System Restore Option not working

You can't trust the Windows System Restore function at all!

A scan with a virus or registry cleanup program can destroy the

System Restore backup files.

Instead, use a disk image backup program, like Acronis or HdGuard.

Regards

Its probably your own fault as SP3 has been out for a very long time.....assuming you connect to the internet, it was only a matter of time before a virus or Trojanware found that out.....

The virus could also arrive on a floppy or CD, even if you never connect to the internet!!!

You need several things to keep you safe (or safer is probably a better term!):-

1) Software firewall

2) Hardware Firewall

3) Good antivirus software that is always active.

4) Good Anti Rootkit software

5) Good anti Trojan & Malware software.

6) Follow ALL the correct rules (there are many!) when receiving emails from unknown or unclear sources. For example there are now programs that send emails that "purport" to be from you yourself!!! Do not open them.....

I may have forgotten a few items, but others will fill those in.

As to your present predicament, use a good freeware linux CD (you will need to get someone to download it and burn it onto a CD for you) like Knoppix for example. Boot in Linux, save your important data to CD or a USB disk drive, then reformat in a new format like for example Fat 32 if you were using NTFS for example.

Re-install Windows, using NTFS formatting this time, install ALL the latest updates and all of what I mentioned above. Make regular backups of everything and you MIGHT stay clean!!!!!

...and the best tip of all "Learn from your mistakes and NEVER (as far as possible) let your computer become the target of such problems.....!!"

Best wishes.

Hello ananch05,

You did not list your system. I know on my HP laptop (first system I did not build since my IBM PC) only the HP restore is accessible from safe mode. Of course I used the MS restore.

While HP's Tech support did all they could to placate me the damage was already done.

Brad