so this time, can i just reformat windows xp partition, reinstall xp and programs and still have it work on dual boot? people told me that doing this will mess up the MBR and stuff. i don't know anything about that so can anyone tell me how this works?

i need help badly

**dFlyer** · November 13th, 2012

You should be able to. You will have to run grub after the install to pick up the windows install.

**uRock** · November 13th, 2012

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...tallingWindows should get you back up and running after reinstalling Windows. Your anti-virus software can't remove the malware?

**sentimentGX4** · November 13th, 2012

Yes, you can. After reinstalling Windows, the Windows bootloader will be installed and you will not be able to directly boot into your Ubuntu. Use a LiveUSB (or other Live Media) to boot into Ubuntu and reinstall Grub by typing commands into the terminal.

**jinjin** · November 13th, 2012

thanks alot, i love the ubunutu community

so knowledgeable and helpful

and this virus is too much so using malware scanners and combfix, rkill, etc didn't help much.

actually i have another question, there is no way for this virus to someone spread from my windows xp partition and affect ubuntu partition right?