Do I have a virus?

[Metal-Tails]

Everytime I start my computer it's always so slow. When I begin browsing on the internet, all sorts of things start happening; windows explorer crashes and has to restart, my network card crashes, and sometimes a bunch of programs I've never even heard of crash too. Once in a while, my computer says "Windows must restart because of a DCOM server error" or something like that. I have BitDefender and Malwarebytes'. I went in BD's Rescue Mode to do a virus scan several times and found nothing. I went in safe mode to do a full scan on Malwarebytes', also found nothing. I've done a low level format using Active@Killdisk several times and somehow the same problems arise. So am I infected? If so, what should I do?

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Back up your data to another location and perform a factory recovery. If you don't know how start the factory recovery, please post your computer make and model.

 

[Metal-Tails]

I have a Dell Inspiron M5040

 

[Metal-Tails]

I've done another low level format. When I think about it enough, I just don't see how any virus could survive a low level format, as all the data is wiped(am I wrong?).
And the same problems occur. Although I'm getting different error messages after each format and reinstallation of Windows, the same thing is happening. Things have trouble starting up. The whole point of this topic was that I wanted to figure out whether or not I had a virus. I knew I certainly had some sort of virus/malware before I decided to format. But as I said, a low level format deletes all data, so a virus should not be present post format. So all this has led me to think that the virus/malware I had before has given permanent damage to my hard drive. To sum it all up, I would just like to know if there is some some kinda hard drive fixing software maybe? I need to know if any such software exists because I'm thinking I should just buy a new hard drive.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Malware doesn't permanently damage hardware, nor will it survive a low-level format or even a normal format.
If you do have faulty hardware it hasn't been caused by a virus, more likely just wear-and-tear and misuse, rough handling etc.

You can test the hard drive with a bootable CD. Links to the diagnostic software is here:
http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

Test the RAM with a bootable CD too: http://www.memtest.org/