does system restore restore files, like viruses I've removed?

**jmebonner** · February 24th, 2003, 11:30 AM

Hi All,
My computer is all squirrely this morning, I'm lucky to be typing this! I ran Norton AV scan last night and it picked up 15 viruses, all that stupid WP32.Handy.DLL or something from Kazaa, I don't know why my auto protect isn't catching it.
Anyway, I deleted all of the infected, and when I tried my connection this morning (1.5 MB cable) it's off and on. I calles tech support and we released, and renewed the ip address and all that, to no avail, it keeps telling be a network cable is unplugged in the task tray (It is NOT). Soooo, If I restore to say, Saturday, the viruses will still all be gone, right?

Wow, that was a lot of typing for a simple little question!

**tmx468** · February 24th, 2003, 11:38 AM

The restore CD works by starting your PC from scratch, and restoring it with software loaded as it looked when it first arrived from the manufacturer. As a result, anything installed after you got the PC will be lost, as will all your personal files. So make sure they are backed up first, or you will lose all personal data!

**EvilRick** · February 24th, 2003, 11:41 AM

I think it all depends on how much 'System Restore' space you've allocated. If the files were there when the restore point was set, then yes, they'll be there when you restore from that point.

You could look here for more info.

Are you using an ME or XP?

**jmebonner** · February 24th, 2003, 11:44 AM

I'm using XP pro, and I'm meaning the system restore function in the system tools menu, not the restore cd. Sorry, should have made that clear

**tmx468** · February 24th, 2003, 11:49 AM

System restore would not necessarily filter out the bad that has already occured on the system - it could work, it might not.

**Martoch** · February 24th, 2003, 11:54 AM

Nice link ER...I was about to provide some info, but that M$ link pretty much covers what I was going to say about the restore points.

**bill1971** · February 24th, 2003, 12:15 PM

Hey, Mike:

Is it safe to say that System Restore is basically a glorified, user friendly,(when it works), "registry restore" function? Or is that an oversimplication? (I've just always thought of it as such).

Haven't looked at Rick's link yet, but will do so. . .

- Bill

**EvilRick** · February 24th, 2003, 12:19 PM

I don't know about Martoch, but I don't trust it. That's one of the first things I disable when I setup a PC.

**bill1971** · February 24th, 2003, 12:40 PM

Myself, as well, Rick:

Sometimes I'll remember to enable System Restore before installing new apps, etc., just in case. But it does take up disk space and, like anything running in the background, tends to slow your system down, and use up system resources.

- Bill

**jmebonner** · February 24th, 2003, 12:54 PM

ER, What do you mean by 'not trusting it' ?

**EvilRick** · February 24th, 2003, 01:06 PM

I wouldn't rely on it to protect your system in case something went bad is all I mean.

I think most would agree, it might work and then again, it might not. I'm not willing to chance it. It might even make things worse. If it gets bad enough that I can't fix it w/ 'Recovery Console', then I start from scratch.

Just remember . . .

BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP!

**jmebonner** · February 24th, 2003, 01:10 PM

good point, I think I'll just backup everything and start over, thanks for all your help everyone.
jme

**Martoch** · February 24th, 2003, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by EvilRick
I don't know about Martoch, but I don't trust it.

Sorry for the late reply, to be honest I don't use it either...I tried it once just for the heck of it...it didn't work for me at all. As you guys already mentioned, I back up everything as I install it (if it's important enough to me). Sure, the "restore" function is a nicety, but I don't find it necessary at all.

Partitioning hard drive space and a CD-RW take care of everything I need to keep safe.

**zen** · February 24th, 2003, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by bill1971
Hey, Mike:

Is it safe to say that System Restore is basically a glorified, user friendly,(when it works), "registry restore" function? Or is that an oversimplication? (I've just always thought of it as such).

Haven't looked at Rick's link yet, but will do so. . .

- Bill

Im not mike but, yes you are correct.

**PresterJohn** · February 24th, 2003, 02:56 PM

i might be a little late here but the system restore might fix the problem with the corrupted NIC settings. since the system backup/restore only 'protects' the registry & key system files, it would have nothing to do for the infected files, unless they were part of the forementioned group.