Best option for an infected computer?

[yk7]

I may or may not be infected with malware/virus, but I'd just like to clean out my system anyway. (There are some signs of them but scanners report nothing.)
What is the best method? I currently have Macrium Reflect but am not sure if that's the best way for my situation.

 

[Dinesh]

Try scanning your computer from malwarebytes and Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows

If they are able to clean your PC, nothing like it.
Otherwise, if you have created a backup previously via Macrium Reflect, then you can certainly restore it.
If not, then a clean install is always recommended.

 

[yk7]

I'm wondering what would be the best for me. Doing a full image backup and system restore or only copying needed files and folders. Is there any chance for a virus to transfer over during a system restore?

 

[Layback Bear]

Any time you make a backup or image of a infected system the infection will also be in the backup and or image. If you install that image you will still be infected.
Macrium Reflect repairs nothing. It's not to designed to do such things.

We do have some experts that give advice on checking and cleaning computers. They are normally busy and it might take a while to get to your request.

 

[yk7]

So even If I only copy folders such as documents, desktop, etc, it'll still transfer?
I've seen some people who help in this forum recommend backing up and reformatting as a last resort. That's what I'm trying to do.

 

[Layback Bear]

They also recommend making sure what you backup is clean before backing up.

 

[whs]

Imaging is very good and you should make that a weekly routine - but before you catch malware. Once you are infected, imaging cannot help. You can run scanners but if the malware has made modifications to your system, only a reinstall or a prior clean image will help.

If you save files from the infected system, they can also be infected. It is usually not very likely, but possible. You can send them upstream (before you copy them) to Virus Total and have them checked. If they pass there, they will be OK. That is a tedious process but the safest method. Virus Total scans with all known scanners on earth.

https://www.virustotal.com/en/about/about/

https://www.virustotal.com/en/

 

[Borg 386]

As Dinesh stated, the best method would be a clean install. This has the advantage of you starting over with a clean slate. The downside is that you'll have to start from scratch & reinstall your various programs again. But if you want to start from square 1, this is a good option.

 

[ShamrockRig]

Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

• Shut down your protection software now to avoid potential conflicts.
• Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista, 7, or 8; instead of double-clicking, right-mouse click JRT.exe and select "Run as Administrator".
• The tool will open and start scanning your system.
• Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
• On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
• Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next message.

download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

• Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
  Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
• Click on the Scan button.
• AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
• After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
• The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
• Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
• A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.

Using AdwCleaner v3: Scan & Clean:
Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool again.
Click on the Scan button.
AdwCleaner will begin to scan your computer like it did before.
After the scan has finished...

This time click on the Clean button.
Press OK when asked to close all programs and follow the onscreen prompts.
Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[S#].txt) will open automatically (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder

 

[yk7]

Clean scan from AdwCleaner and JRT (nothing worth posting logs for). They only reset my Firefox preferences but that is expected every time.