What exactly does the virus do to the computer?

louisbatt,

I would make copies of files and folders that you cannot afford to lose. Put them on a CD/DVD or a flash/external hard drive.

Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings will put the computer back to the way it was when purchased.

Depending on the operating system installed, you can also use a different procedure. If Windows 7 and you made the Windows 7 - IMPORTANT Windows 7 Backup Disks to create (and you can sill do this) then the procedure would be Restoring Your Dell Computer to Original Factory Installation with Dell DataSafe Local Backup 2.0

Manual method is How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft® Windows® on a Dell™ Computer

Once you go to put the files and folder back on your system, scan them for malware and infections right away.

Rick

The only problem with backing up data from an infected PC is that the virus can (will) also attach to the removeable media or CD/DVD's  that you use to back up the data.  Then when you get the PC restored and attach to the removeable media to restore the user data the Virus will attack again and you are back in the same shape you were when you started.  

The only problem with backing up data from an infected PC is that the virus can (will) also attach to the removeable media or CD/DVD's  that you use to back up the data.  Then when you get the PC restored and attach to the removeable media to restore the user data the Virus will attack again and you are back in the same shape you were when you started.

If you want to risk it, you may be able to back up music, pictures, and word documents safely, but that's all and it depends on the infection.

Have you tried to clean the virus? What are your symptoms and what scans have you used so far to diagnose the problem? Do you want help trying to clean it?

I've scanned it with malwarebytes in safe mode to no avail, AVG and Windows7 virus protection is blocked when run in normal mode, and the symptoms of the virus seem to be extreme slow down of the computer, Its not usable unless in safe mode

AVG and Windows7 virus protection is blocked when run in normal mode

Win 7 Anti-Virus is a rouge program. Is that what you have on there?

In other words, the malware disabled AVG and Windows 7 operating system alerted you to run your AV.

You have some choices:

1. You can try to backup your music, pictures, and documents, and proceed with Dell PC Restore per Rick's instructions above.

2. You can work step-by-step with a trained malware removal analyst in an attempt to remove the virus. I can refer you to a site that offers this type of free help if you would prefer that. There are other free and fee-based options mentioned at the top of this forum.

3. If you have your Windows install disks you can reformat/reinstall.

Let us know what you would like to do.

no, AVG used to be my virus protection, then this issue came along and AVG's major components became disabled. The inbuilt window's protection suggested it should be activated, but was unable to work as well  

I'd just like to keep the 40 odd GB of music I have on here and some important work files, and then I'd like to continue with the DELL pc restore to its factory settings, will this require a separate hard drive to transfer my files back and forth, or is it possible to back them up on here so that they'll still be here after Dell DataSafe is finished restoring?

If you want to take that route, I think backing them up on removable media would be the best way to go just in case something goes wrong -- either on CD's, an external hard drive, or a USB stick if you have one that will hold that much data.

looks like I'll have to invest in an external hard drive, transfer by disc would take a very long time, and USB's of that capacity are expensive

Thank you for letting us know your decision. Good luck with your project. Let us know if you have any additional questions regarding the virus.