BleepingComputer.com: Please can anyone suggest a way out of my dilemma?

Hi All.

I am so sorry for being a pain, but I am trying to rid my computer of malware, and was following the instructions well until almost at the bottom of the sheet of instructions and was told to back up my files onto a dvd. Okay, I chose the free Vista program suggested here and proceeded to follow instructions to back up. I was told the dvd needed formatting first, so pressed format, and that was almost 3 hours ago. It is still trying to format and warning me not to remove disc or turn computer off. I am sure something must be wrong. Please can any of you tell me what to do now having gone this far? which has already taken me through the wee small hours and I am shattered and stressed.

Thanks in advance,

Maureen.

Hi again.

Just to let you all know that I ended up turning off the PC, and everything does appear to be okay now thanks. Off to find out how to format in a quicker way now.

Kind Regards,

Maureen.

PS A great site. Well done to all involved here.

Usually, CD/DVD do not require any formatting. You just insert them and burn files to them. I advise you to use some simple CD/DVD file burning program like ImgBurn.

Windows XP (and later versions) can create Live File System on a CD-RW/DVD-RW to use it like an USB stick and that requires formatting. But the process is very slow and I advise using a real USB stick instead.

Thank you so much for taking the time out to reply and give me some great information Romeo29. It is much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Maureen.