Wanting to recover system to the factory settings, (like new)

[M4TE]

Recently I was attacked with malware and I had no internet security. It messed up some programs, changed the description of processes etc. I read up on how to get rid of malware and such, and I got Malwarebytes, SpyBot - search&destroy, and finally Avast! computer antivirus. After running scans with malwarebytes and Spybot, removing all the trojans and programs that were affected, I used ccleaner to clean the registry. Although I did all that, it seems like there is still something in my computer because spybot keeps scanning the same files over and over, and both Malwarebytes and Avast! keep saying that a malware threat had been stopped, while showing a URL that I never even connected to. Sometimes it even happends when internet explorer is off.

Anyway, what I really want to do is to restore my PC to the factory settings and start with a fresh NEW system. I'll make sure to get AVAST right away to insure security. As for backing up files, I'm afraid that the virus would somehow be in certain files and infect my computer again. Nothing really important that I'd lose. So I don't really mind so much to do a full factory reset.

I do have a recovery disc set that I had made when first using my laptop. I'm so to say a noob, and I have no idea what it would do.

Oh and by saying all this, would doing this process really remove all viruses and malware?

Thanks, M4TE

 

[theog]

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create
​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/6936-dont-know-what-hardware-you-have.html
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

 

[M4TE]

Well I made a recovery disk set that consisted of 4 disks. I made them in "Control Panel\System and Security\Backup and Restore" with the option "Create a system repair disc." And sure I'll do that now

 

[theog]

Good job making disks.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html?ltr=S

 

[M4TE]

System Specs are up. Hopefully I filled them in correctly

&

What do you recommend me to do?

 

[theog]

Good job making disks.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/675-system-image-recovery.html?ltr=S

OR


Pressing the f11 key during startup on a computer with an HP factory image will start the system recovery process even if the prompt is not displayed.
Recover Windows 7 Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)
Performing an HP System Recovery in Windows 7 - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

How to make HP Recovery USB disk:
Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk HP Pavilion dv6700z CTO Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

or
You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
Compaq Mini CQ10-500 PC series -  HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs for Windows 7, Vista, or XP - c00810334 - HP Business Support Center

 

[M4TE]

Sorry to be a bother, but even reading the "System Image Recovery" still confuses me. This is because I don't even know what a system image recovery does. Obviously it recovers something, but what? Is it just saying that it will recover my computer when I made the disks? This has never happend to me that I had to actually use these discs. ):

 

[theog]

You made the disks, now you are Recovering with the disks

 

[theog]

Which one should I do? I originally wanted to just do "Return computer to factory condition" but Theog just suggested "Use A System Image Created Earlier." I have no idea what to do. So confusing!

If you only made the Windows 7 backup image, use the image to Recover your Pc.

or you can use the HP Recovery Partition
Pressing the f11 key during startup on a computer with an HP factory image will start the system recovery process even if the prompt is not displayed.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01895783&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01867418&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en#N635

 

[whs]

Alternatively you could reinstall from the recovery partition. After power-on, keep tapping F11 until you see "Recovery Manager". From there follow the wizard.

Note that you will loose all your data. If you have anything precious on the disk, copy it first with a live Linux CD.