This happens to us all. Viruses and spy ware sneak into our computers undetected. It doesn’t matter what virus protection program you have, or how many. Some way some how a virus of sorts is going to make it’s way in your system. Before you go out and spend hundreds of dollars on fixing it or trying to find a new one try this free and easy way to restore it. For those reading this out of curiosity we’ll be breaking it down into steps so you can learn to prepare in case this happens.
What This Tutorial Is For
Before you read this and think this is the solution to your problem please understand, this is not to fix a computer with a few viruses or one that is working to slow. For a tutorial on that, please Read this tutorial. This tutorial is for a computer that is completely gone. Meaning your operating system will not boot up, or your system just keeps rebooting itself continuously. For instance:
I had a Sony Viao I bough back in 2004. Thing ran like a charm, never had an issue with it until I started watching streaming videos on it. Then I started getting viruses and Trojans, unknowingly of course. Soon I got the dreaded ‘Windows Blue Sceen of Death’ and then one day the computer just continuously rebooted its self every time I turned it on. Windows was so infected it couldn’t even load. So like most, instead of going and spending a couple hundred dollars to have someone diagnose the problem then fix it, I bought a new computer and counted it as an upgrade instead of a loss. Afterall, I got 6 years out of the thing. That is what this tutorial is for. Use of this tutorial for anything other than a crashed system may result in more damage to your computer. I had a lot of files and graphics on that system that I really wanted back, but had to just deal with it. Until now. Here is what to do to bring your old computer back to life, if anything to get your old files and junk back.
What Needs To Be Done Before You Do Anything Else
Back Up Your System – Create A Back Up Disc
First things first, some may have done this, some computers come with it already installed, but the first thing you should do is ensure you have a back up disk of your computer. Sony machines come with it pre-installed, Hp’s usually come with them, and Acer requires you to make one of your own. This is a must for everyone, but if it’s too late and you don’t have one and your system has crashed no worries, you’ll still be able to make use of your old pc.
Have A Flash Drive or Blank CD on Hand — or both
Just like in previous tutorials a flash drive can be gold to anyone with a computer. But a few blank CD’s are also handy. We’ve got first aid programs for our computers and a few other things saved up on both. Which ever you choose is up to you. But with older computers a CD may work better.
Download Bitdefender
If you don’t have another computer or a laptop to get online, either go to the Library or to a friends house and get this program, Bitdefender (yes, the site looks inactive, but it is and it works, click the link: bitdefender-rescue-cd.iso, and save the file). Once you save the file copy it to your flash drive or CD. There are several similar programs, but this is the one that we have used, tested and can guarantee works. What you’ll do is download and create a “rescue cd ( or flash file). This program will scan your system for any and all viruses, malware, and spy ware. However, it will take over your system completely.
Install It Into Your Infected From Hell Computer
Turn your computer on and insert the CD. Depending on how bad your computer is you may have to shut it back down (leaving the cd in) and reboot it. Flash users may have to do the same, but it should boot the program up. Be patient, the program will load, but does take a few minutes. Once it does the screen will go black had have the Bitdefender program logo in the background. This will take several minutes to load. Once it does it should start scanning your computer automatically. If not, click on the scan button.
Once it is done scanning it will list all viruses and actions taken, basically saying it has deleted these infections.
The next step is your choice, but we would suggest that you go through and recover and save any files you want from the system before moving on. You can do this by using the Gtk Recoverer (right click on the desktop while Bitdefender is running, scroll down to Back Up & Recover). Open this application and then a box will open up with all your systems old files and documents. Search around and save anything you want to your flash drive (or blank cd).
Recovering Your System
Here’s where things get hairy. If your operating system will not boot up due to viruses and malware, Bitdefender will force Windows (or Linux) to repair itself or restore your computer to factory settings.
In Bitdefender right click on the desktop and a menu should appear, click on Back Up & Recovery, then scroll down to Partition Image, and click on it. A new menu will open up from the toolbar at the bottom of the desktop. It will look like an old DOS menu from back in the day. It should list several options, but the one you are looking for will look something like xxxSony serial number FAT 32. Click on this option (usually the first choice). And it will start recovering your system. Your computer may shut down automatically, if it does, remove the CD (or flash drive and allow it). If it doesn’t rebook its self, then insert your back up disc and reboot.
For instance if you have a Sony Viao it will automatically restore it to the original settings it come with before you put all your stuff and settings with (called C Drive Recovery). For others, you may need to run a back up disc in order to restore your system.
If you did this step, and nothing happened, then play around with Bitdefender a little more, this is how we learned to restore an old computer. Also, there is a video tutorial of what you can do with Bitdefender, but it’s vague. Check it out here.
