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Help with W7 Dell Recovery to delete root virus
I have an Inspiron 545 desktop running Windows 7 (upgrade from Vista)
I had a nasty root virus (think it's gone now but want to be sure) and would like to reset to factory settings and wipe it clean.
In F8 > Repair > System Recovery I get the screen with "System Image Recovery"but then there is no recovery available, only option of inserting disc.
Tried inserting my original Dell drivers and applications DVD and the Windows 7 Upgrade DVD but neither work.
The Windows 7 upgrade DVD will let me run the setup.exe from normal desktop and I can click through to custom install. I am then asked which partition to install on.
Either Recovery (D:) or OS (C:).
Will reinstalling Windows 7 this way work and wipe it clean? Which partition do I install on, should it be the OS?
I don't have an original 'Vista' DVD, just the Dell one it came with, with drivers and applications.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
tgsmith
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June 8th, 2011 05:00
Vicsterl36,
Apparently, your original Factory Restore (Vista) is intact on the Recovery (D:). Unless you created a System Recovery image on Recovery (D:) with Windows 7, it has no image to restore.
If you do a clean install of Windows 7, it should be installed on the OS (C:) partition. A clean install; i.e., booting from the Windows 7 DVD and reformatting your C: drive would most likely kill a root kitty. However, an in-place reinstall; i.e., installing from the Windows environment might not kill a root kitty unless you instructed it to reformat the C: drive.
It is possible to manually restore your system to its original "as-shipped" Vista configuration if you haven't reformatted or erased the Recovery (D:) drive. You could then upgrade back to Windows 7 with your Windows 7 Upgrade DVD.
You can request a Dell Vista Installation disk from here: support.dell.com/.../backupcd_form
You can download a Vista Recovery ISO from here: neosmart.net/.../windows-vista-recovery-disc-download
Note that this is a Vista Recovery DVD and not a Vista Installation DVD. With it you will have a tool to manually restore your original Vista image if you so desire. Also note that these are free .torrent downloads. Direct ISO download links for a fee are also available on the above site.
If you need assistance doing a manual restore of your original "as-shipped" Vista configuration, please let me know.
Tony
Vicsterl36
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June 10th, 2011 02:00
Hi Tony,
Thanks very much for your reply. I didn't realise but I actually do have the Vista DVD! Anyway, I will do a clean install of Windows 7 from the boot menu.
I think the virus has been removed by Kaspersky tools but I want to be sure...
Thanks again for your advice.