Soft resetting an XP pc

[afsf]

So my mum's called me to fix up her pc...apparently she clicked on one of those web ads and now it is loaded with spyware and malware, cannot conventionally get on admin account, and on the limited account it barely works (on the admin account nothing loads, cannot run explorer.exe either) on the limited all system functions are disabled (system restore etc) . on the general computer Administrator account is same as the admin account. is only way to get out of this to reformat?

 

[Rastlin]

Try the safe mode (F8 on starting), if you can log into the safe mode with administrator account, you can use the system recovery to go back to several days before, good luck.

 

[afsf]

by general computer administrator account is what i meant with the safe mode, nothing loads. also system recovery doesnt work and all the dates are grayed out barring today and yesterday (as possible dates to recover too), cannot change month either etc but even then it doesnt work

 

[Rastlin]

Then in my opinion,it is the only way. Format c: and reinstall XP. I hope u have a ghost backup.