How can I save settings and lose the spyware & junk during backup?

I suspect that my hard drive has been contaminated with spyware that I can't
identify, and some that I can't remove. Does it make sense to wipe the drive
and reinstall all software to purge the spyware? If so, then how can I
backup the settings and move the back over without bringing those nasties
with them? I'm not too familiar with ediiting my registry, and am not
certain as to what I should remove - but is a wipe and clean reinstall
overkill?

In ,
cookster had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

I suspect that my hard drive has been contaminated with spyware that
I can't identify, and some that I can't remove. Does it make sense
to wipe the drive and reinstall all software to purge the spyware?
If so, then how can I backup the settings and move the back over
without bringing those nasties with them? I'm not too familiar with
ediiting my registry, and am not certain as to what I should remove -
but is a wipe and clean reinstall overkill?

It might be overkill.

Malware Cleaners and Repair:
http://kgiii.info/windows/all/general/malwarefix.html

Without knowing the infections then I can't really say. As for migration of
your settings you can consider researching FAST...

http://aumha.org/win5/a/fast.htm

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
http://kgiii.info/

"We approached the case, you remember, with an absolutely blank mind,
which is always an advantage. We had formed no theories. We were simply
there to observe and to draw inferences from our observations." -
Sherlock Holmes