need to backup data and programs

[shashgo]

helpppppppppppp

My computer is acting weird of late.  What I want to do is backup the data and the programs, and reinstall the operating systems and then load the data back.  I am running win XP.

If I clone the HD then I run the risk of copying the malware as well correct, so I guess that wont work.  I just want to back up the data and programs.  How do I do that?

[patio]

If you suspect you are infected but are going to do a clean install anyways i would use an image program and burn the image to CD/DVD
Then after the clean install just remember whenever you use files from the image scan them first for malware.
I use Acronis True Image but there are others.

The other option is to try and clean the system first before creating a backup...for that visit our Virus and Spyware section and follow the instructions in the first link at the top of the page.