Will running "Restore PC" remove a virus or other junk?

[brody]

Thanks,
brody

 

[Gordon]

Thanks,
brody

yes, as long as the restore point you choose doesn't have the virus in!

 

[Kerry Brown]

Thanks,
brody

It depends what you mean by "Restore PC". If you mean Windows built in
System Restore feature then no it won't contrary to what someone else
posted. If you have a Dell/ HP/Compaq/eMachine/Gateway or other large OEM pc
with an option to restore it to the factory setup then that may. Some of
them give two options, a full restore which erases everything, and a repair
option which doesn't. The repair option won't remove a virus. The full
restore option will. It will also erase everything that is on the computer
so make sure you have any important data backed up first. e.g pictures,
music, email, documents, etc. In any case backup your data before trying to
remove the virus.

Kerry

 

[Gordon]

It depends what you mean by "Restore PC". If you mean Windows built in
System Restore feature then no it won't contrary to what someone else
posted. If you have a Dell/ HP/Compaq/eMachine/Gateway or other large
OEM pc with an option to restore it to the factory setup then that
may. Some of them give two options, a full restore which erases
everything, and a repair option which doesn't. The repair option
won't remove a virus. The full restore option will. It will also
erase everything that is on the computer so make sure you have any
important data backed up first. e.g pictures, music, email,
documents, etc. In any case backup your data before trying to remove
the virus.

Kerry

I think you'll find that as long as the virus is not the sort that infects
the system restore, and there is a restore point that is prior to the
infection date that it WILL get rid of the virus......

 

[Kerry Brown]

I think you'll find that as long as the virus is not the sort that
infects the system restore, and there is a restore point that is
prior to the infection date that it WILL get rid of the virus......

At best the virus executable files will still be on the computer waiting to
reinfect the pc. All current viruses will survive a System Restore. Most of
them will reinfect the pc on the next boot. Some will be dormant until the
file is accidently run. System Restore is not a valid method for removing
viruses.

Kerry

 

[deebs]

At best the virus executable files will still be on the computer waiting to
reinfect the pc. All current viruses will survive a System Restore. Most of
them will reinfect the pc on the next boot. Some will be dormant until the
file is accidently run. System Restore is not a valid method for removing
viruses.

Kerry

A good point Kerry and it highlights (IMO) the importance of two main
strategies dependant upon user experience

1 - a do it yourself approach very similar to untangling a knotted string

2 - a software utility approach, basically click the button and tust the
software to root it all out.

Part of me does wonder if the default OS spec switched from a one disk
does it all approach to a two platter attangment woth OS and programs on
one and a secomd platter with user data (including all things
Internet/IM/email) with a shell protection between data and OS platters

It may not be an ultimate solution but it may help to reduce the
incidence space to somethimg more manageable?