system restore?

Question

my computer has a whole bunch of viruses, and im thinking of restoring it to what is was before getting screwy. is this a good idea/ do you have any tips about restoring systems/ do you know what i should do to prepare for restoring my system/ what will happen after it's restored?

Answer 1

System Restore will not help:

I have listed a few anti virus and a few anti spyware programs that are available for download and are completely free: I will not get involved with the rights and wrongs of each package or its effectiveness or indeed “This is best” or “This is crap” statements. Whatever you do, just make sure you have one of each type installed, updated and fully working:

Anti Virus
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
http://www.avira.com
http://free.grisoft.com
http://www.free-av.com

Anti Spyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/
http://www.spybot.info/
http://www.spywareterminator.com
http://free.grisoft.com

wdw

Answer 2

All the answers are correct in a way. It depends on your situation. I would not use system restore because the computer might have created a restore point that included some/all of the viruses that you might have. Your best bet is to get an up to date anti-virus and run it in safe mode. You also need to download spy-ware and ad-ware protection which like the other person noted, is free. You also need a good firewall, one that is better than the Windows firewall. You can read up on all of this at About.Com's tech area. Once you have this solved you need to make sure that you are updating and scanning once a week. Good luck.

Answer 3

Useless considering that most viruses hide in the system restore folder. What I would recommend is this:


Get a working copy of AVG Antivirus, its free and its better than norton and mcafee, sorry BUT IT IS.

Get a working copy of Spybot Search and Destory

Update and immunize accordingly, it will give you step by step directions once youve installed the program

THEN

Shut off your machine
turn it on
keep pressing f8 till the windows boot screen comes up
select safe mode
once you are in,
hold down the windows logo key and press pause/break key
go to system restore
check turn off system restore

then scan system...

Answer 4

First, get rid of the viruses. That may solve your problem.
I suggest you run your antivirus software in Safe Mode. That way, Windows will not load and you can get rid of any self-executable files. After you exit Safe Mode, Restart, then try Windows Restore.
1. Go into Safe Mode
2. Run the antivirus program
3. Restart
4. Windows Repair
Here is the information you will need:

Restart your computer to get to Safe Mode:
>>>As soon as you see the system trying to load (it will probably be black and white)
>>>and before Windows tries to load,
>>>press and hold the F8 key.
>>>Continue holding it down until you see a black and white DOS menu. I think Safe Mode is F3.

Click Start, Run. Run your AV program. When it is finished, you will “EXIT” to Windows. Your desktop icons will probably be out of order – just drag them back.
***********************
Here is some information on system restore.
WindowsXP System Restore – excellent link – explains with graphics
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx

WindowsXP Repair Explained
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/options_to_use_when_a_system_will_not_start.mspx?mfr=true

WindowsXP Repair Tools
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm#How%20to%20Repair%20Windows%20XP%20by%20Installing%20Over%20top%20of%20Existing%20Setup:

http://www.download-download-this.com/4.html?OVRAW=Windows%20Installer%20corrupted&OVKEY=window%20installer&OVMTC=advanced

Fix and/or Repair Windows
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm
http://www.onsitechicago.com/support/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=23&nav=0

Answer 5

How do you know you have a bunch of viruses??

If you found out with via your Virus Protection program, try doing a full scan and cleanning (disinfecting) the files..

Answer 6

*lights fixtures cigarette* gadget fix won't be time return and forth as a results of fact all you're doing is reversing movements that have been finished till now - time return and forth could be basic if there replaced into something recording us, yet there's no longer something that all of us be responsive to of. So the closest we can get to time return and forth is the 13:00->12:00 Heathrow Airport to LAX. BQ: in case you have uni the following day, an spectacular 9 hour kip could beneficial be of earnings, in spite of the undeniable fact that it relatively is as much as you.

Answer 7

you can change it to factory settings by putting in the recovery disc

it will restore your computer as if it were brand new, with only the original programs

all files will be deleted

Answer 8

Run a virus scan, it is a better solution. Norton, AVG , Avast are free antivirus software. Ad-aware, Ewido are free spyware removers. You can download free softwares at http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html

Answer 9

Try to restore your computer to the time it don't have virus. =)

Answer 10

everything will be back as when you brought it and I think that it will erase any virus