A long time ago....i believe the beginning of last year....i got a virus on my computer....i believe i eliminated it but somethings are not quite the same....when i go to run and type in "cmd" a window pops up and says "Cmd is not a valid win32 application"....same thing with "ping"......i know you can still use the command prompt by navigating the start menu but how can that be fixed? system restore? or do i go to command prompt and type in format? what's the difference? If i do a system restore....will ALL my documents and pictures be saved? i need them and it's important....please help??
2007-01-19 16:06:45 · 8 answers · asked by R3B3LL10N 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
I forgot to mention that i got more viruses and spyware later in the year
2007-01-19 16:10:07 · update #1
Many computer experts recommend a hard drive reformat at least once a year. Reformatting the hard drive cleans out the Windows registry and removes any problem causing files.
Reformat the hard drive to return your computer to its original configuration. Reinstalling Windows and other applications after a hard drive reformat may repair previously unfixable problems.
If ido a system restore.... ALL your documents and pictures will be saved, they will be in a different location though.
2007-01-19 16:19:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Restore is like a time machine. You can go back to a certain when your computer did not have that problem you had. Example, you load a program up and it screws up your computer. Now you go to restore to the day before you loaded up the bad program and you are good to go.
Recovery or reformat means that you will erase everything and your computer will be set to manufacturers specifications like when you got the computer out of the box. I recovered a couple of times cuz I had a virus big time problem that the anitvirus could not take out.
If you reformat. Download the antivirus program first, then download the program to access the internet, then IMMEDIATELY start downloading the windows updates. I did it the easy way. Set you automatic download on.Then every 15 minutes, hit the TURN OFF THE COMPUTER and if you see a download icon on the TURN OFF icon, then quickly turn off computer let it download what it has, reboot and turn on again. Repeat, till you get all windows updates.
2007-01-20 00:09:45 · answer #2 · answered by Big C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is to get rid of viruses I would re-format.
Reformatting the hard drive permanently deletes everything on it, than windows is re-installed and you start your computer from how it was when you first got it.
System restore only restores your system files to a previous restore point ( a date when you installed a program or changes major system settings a restore point is created, but it will not delete a virus like reformatting it will
2007-01-20 00:17:20 · answer #3 · answered by Dan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DO not Format. without backup
of all data elsewhere.
Do not select System Restore.
as the virus is also restored.!
Disable System Restore.
Download & run
1. Avg Free edition &
2. AVG Anti Spyware7.5
Both free trial for limited period.
www.grisoft.com
3. http://www.spybot.info/ for
SPYBOT anti virus
Now check your computer. for normal operation/s
program. FREE
2007-01-20 00:55:08 · answer #4 · answered by essbebe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
restore takes you to an earlier point at which your computer may hace had a virus, format, makes your computer what it was when you bought it, buy some virus protection software, and have it run daily or weekly. It will save you all this trouble
2007-01-20 00:22:36 · answer #5 · answered by holly m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
run system file checker
http://mypchelp.blogspot.com/2006/12/system-file-checker.html
but it will be better doing a complete format and reinstall
http://mypchelp.blogspot.com/2006/10/windows-reinstallation.html
2007-01-20 00:13:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should regardless which method you choose save your pictures and important itemds to a disc
2007-01-20 00:14:34 · answer #7 · answered by simonseztalktome 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
put your stuff on cds, and reformat with the xp disk.
2007-01-20 00:14:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋