I need to reinstall windows vista after a serious virus infection and can't find correct ''f'' key to boot from cd

You will need to use another computer and download Kaspersky rescue disk. After downloading the disk image burn it to a cd and boot the machine with this disk. Run the rescue disk and it will detect the infected files. When the program if finished select remove all infected files and reboot your computer. You also need to either install a good antivirus program or update the one you have to protect against this type of infection. The Kaspersky rescue disk can be downloaded from their site here:
https://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/rescuedisk

Here is a solution:

1. Press control + alt + delete, opening the Task Manager.
2. Go to the Applications tab
3. Click New Task...
4. Type in "explorer.exe" without the quotes.

Enjoy!

Hello
2000 files infected? You need too format and reinstall your operating system.
You can try Holding down the f 8 key while booting up.Then choose last known good configuration.

If you have your windows install cd you can do a repair by booting off the disk and choosing repair windows to replace files lost.

Avast is trash.Get microsoft security essentials for your anti virus.

reboot it under f2 when it starts up put disc in push f2 or f12 depending on your boot settings are set on. run under d. drive the best one for your travel mate is windows vista.

That is a serious virus, I have had it before. Download Avast! antivirus (avast.com - there is a free home version) and run a full system scan. If that doesn't work, you may need to completely wipe your system by inserting the windows XP disc, rebooting, and pressing whatever key your computer prompts for to boot from the CD. Then simply follow the instructions on-screen. (Perform system restore first, if that doesn't work perform system recovery)

Resolution : Fallow method 1 or method 2 no data will be deleted.To resolve this issue, you must have the Windows XP CD-ROM. If you do not have the Windows XP CD-ROM available,

If you have the Windows XP CD-ROM, use one of the following methods. Method 1: Troubleshoot the specific element that causes Windows not to loadNote This option requires that you perform multiple steps to determine the exact element that causes the issue. This option may allow for you to keep customizations in Windows.

1. Restart your computer in safe mode. To do this, press the F8 key while Windows is starting. Then, create a Windows XP boot disk to start the computer.
   
   For more information about how to create a Windows XP boot disk, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 305595 How to create a bootable floppy disk for an NTFS or FAT partition in Windows XP 315222 A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XPIf you can start the computer from the boot disk without receiving an error message, the damage is limited to the master boot record, the boot sector, or the NTLDR file. After Windows XP is running, immediately back up all data before you try to fix the boot sector.
   
   Use Disk Management to view the partition information and to verify that the disk partition (or partitions) is correct. To use Disk Management, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
   2. Expand Storage, and then click Disk Management.
   If invalid partitions are present or you cannot start your computer by using a boot disk, consider reinstalling Windows XP on your computer and restoring your data and configuration information from a recent backup.
   
   If you do not have a current backup copy of the data on the computer, contact a computer specialist to determine the best method of data recovery and configuration.
2. Run a current virus scanning program to verify that no virus is present.( In safe mode)
3. Repair the master boot record by using the FIXMBR command from the Windows XP Recovery Console.
   
   For more information about how to use the Recovery Console, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 307654 How to install and use the Recovery console in Windows XPNote For more information about an error message that you may receive when you use the FIXMBR command, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 266745 Error message when you run fixmbr commandWarning If your computer is infected with a virus and you use the FIXMBR command, you may be unable to start the computer. Before you use this command, make sure that the computer is not infected with a virus.
4. If the primary boot partition is a FAT partition, use the FIXBOOT command from the Windows XP Recovery Console to write a new boot sector on the system partition, and then use the FIXMBR command to repair the master boot record.

Method 2: Repair your Windows installationNote Repairing your Windows installation may change the configuration of Windows. You may also have to follow this step if you complete all the troubleshooting in steps option 1 and the problem is not resolved.

1. Use the Windows XP CD-ROM to start your computer. On the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to set up Windows XP.
2. Press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
3. Use the ARROW keys to select the Windows XP installation that you want to repair, and then press R.
   
   Windows XP Setup repairs the installation files, Windows XP automatically restarts, and then the Setup program finishes the repair of your Windows XP installation.
4. Follow the remaining steps to set up Windows.
   
   Note You must have your 25-character product key to complete these steps.
5. As soon as this issue is resolved, make sure that the firewall is enabled, and then visit the following Microsoft Web site to reinstall the latest updates: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
6. Run a virus scan on the computer because problems with corrupted elements can be attributed to viruses.

You don't have to replace the hard drive if it still works. You can reformat it by doing a clean install of windows. It's relatively easy. Just go to your cmos, tell your computer to boot from cd, put your windows cd in your drive. Boot to the windows install cd and follow the instructions and answer the questions on the screen. Good luck and let me know if you need anything else.

I have this machine! I also have a spare computer that has a 2.0GHz P4 and 2GB of Memory and, best of all, I also use a program called Shadow Surfer on it. I use this Shadow Surfer to run a virtual Windows XP that will NOT keep anything I download, change, contract virus, etc - they simply vaporize on each reboot. Any way, I remove the Sata drive and hook it up to a Sata PCI Card on the spare machine with Shadow Surfer. I access the Sata Drive to copy my work to a CD first. Then, I let McAfee do their job on scanning all night because the Sata drive is 250GBs large, plus I let it scan the CD I just used to burn my work files, too. If I get a positive virus hit on the CD, I burn again leaving out the infected file. Then I use another program from Acronis to wipe the drive partition (C:) only if the virus(es) cannot be fixed by McAfee. I press the power button & hold for 5 seconds to shut down the spare computer. I don't worry because the Shadow Surfer enabled (spare) computer is crash-proof. It boots up with a fresh Windows XP all over again, each and every time. The SR2180NX gets its drive back in and if the disk will not boot, I press F10 at boot time to start the recovery process from the recovery partition. I also burn recovery disks as the first procedure. If it is too late to do that part, go to HP.com and go to support, download drivers, and select Vista (not Vista 64bit), Click on the Order Recovery Disks and be prepared to enter your Presario's Serial Number to verify you are going to order the correct disks. Use a credit card and they cost less than $17 delivered via US Mail in less than a week. During this wait, go to a computer store and pick up some memory. I was able to get 4 sticks of DD2-6400's at 2GB each. I used the Low Latency (low Density, non-ecc, unbuffered) from Patriot (kit of 2 each) to pack on 8GB even though HP will only support up to 4 GBs. I had to load the Default in BIOS, reboot and change stuff to what I wanted before booting again. Vista 32bit is the OS that shows up on the restore disks from HP and it will show all 8Gb in the system page after you are done starting from scratch. Any way, the memory really makes a difference but keeping your system optimized from the beginning and keeping proper backups will save you headaches later on down the road. Maybe getting Shadow Surfer installed and setting up a guest account that it boots to on power up will also save you from just about anyone coming along when you are not looking and changing things behind your back. Hope I have helped with something! -Gregg

well, if the CD won't read in Windows, and this is due to a virus, it should not affect the drives functionality before windows loads. You will need to use a bootable CD (like the Windows CD) and when you power on hte computer, enter the boot menu (check bottom of screen during power up for the correct button.) then select CD ROM and see if it will boot to Windows Set up. If it will, exit setup, restart windows, back up your data to a jump drive and then reboot with the CD & boot menu selection, and reload windows. Before you do any of this, go to acer's website and download all of the drivers for your computer to a jump drive, you will need them for the windows reinstall

ya its probably a virus infection.
If possible run online scans... or install new antivirus software and scan your sys.
If nothing of this is possible or if they are not working..
its safer to reinstall Vista