>I'm helping to remove an infection from a fellow's computer. I have removed two root kits and forteen trojans, but one MBR virus was lurking on the HD and I found it this morning. I don't know what it is called besides the very special names I have given it. The MBR virus will not let me reformat. Any ideas for complete removal of the thing?

I know the names you given to this virus (They are the same I gave to it when I fight with it) :-)
I think (NOT SURE) that if you boot from Windows Installation CD/DVD and go to recovery console you can repair MBR. Just make sure that everything imnportant have a pretty good backup first :-).

BTW I never spent my time to clear something :-)
I prefer to Backup my important files, never kept them in the same partition as the Windows one, FORMAT the drive with Delete and Crate Partition and reinstall all from scratch.
That was before I find Acronis, Now everything is easy. Just put the DVD and restore the drive :-))))))))))