Back up issue after a virus.

[Issith]

I recently had some trouble with a virus. My Norton scanner cleaned the virus out, but it had changed my registry and some other files I do not know how to restore.(I think some of the virus is still present because my computer is slower then before)

So I wanted to do a clean re-install of my windows7.
Unfortunately I hadn't made a system image before the virus.
I do have some back-up files of my personal data and some program files because I had some useful factory installed software.

Now, Will my program files be restored when I do a clean install of windows7 and use the back-up to restore my files? Better yet, will the software work?

Or is it necessary to have a system image before the software in program files will operate.

Maybe it's not clear what is say(English is not my native language) ,so I'll give and example of what I want to do .

e.g.:

I back up the folder (I do not have a system image), on an eSATA: Microsoft Office

I do a clean install of windows7

I go to back-up and restore, and restore the backed-up Microsoft Office folder.

Now microsoft office is ready to use.

---------------

So, yet again is this possible or do i really need a system image for that to work.


Thank you in advance.

 

[manhunter2826]

If you do not have a system image to hand then I think all programs will have to be reinstalled (manually); data files (Office docs etc.) can be backed up on to an external drive as u rightly said.

Many folk here give this a thumbs up as a free Imaging program:
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

 

[noyb]

Your HP supplied application software will be restored when you recover from the HP recovery DVDs .. or the recovery partition.
Other programs will have to be re-installed.

Have you made your HP recovery DVDs yet ???

 

[Issith]

yes, I have made my recovery CD's. But that is still from when it was Vista.

I guess I'll just have to do the recovery, and upgrade again to win7. and the install all the win7 drivers

 

[noyb]

I guess I'll just have to do the recovery, and upgrade again to win7. and the install all the win7 drivers

Once it's configured the way you want it .. and still a fresh install ...
Then that's the time to make a Backup Image.

I'd recommend using an Imaging program other than what came with W7U ..
I use Acronis

For a Corrupt system .. (even if it's unbootable) ... Sometimes I make an Image of it.
Then I can go back to the old Image and extract any good data.
Installed Programs must be re-installed

 

[Issith]

I don't know exactly what you mean with

".. and still a fresh install ... "

You mean if I do the Win Vista Recovery, with all the HP drivers, I can still do a clean install and the drivers will still be present ?

Edit: Nvm, I read it to quickly, you probably meant with " .. and still a fresh install ..." that hadn't "used" my comp yet after the win7 upgrade

 

[noyb]

Right .. Using a system makes it "dirty" .. Or it can collect something you don't want.

"Image" it while it's still basically fresh, updated and configured the way you like it ..
Then this Image will be your W7 recovery system.
I can recover my systems from an Image ... Faster than you can read one DVD.

Nothing tunes up a system, or fixes what may ail it, better than a fresh restore....
Every time I do this .. I can "feel" the difference .. like getting a new car.

You will have to backup your data separately .. from the system Image ..
(As raw Data)

 

[Issith]

Thanks for the help,

problem solved.

Now I'm going to have a go with it and I'll report back when I'm finished

 

[Dinesh]

I doubt your backup will work after doing a clean install. Especially windows office wont work. You will need a setup file to run ms office again on a clean install.

 

[Issith]

Yes, thank you for telling me. But noyb and manhunter2826 had already pointed it out to me.



For office and games and others, I all have a setup for them.

The problem was factory installed software. But when I use the recovery discs, that wont be a problem either.

the only trouble I have now is that i need to do the recovery, the install of win7 and all the other installs.

Then I'm going to make a system image, so I will never have this problem again.

So my problem is actually kinda solved.

so again. tnx noyb

 

[noyb]

Just because I may need it .. (to be possibly discovered later) ..
Many times .. I Image the old system .. Before I recover it.
After I'm sure the old Image is not needed .. I delete it.

It's one of those situations .. Where if you don't do it ...
the odds are greater that you'll wish you did

 

[Issith]

Ok, I did everything. Quite frankly I'm very happy I did it, because now my fingerprint reader works again .

The first time I installed win7, I also downloaded all the drivers from the HP website, but it seems now that it is a better idea not doing the updates. the software still works perfectly.

 

[CarlTR6]

Ok, I did everything. Quite frankly I'm very happy I did it, because now my fingerprint reader works again .

The first time I installed win7, I also downloaded all the drivers from the HP website, but it seems now that it is a better idea not doing the updates. the software still works perfectly.

Glad to hear all is running well. Well done.

 

[whs]

As already pointed out, the easiest way to make images is free Macrium. Here is a tutorial I made that shows you the whole imaging cycle. This is not to say that other imaging programs like Norton Ghost, Paragon, Acronis, etc. would not do the job. But I have used many of those and find them much more complicated than Macrium. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Issith]

thanks