Restoring laptop back to factory settings

geek84

Hi Folks

I think my laptop (Acer 7720G) has got a virus because it freezes everytime I click the internet explorer icon to enable me to connect to the web. I have been advised by some of my friends to restore my laptop back to the factory settings, and in this way I could get rid of the virus.
I shall be grateful if some one can kindly answer the following questions -
1. Would restoring the laptop back to factory settings get rid of the virus and enable me to connect to the internet as normal?
2. If so, how do I restore the company settings?
2. I have also been advised that there is no disc/cd available by which I can restore the laptop to the factory settings and that windows vista has an in built feature for doing this? Is that true? If so, how do I go about using it?
3. Finally, once I get my laptop up and running, I am thinking of putting on Norton 360 anti virus. In your opinion, is this good anti virus software?
Thanks in advance for your response.

Donnie

With a Factory Restore you will lose ALL of the your information stored on the laptop. Are you prepared for such an occurrence?

rdpro

1) Yes

2) You should have a 'boot menu' or 'Boot Options' when your computer starts - factory resets are normally listed in those options

2a) Manufacturers will normally supply a restore CD/Windows CD if pestered - they may be referring to windows' 'System Restore' function, available via pressing F8 when the computer boots up (don't hit F8 too fast, or you'll lockup your keyboard) - this will revert your pc to a previous 'save point' created by windows - it doesn't remove any personal data, just any software installed since the save point date.

3) In my opinion, no it isn't. Plenty of good free options available (Microsoft Security Essentials, Avast (my favourite), Avira, AVG)

Use an anti-virus in conjunction with an anti-malware program, and try to avoid using Internet Explorer - use firefox, opera, or chrome (all free)

AdamMerry

Alt + F10 on boot up should bring up the restore partition up with Acers