Can I wipe my computer clean and reinstalling windows XP?

[Candie]

I hope someone can help me.  My computer has the windows anti-spyware 2009 problem and it has taken over my entire system.  I can't even get online.  Can I wipe my computer clean and reinstall windows and immediately install onecare online?  It will not let me install it and now it won't even go online.  I had someone install extra memory on my computer and he told me to wipe out all the icons that were supposedly under my bar on bottom beside my "start".  I think it caused me to turn off my firewall, pop-up blocker, etc. now my computer is infected by the windows xp anti-spyware 2009 download.  It has taken over my entire system and I don't know how to wipe it clean.  The guy that added my memory says he can do it for me but I can't afford what he wants and I don't know whether to trust him or not since I listened to him to begin with and this happened.  Can anyone help me?  Thanks - Candie

[Calum]

Don't trust him.  He sounds like a con artist and a fool to me, anyone who tells you to close every running program without knowing what's running should not be trusted with their own computer, never mind anyone else's.

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html
Go there and follow the instructions, and one of our malware removal specialists will assist you in removing this infection.
Good luck!
And welcome to the forums.

[patio]

Also feel free to inquire about any other machine/hardware issues before you spend any cabbage...