A Linux install that deletes all of the existing partitions will remove any virus that is on a partition (as long as you let Linux have the entire disk and don't retain old microsoft partitions). There is still the chance for a "rootkit" or MBR virus that lives outside the partitions and is linked to through the master boot record. Rewriting the MBR should make you safe from any of these.

And there is even a small chance now of malware that has installed itself in the motherboard BIOS space, outside of the hard disk system. I have not had to deal with any of these, don't know of a fix, but it would be a good idea to check for any BIOS update from your mother board manufacturer and install the most recent BIOS update, just is case, and to avoid any problems the BIOS update fixes.