WAS DOWN BUT NOT OUT FOR THREE DAYS

My system was hit with a virus that did the following:

1.) It took over my system settings and changed my desktop wallpaper to a green color with bold red letters saying "YOUR COMPUTER HAS BEEN INFECTED BY A VIRUS."
2.) It prevented Internet downloads of antivirus definitions.
3.) When I logged off and attempted to log back on, it immediately logged me off, even after logging on using another user's login, even the Administrator Login.
4.) When I rebooted to SAFTE MODE, and attempted to log on (even under Administrator), it behaved the same way; it logged me off immediately.
5.) When I attempted to use the Windows XP Professional CD to boot up and perform a repair on the operating system, it forced the computer to default right after POST (Power Up Self Test) to the floppy drive "to search for a bootable floppy." By; doing this, it prevented the CD-ROM Drive from initializing the Windows XP CD, effectively preventing any repair of the operating system.

My resolution:

1.) I Rebooted, hit F2 for Setup to enter the System BIOS, and I disabled the floppy drive.
2.) Keeping the Windows XP Professional CD in the CD-ROM Drive, I rebooted the computer.
3.) Upon reboot, immediately following POST, I hit the F12 button, and choose to boot from the CD-ROM Drive.
4.) Ran a repair of the Windows XP.
5.) Rebooted and logged on.
6.) Performed a backup of all critical documents, files, pictures, articles, etc by burning them on to DVD (yes, they were that large). I especially made sure that I had archived two critical folders on my Root Directory (C:\), the DELL and DRIVERS folders onto one of my external drives for later use in restoring the system drivers to the operating system.
7.) Rebooted and repeated steps 2-3.
8.) I deleted all NTFS and the Fat32 partition that comes with all Dell systems for diagnostics (where some sophisticated viruses like the one which infected my system can hide in).
9.) Created one new NTFS Partition and did a slow format of said partition.
10.) Reinstalled Windows XP Professional.
11.) Reinstalled all drivers.
12.) Downloaded all Windows Critical Updates, including Service Pack 3.
13.) Installed Antivirus Software - McAfee, Comodo, Spybot Search and Destroy.
14.) Installed all programs; MS Office 2003, Adobe Acrobat, etc...
15.) Configured e-mail (populated all folders in Outlook by copying my Outlook.pst and Archive.pst into C:\Documents and Settings\jjbernal\Local Settings\Microsoft\Outlook).
16 Performed a MS Office repair to ensure that all folders and my address book were properly imported and functioning.
17.) Performed an upgrade of all antivirus programs.
18.) Ran McAfee scan of all drives.
19.) Configured Comodo to "allow" and "block" various programs and processes.
20.) Updated Spybot Search and Destroy and ran an immunization of system.

And now you are receiving this message as a result of my work. It took two and half to three days to complete these functions, and such a work of file restoration, virus elimination, reinstallation, and configuration would have easily cost me over a thousand dollars if I were to hire some IT professional to do it for me, but I AM AN IT PROFESSIONAL. Physician heal yourself was never more apropos to the situation at hand.

For those receiving this, and think that I am boring you with the details, I just wanted you to know what to do if you face the same problem with your system. But, if you do and you don't know what to do about it, you call somebody like me, to get the job done. But one caveat, be ready to pay that person through the roof for such work, because it does require a lot of work on the professional's part, and not everybody knows how to do it the right way. This is what the computer technician, desktop support professional, and the IT consultant faces several times a week, and is expected to perform such work under a ticking clock while handling multiple other calls of diverse complexities. This is why some of these people earn the money they earn. The best earn the most money, but to whom much is given (your talents and know how and the pay to match the expertise, skills, and experience). much is required, so they do earn their pay.

For others who were wondering why I hadn't posted anything for some time on this site, especially in light of current events; prior to the virus attack, I was having other issues with my system whcih I was working out, which culminated in the action taken above. Well now you know.