49 replies to this topic

[SuzyQZ]

Hello,

 

I acquired some type of computer infection on either 9/19 when my daughter tried to indiscriminately download Movie Maker from Google, or from a Youtube popup - PerForMax on 9/20. I have been working with a very knowledgeable security tech on the Spybot malware forum. ( http://forums.spybot...ube-popup-havoc ) After trying from a lot of different angles, it was advised to just format and reinstall windows. I have windows 7 disk and product key. First I need to get my photos from my computer and save my Firefox bookmarks. Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

 

Suzy

[paws]

Hi Suzy,
I took a look at your topic over at Safer Networking, and it looks like you and Ken have put in a lot of work on this.
 
Here's the instructions you need for Backing up and Restoring Bookmarks to Firefox
 
https://support.mozi...kup-or-transfer
https://support.mozi...up-or-move-them
 
and as Ken mentioned you can save your photos to an optical disc (CD/DVD) or a memory stick or USB external hard drive.( Drag and drop or copy and paste)
and then you will be able to copy them across to your new computer or at least your old computer but with a newly installed operating system!
 
Make sure you are 100% happy with your back ups before proceeding; there is no need to do anything extra just follow your regular back up routines but do check that you have multiple copies of everything that is important to you and with at least one copy kept safe offsite on removable media and that they all work correctly and can be accessed easily...
 
It would also be wise to check that you have the installation media for all your applications kept in a safe place together with their product serial  numbers  E.G. Microsoft Office, your photo manipulation programme (if applicable) anti virus product, firewall, and anything else that you cannot do without. Don't forget the Windows 7 serial key 5 groups of 5 alpha numeric characters in this sort of format:

 

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

 

(found on the Certificate of Authenticity usually stuck on to your computer's case) as this will almost certainly be needed unless you have a Recovery Partition on your hard drive (see your computer's handbook for these details) or you have had the foresight to make a disc image when your computer was running fast and sweet, free from virus or malicious code and with all junk files removed defragged and with all applications installed and updated. If you did make a disc image then this will shorten the whole thing enormously and you will be up and running again in less time than it takes to walk the dog...

 

Some folks, who don't have a good disc image, have their computer remember their log on credentials for favourite websites, banking, email, etc. and so tend to forget what they are.... so make a note of them all ( and keep it safe) If you format and reinstall, you clear EVERYTHING from  your computer.... your computer will have no idea who you are, how you connect to the Internet, how you log on etc.... you will need to tell it all this information just as you did when the computer was new... so please do the preparation work conscientiously before you start the format.
 
This will make the format and reinstall that much easier, however be warned, all this, including the updates is likely to take you a complete day (say 8 and half hours or so of solid work) and that's assuming you do everything correctly, and it all works correctly first time.... it's not an undertaking to commence lightly or if you are in a hurry.... in case things go wrong make sure you have a handy alternative to getting online, accessing emails etc... (another computer, tablet, smart phone, etc.) 
 
Post back if you have any questions and one of us will do our best to help
Regards
paws

[ken545]

Thanks Nigel for responding, Suzy is a nice lady and hope we can get back on track 

[paws]

Fingers crossed Ken,

[Ztruker]

Might be a good idea to download a updated Windows 7 .iso since it includes SP1. Will save quite a bit of time on the reinstall.

 

Windows 7 Direct Download Links

 

She will need this one:

 

Windows 7 Professional x64 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-59186.iso

 

Use ImgBurn at 4X speed to create a new DVD to install with.

 

[SuzyQZ]

I thank everyone for their replies

 

Yes, I see that it will take a long time to do this. It looks like Sunday will be the best day for me to be able to do that, but there is a possiblility that I might be able to do it tomorrow.

 

My question right now is in regard to the last post about downloading an updated version of windows 7. In what order would I go about doing that? It will be stored on DVDs right from their site? Do I use my keycode there?

 

Also, another question. I have Windows office. I was given a key code when I bought my computer, as it was installed when it was built. How will I go about reinstalling that? Also, is it safe to save any of those files? Is there any potential that either those files or the photos might be infected with something?

 

Suzy

[paws]

Hi Suzy

If your existing Win 7 DVD does not include SP1 ( Service Pack 1) and you are on a slow broadband connection then downloading the file Ztruker suggests makes a lot of sense...However please be very careful when downloading ImgBurn, it's a good product to create easily a bootable disc from a downloaded .iso, but nowadays it tends to have lots of less desirable applications bundled along with it (stuff you may not want on your computer) so please be very careful and be prepared to use a different .iso "burner" if necessary.

 

The order is fairly simple for Win 7, you need to download your iso burner, ImgBurn or alternative, then the Win 7.iso and then burn it to DVD.You only need to input your Win 7 product serial key when you install Win 7 from the DVD you made.

 

To reinstall Microsoft Office (Word, Excel.PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, Access etc) you will need the installation CD/DVD (or downloaded executable file) and its product serial key.

 

You should also make sure that you have your drivers backed up and take particular care to have your Ethernet or wi fi driver handy, so if Win 7 does not include the driver you need  (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't) for Internet access, at least you will be able to install them and so get online...

 

If you are in any doubt about the software and licences you have on your computer then it would be wise to download Belarc Advisor. run it and print out the output, this will give you a list of all the important software on your computer and their licence numbers. Download is available from here:

http://www.belarc.co...e_download.html

 

I would hate to discourage you from undertaking the tasks you have in mind, by exaggerating the difficulties and dangers that you might face, but on the other hand I would like you to be informed as to the amount of work and potential difficulties that you might face so you go into this task with your eyes wide open and aware of some of the potential pitfalls.

 

Many folks who have no great experience successfully undertake a format and reinstall, and update Windows with all the latest updates, install all the required drivers, install their protections (firewall, anti virus, anti spyware etc) then  all their software and then carefully copy across their important data files from their back ups and end up with a reliable fast and virus free machine set up exactly as they like...they then take a disc image or two ( validate them) and then can feel sanguine about getting on with using their computers again for ordinary purposes.

HOWEVER

some folks embark on a similar course of actions but for one reason or another things do not go smoothly..... frustrations creep in, and perhaps access is made to the Internet to download some essential element BEFORE all their protections are in force...and that way leads to a potential disaster....

 

Ken is the real expert on the effects of malware on a computer and the cleaning steps necessary, but YES it is possible (and very easy in fact) to reinfect a computer by copying across files from a back up made on an infected machine. I usually tell my customers that if a computer is infected then they should consider their back ups potentially compromised and not to use them at all until they have been thoroughly checked and declared clean by a competent technician or malware removal expert.

 

I recommend that you consider carefully before proceeding with the format and reinstall and if you are in any doubt about the ultimate outcome, get a quotation from a competent local computer technician to do the work for you.

 

In a well equipped workshop with competent technicians the outcome should be assured and the work will /should be performed expeditiously and should deliver the results you want.

 

Good luck

Regards

paws

[SuzyQZ]

Thanks for the replies and info. I've been transferring photos to Dropbox and saved my bookmarks. I bought a flash drive large enough to hold these pics. This process has taken a lot of time. I have two photograhers in the family and loads of photos. It looks as if I won't be able to start on this till Sunday or Monday. Please keep my case open.

 Suzy

[paws]

[SuzyQZ]

Hello, May I ask you all a question? I've run out of free space on Dropbox. What's a good place for storing stuff similar to Dropbox? Thanks, Suzy

[Ztruker]

I switched from Dropbox to MediaFire. You get 10GB free. I bought the Pro version after a few months for $4.49 a month, which give me 1000GB (1TB) of storage.
 
Here is a comparison of a few others: OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box: Which cloud storage service is right for you?

Edited by Ztruker, 04 October 2014 - 06:27 PM.

[SuzyQZ]

Ztruker, Thank you, that was very helpful! Suzy

[Ztruker]

Good, glad I could help.

[SuzyQZ]

Status update - still trying to upload pics. 10 G of photos.

[Ztruker]

That's the biggest disadvantage of online storage, the slow speed for uploads. It will get there, just takes time.