Windows installation

Hello,

During windows xp instalation, 2 command promt (DOS) windows popup, and
minimize instantly, i cannot see what the windoy displays, but apparently its
running something.

Is this normal? I have installed windows many times, and i dont remember
seeing this. this is the oem XP SP2 copy that came with my laptop, it's NOT a
pirate copy,

I have been having trouble with this laptop and formated it many times since
last week, i just deleted the 2 partiotions I had, and created another 2.
Formated and installed winxp again, once in windows formated the 2nd
partition. still laptop is doing strange things, for example I cannot see
hidden files, I selected from 'folder options' but it doesnt save. When i run
ATTRIB from console, i see a file xp19.com on both partitions C:\ and D:\, is
this a windows file?

Can a virus survive formating the HD with windows XP installer?

thanks in advance