ok, i have found a version of xp that runs off a 467mb sd card. im in the process of burning off all the essential files to dvd and sd cards, then a full format. i will obviously do a full virus check on all the files before i transfer them back to the new install

the most worrying thing is it seems my ssd (that had windows on it) is dead. not been able to see it on this minixp or in bios. its not the end of the world tho. there are programs that might see it and fix it but none that can do it without a full windows install, so thats a wait and see.

as some others have pointed out, this was a mbr swap virus/ransomware. opening the drives back up again was a simple task using hiren's bootcd 14.0

cheers for your help, should have a new install running as soon as i copy another 50gb and most of my dvd stockpile.