Backing up before Spyware/Malware removal

joho

Have been checking out the Spyware/Malware removal pages and need to do a backup of all my documents before running any system restore. Is there a quick and easy way of finding out the total bytes of all the documents I want to back up?

intel

Mmm removing spyware shouldnt need you to back anything up.. (unless you are using something else than what I would use)

But if you want to just go to Windows Explorer, select all the folders you wish
to back up and once all are highlighted right click one and select properties
and then youll see how many bytes they have all amounted to.

joho

Thanks, that just the simple method I needed! Like me! :rotfl:

The Malware/Spyware removal sticky talks about backing up before doing system restore - and anyway as I have never backed anything up, its no bad thing!

albertross_2

Windows system restore, shouldn't touch your data. A complete re-install of the operating system will however.

Why are you considering a system restore?

joho

PC is about 4 years old and never had any problems. But bought a laptop and new printer and router, upgraded to Broadband and tried setting up own wireless network. And just keep having gremlins in the works - hard to describe. Lots of little things.

Running dead slow, favourites 'greyed out' and can't connect, PC hangs when doing 3/4 things at once, keeps losing broadband connection and opens Connect/Stay offline dialogue box, can't install new printer on PC OR laptop, can't network laptop (which is probably me just being thick) and so on and so on.

I downloaded PC Tools Antivirus once went Broadband but think must have some embedded problem that AV, Spyware/Malware removal can't touch.

I hate puters!

joho

So to continue the above, I bought an Integral Memory USB Flash drive to back up all my university stuff and I can't even get that to work!!!

Suppos.... While I was typing a dialogue box popped up saying Monitor.exe - No disk in drive... Cancel, Try Again or Continue.

What is that all about?

ABH_3

joho wrote:

So to continue the above, I bought an Integral Memory USB Flash drive to back up all my university stuff and I can't even get that to work!!!

Suppos.... While I was typing a dialogue box popped up saying Monitor.exe - No disk in drive... Cancel, Try Again or Continue.

What is that all about?

Which Operating System are you running? ie: WinXP, Win98, Win98se, Win95 etc. ?

Sounds to me as though you have a serious malware problem, the "Favourites" being greyed out sugests that you have a program on your system that is hoping to force you into taking their route to aquire sites that interest you. As regards the "monitor.exe" problem, you haven't got PCCillin installed have you here.

Assuming you are using WinXP or Win98; A quicker and much more effective approach to backing up your work, maybe to create a shortcut on your desktop pointing to "C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe", which is Windows Explorer or File Manager. Once you have the shortcut on your desktop, double click it.

Then goto your C:\ drive and create a folder called "My Uni Work" and physically drag all your work to that folder. That means right-click on your "work" folders, then drag the ghosted folders to that new folder, there should be a small menu popup "Move here\Copy here\Cancel". Choose "Copy Here", do this for each folder you wish to "backup". Then click on the "My Uni Work" folder, make sure that it contains the required backup. Double-Click some files to ensure they open from that location and they are intact.

Keep Windows Explorer\File Manager open.

Now plug the memory stick or USB drive into an available USB port. In Windows Explorer\File Manager, a new icon should appear. Cancel the "monitor.exe" bubble, then click on your C:\ drive again in Windows Explorer\File Manager and drag the "My Uni Work" folder to the drive that has just appeared :

(if the drive doesn't appear, try pressing "F5" at the top of your keyboard. This should "refresh" the Windows Explorer\File Manager view) and the new drive become visible. If it doesn't, you may need to load some drivers for it to appear.

If a drive has appeared, this should be new USB device. Now click on the new USB device, once the file transfer has completed. You should see your files. If you don't you're not following my instructions If you do, make sure that your actual work is on that drive. Once again, double-click on some files to ensure they open from this location. If they do, then you have a backup of your files.

Now close Windows Explorer\File Manager and reboot. Then run Spybot Search and Destroy\Adaware etc and see if that clears your problems.

Good luck!

HTH

intel

I would also try sfc /scannow >>>> http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

Very easy to do...

VincentVega

If your PC has been up and running for four years, then perhaps you should consider backing up all your data, reformatting your hard drive and reinstalling Windows and all your applications. It sounds more complicated than it is.

joho

This is my second reply. I typed a nice long one and then puter went mad and locked up and shut down!

Anyway Vincent, ABH and Intel - thank you for your help.

I followed the steps in the Spyware/Malware removal sticky and was able to run Adaware, Spybot and Ewido (but other links didn't work and crapcleaner wouldn't install even though it downloaded from the website ok). They found and deleted various things. Haven't tried Panda or Housecall yet - will they make much difference if everything else hasn't?

I can't run sfc/scannow because it says it can't find it.

I tried the USB drive again and it still isn't apearing. Will try some other USB ports on the machine (plugged it into the front one) and see if that works.

If not then I may well be up the creek without a paddle as I don't know any other way to back up before doing a full reinstall! :eek:

intel

In My Honest Opinion I would do a complete fresh install, But thats me.