Computer has gone mad!

andygb

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Im assuming he meant a system reset (back to how it was when you very 1st bought it)

Is that a good/bad thing to do, and what effect will it have on all the documents/saved stuff on the PC? For instance, as I use Firefox as a browser, by resetting to factory spec. would I lose all the saved as "Favourites/Bookmarks", because I would need to install all other software again?
BTW, I am going to try Hijack this log again, it was not letting me "run as administrator " the first time.
Cheers for your help.

aliEnRIK

You would lose everything. It would be exactly as you bought it

birkee

aliEnRIK wrote: »

You would lose everything. It would be exactly as you bought it

System Restore.....returns the computer to how it was X time ago.
In other words, if you make changes (usually a Windows update) to a computer, the computer creates a file of how it was BEFORE the changes. You can opt for creating a 'system restore' point yourself, before you install something, in case it goes pear shaped. Just go back to the system restore point you created, and no harm done.

There will be a number of these changes, listed by dates, so you can revert the computer back to a date before you had a problem.
This only changes system files that were changed since that date, and leaves your own files since that date untouched.
Most hostile infections are of system files.

Using the system recovery /reset disc returns the computer to how it was on day one. All your files, and software installed afterwards, will be gone forever.

aliEnRIK

birkee wrote: »

System Restore.....returns the computer to how it was X time ago.
In other words, if you make changes (usually a Windows update) to a computer, the computer creates a file of how it was BEFORE the changes. You can opt for creating a 'system restore' point yourself, before you install something, in case it goes pear shaped. Just go back to the system restore point you created, and no harm done.

There will be a number of these changes, listed by dates, so you can revert the computer back to a date before you had a problem.
This only changes system files that were changed since that date, and leaves your own files since that date untouched.
Most hostile infections are of system files.

Using the system recovery /reset disc returns the computer to how it was on day one. All your files, and software installed afterwards, will be gone forever.

Then in answer to your initial question, system restore can sometimes make things worse (even though it may initially appear better), making it very difficult to remove the problem completely. In some cases you could even end up with a completely unbootable computer

I wouldnt ever advise using it to sort out a virus problem except maybe as a last resort

Ihatecameron

Malwarebytes can be dodgy if not downloaded from a safe source.

birkee

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Then in answer to your initial question, system restore can sometimes make things worse (even though it may initially appear better), making it very difficult to remove the problem completely. In some cases you could even end up with a completely unbootable computer

I wouldnt ever advise using it to sort out a virus problem except maybe as a last resort

My original question is still valid...why system restore is rarely mentioned.
MY first instincts would be to deal with the problem, re uninstalling etc, but many people reading here have trouble with that.
I would venture to suggest, that you would have to do something silly, to stop the computer booting, as system restore would return it to how it was at the restore point.
I DO accept the point that there may be resident traces of harmful material left, making it difficult to remove, using this method though. Registry Editor maybe?

aliEnRIK

birkee wrote: »

My original question is still valid...why system restore is rarely mentioned.
MY first instincts would be to deal with the problem, re uninstalling etc, but many people reading here have trouble with that.
I would venture to suggest, that you would have to do something silly, to stop the computer booting, as system restore would return it to how it was at the restore point.
I DO accept the point that there may be resident traces of harmful material left, making it difficult to remove, using this method though. Registry Editor maybe?

Then as I originally said, please point it out to the OP (any thread) whenever you wish. everyones aloud to say whatever they like. But ill personally always voice my opinions about system restore