Thank God! System Restore Saved!

[shkhanal]

I happened to double click an icon that looked like folder but with an .exe icon when I was cleaning my pen drive removing all unnecessary files. Immediately, I realized that I made a mistake. I activated a virus. Then I started to find .exe files with the same name as that of my windows folder name. This gave a lot of problem.

I was almost about to format my computer and install everything fresh again. I was more than lucky that I found an article about the Windows Restore option. You can find this option in Programs >> Accessories >> System Tool >> System Recovery.

Just select a check point before your problem started and restore your computer back to that date. I did not lose any files nor my emails or web links. Only the problem was solved. I guess other operating systems too provide similar solutions.

Thanks to the system restore tool in Microsoft Windows!

 

[Barrucadu]

Next time always check the file extension :p
I think Windows is the only major operating system that actually uses file extensions to tell if a file is executable or not.

 

[Irieman]

I guess you didn't have any antivirus software installed. This is a must on any computer and there are many free programs like avast! 4 Home Edition and AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

 

[-Alex-]

I guess you didn't have any antivirus software installed. This is a must on any computer and there are many free programs like avast! 4 Home Edition and AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

Not true. I've had and been using Macs for years with plenty of downloads and no anti virus....

Macs don't get viruses

 

[squid]

Not true. I've had and been using Macs for years with plenty of downloads and no anti virus....

Macs don't get viruses

Because the virus creators realise mac owners are rich and if their mac is destroyed they'll buy another 10.

 

[Irieman]

Not true. I've had and been using Macs for years with plenty of downloads and no anti virus....

Macs don't get viruses

:lol: True, I should have said Windows PC, not computer.

 

[user-7256]

I guess you didn't have any antivirus software installed. This is a must on any computer and there are many free programs like avast! 4 Home Edition and AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

I run Vista and don't use anti-virus software. It's simple: don't go to any weird websites, (use Firefox anyway), don't download any weird files... don't open any strange emails... (use Gmail anyway), don't let your pen (USB flash?) drives get any strange files on them... heck, I encrypt it all anyway. I don't even use UAC.

As long as you know what you're doing, and you're running Vista, Mac, or Linux, you probably don't need anti-virus software. I do hate WinXP though - it has serious problems.

I have spent many hours reformatting my parents' computer with WinXP on it because it gets so screwed up somehow. They do email, solitaire, and write documents, manage photos. That's about it, and yet SOMEHOW - when I'm sitting here doing all this fancy stuff to my Vista machine (programming... a few times even inducing the BSOD by accident) - theirs ends up more messed up than mine. In fact, mine runs really well.

But even they don't open strange emails, visit strange websites, click strange links, etc. Their anti-virus software has NEVER caught anything since 2005, then I stepped in and told them how to prevent it. Sure, their computer still gets messed up - and even I don't know how - but at least they don't get viruses.

So yeah, if you're careful, then you don't need bloated AV software to bog down your system.

Anyway, that's just my $0.02.

Glad you were able to recover from that little breach!