need to delete everything from my computer but i want to save songs, but how?

Question

i have a virus on my computer and i need to delete everything and start from scratch. but i have almost 2000 songs saved on here and i don't want to lose them. i use itunes but my friend said that i won't be able to save it on there. what's the fastest and easiest way to save all my songs?

Answer 1

Creating a CD/DVD copy of all the songs may be a part of solution. The virus may get written on CD/DVD also (depends on virus).

So, you create a backup CD/DVD copy as an additional measure.
Delete all the folders except for Operating System.
Get your operating system reinstalled. Make sure you FORMAT all the drives while installation of OS, except the one where you have stored your songs.

After installing OS, first thing you should do is install a AntiVirus Program and scan the whole Hard Disk for viruses.Then only you proceed with other software to install.

Even after all this, the virsu persists, Repeat the process but now you should format all the drives along with folders of Songs.
Install the OS and then try to load the songs from CD/DVD backup.

This is all you can do. This is what I do (I am a software professional).

Answer 2

Get an external hard drive and save the songs and other files there. They cost around 60 bucks for a 100 GB drive.

As others have mentioned, use a virus scan, get rid of the spyware, and if you eager to format your drive, do it... but, make sure that you have a CD to re-install the Operating Sysmtem (Windows XP etc). But, if you find the virus, no need to delete all files.

Also, you can download Norton Antivirus or Symantec antivirus free for a month.

Answer 3

My opinion - get rid of the virus first. You don't want to save or transfer any files that might be infected.

Suggest you run a full scan in SAFE MODE.
Press and hold down the F8 key while you Restart.
Soon you will see a black and white DOS menu.
I think F5 if SAFE MODE.
click Start
find your antivirus program and run it, then restart again.

When you return to Windows, your icons may be all over the screen. Just drag them back into place.

You just may not have to delete anything.

Answer 4

i had to do the same thing and this was my biggest concern. i went on with the process and ricked losing everything. but when i uploaded my limewire back and my itunes everything on that was still there but every other file was deleted so i dont know if that was luck or what? save everything on a zip disk if you don't want to take a chance.

Answer 5

Adaware is antispyware, and will not remove a virus. Also. you can't be sure the virus is not attached to the song files. Try to clean it up with an antivirus program. I have had good luck with avast. You could also copy them to cd's, and I would soon if I were you.

Answer 6

Burn them all to Cd's and then rebuild the system from scratch to get rid of the virus. Then copy the Cd's back to your ITunes.

Answer 7

just get a virus program, dont go through your computer and start deleting stuff, that is a real fast way to screw up your computer since you need a lot of the files on your computer for it to be able to run, go to download.com and type in ad aware and download it and run it, it might help you

Answer 8

save them on a disk using Winzip.however if you have a virus try downloading AVG free from downloads.com a free anti-virus program then you could save all of your files on the computer

Answer 9

Back up your iTunes media, not the same as music, to a CD or DVD and restore them to your knew iTunes. You should already be doing this if you value your purchased music. FYI, if you lose your purchased music you will need to buy them if you wanted to download them again.

How to back up and restore your media in iTunes
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302392

Answer 10

If you can acess to your hard drive you may copy to another disk. If not try to install your hard drive in another computer - or even in a external hard drive case - and try to access him.