Windows 7: Asus laptop, pay or do-myself?

Okay, I got a bitty problem: My Asus laptop got infected with a boot virus and is stuck in "Restart Restore." The place where I bought it (Microcenter) will fix it and save all my stuff for $60 if I sign up for their $30 anti-virus software (suspicous).

...I am dirt poor. A friend suggested I reformat it. I would have to do it in command prompt. All my important stuff is backed up save for three files, and they can be re-created (I am a freelance writer). I really don't want to have to type all that crap again, but I don't think it's worth $90.

Also, the computer did not come with any disks, and I did not make any boot disks. I have a Windows Vista disk from my last computer, but is there anyway I can still get Windows 7 on there when I reformat?

..Or should I plunk down $90? Thanks!

I would do it myself. The learning experience itself is worth more than that. You will know enough to be able to repair and/or reinstall your OS at any time in the future and become very popular with your friends (mine fly me all over the world ).

See if you can boot into Safe Mode with Networking by tapping F8 at bootup to access Advanced Boot Options. Install, update and run Malwarebytes full scan. If you can't boot into Safe Mode, download and burn to CD a free bootable AV scan to boot to scan your HD:
FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List
How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD - Boot to CD

Next you need to borrow, find or download the Windows 7 Installer ISO for your version, which can also be used for Repairs. We are not allowed to link to the ISO downloads here as it is thought to encourage piracy, but you can search for Official Windows 7 Downloads at My Digital Life yourself. Download and burn to DVD or write to flash stick using this tool: Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

As an alternative you can make a Windows 7 REpair CD from another Windows 7 computer: System Repair Disc - Create

Now boot the DVD Repair console or Repair CD, See if it finds an installation to repair, accept any offered Repair. If Windows 7 doesn't start, boot back in to run Startup Repair repeatedly from the Repair console's System Recovery Options. Report back here what it finds.

You can copy out your files using the Install DVD: Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console or Paragon Rescue CD freeware.

If repairs fail you can run Full Factory Recovery from its partition at boot using F9 key, run Recovery Disks if you made them, or boot the Windows 7 Installation DVD to clean reinstall with the Product Key on COA sticker following these tips to get a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

I'm borrowing a very outdated e-Mac right now, but when i get to work later today, i shall download the Virus Rescue and Windows 7 ISO and give it a whirl tonight or later.

My computer was not packaged with any discs at all, which I'm informed is becoming the norm, and that's bs. But alas...

Either way, I'll report back what happens when I try it. I've spend my whole night looking up solutions to this problem, DOS commands, etc. ...no sleep.

Thanks for the input.

I gave you the steps needed to clean up the infection, repair Windows 7 and if necessary factory Recover or find a Windows 7 Installation DVD to clean reinstall.

Did you try accessing Safe Mode?

You may need to try more than once, reboot and vigorously tap the F8 key every other second.

In ASUS laptops, there is a program called AI Recovery Burner, its located under ASUS Utilities folder. From there you can make a copy of your Windows on dvd's. It took me 5 dvd's to make a backup of Windows. If you can get into the safe mode it should be possible to make a copy of it.

Thanks for all the comments! I've got a friend fixing it for me for now (been so busy!), but I will definitely grab that IOS just in case for the future.