how do I do a system restore?

Hello.
I stumbled across this site afew days ago while researching possible reasons for porn in my browser history. The helpful people on this site, plus its available information, have allowed me to gain alot of knowledge (or at least alot more than I had) about my computer in a pretty short span of time. I am at this point pretty sure that my computer's security and performance is comprimised by multiple viruses. It has been used for multiple months on the web without any virus protection on about 3 different occasions. The first time was because I didn't know any better and the other times my security software became disabled and it was some time before I understood what was going on. Now my AVG is active and seems to be working fine, but after digging around in my computer some I am finding stuff that shouldn't be there on a regular basis. Additionally and perhaps to some degree as a result, the computer is a bit of a mess anyway. I don't use this machine for much other than checking email, researching online and paying bills. The only things which I would need to put on a disk would be my large collection of personal photos which I have stored in it, and maybe afew personal documents. With this in mind, I suspect it will be faster and more effective to restore this computer to it'soriginal state, before it was ever used. I have learned that VAIO computers are equipped with a program to do this, which I understand, is for some reason above average. I discovered this while doing an autoruns scan to clean up my auto startup programs. There was a program in there called VAIO Recovery PartSeal, which I left active, and while I was learning whether or not to delete it I of course learned its function and got the idea to use the recovery sytem. Unfortunately, I know nothing about how to do this. If anyone can offer me guidance, I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer.

I have been researching this and can't find much about it. Found that hitting F 10 launches it and this.

VAIO PC's that have VAIO Recovery Wizard should have this file. This file is used to access the Recovery Tool on a hidden partition in the hard disk. You can find this file under startup items in System Configuration Utility. If partseal is unchecked you will not be able to run the Vaio Recovery Wizard
adrien_soulfire

HTH

Hmm... Well, the most easiest way is Sticking your Recovery Disk into your CD Drive. But since your computer is a Vaio, i'd suggest using the program for it. I believe F10 will activate it on Bootup.

PartSeal will restore your system to the state it was in when you purchased it.
Back up anything you don't want to lose-documents, photos, music, favorites, and if you use an email client
any messages you want to keep and your address book.
Restoring will wipe out everything.
After backing up, double check to make sure you didn't miss something.
Reboot, hit F10 and the recovery process should begin.

Thank you very much for the instructions!

It has been used for multiple months on the web without any virus protection

The chances of your restore points being infected are rather high

Well, garmanma, that's something to chew on...what would you do if this machine were yours?
Thanks...

Well, garmanma, that's something to chew on...what would you do if this machine were yours?
Thanks...

You may want to just run your AVG while in SAFE MODE. or go to the section in here for IF YOU THINK YOU MAY BE INFECTED

It has been used for multiple months on the web without any virus protection

The chances of your restore points being infected are rather high

Garmanma, wouldn't a system recovery knock out the infected restore points?
savethewhales topic title mentions system restore. His/her post was asking about restoring the system
to it's original state-which is a recovery.

We've seen it before-someone mentions system restore when they really mean a reinstall (recovery install) of the OS.

savethewhales, if/when you run system recovery, disconnect from the internet. You'll be without a firewall during that time.
After the process is completed, make sure the Windows firewall is turned on. Install your antivirus and whatever firewall you prefer. Then update Windows. After all the updates and rebooting required, you can add whatever programs you use.

Edit to add: I am only addressing the system recovery aspect as this is what was mentioned in the first post.
It is your choice whether to go ahead with it or attempt to clean your system with guidance from the malware removal experts.

Edited by Queen-Evie, 02 March 2009 - 12:38 AM.

AM I THE ONLY 1 WHO READ THE OP.
I can not imagine that he needs to do a clean install of his OS. I do not even see a reason for him to use RESTORE POINT.
Just do all the security scans if your not infected then why wipe the system?

I suspect it will be faster and more effective to restore this computer to it'soriginal state, before it was ever used. I have learned that VAIO computers are equipped with a program to do this, which I understand, is for some reason above average. I discovered this while doing an autoruns scan to clean up my auto startup programs. There was a program in there called VAIO Recovery PartSeal, which I left active, and while I was learning whether or not to delete it I of course learned its function and got the idea to use the recovery sytem. Unfortunately, I know nothing about how to do this. If anyone can offer me guidance, I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer.

eviltwin, you are not the only one who read the original post. savethewhales specifically mentioned a system recovery.
As I stated, that is what I am responding to. Restore points were not even mentioned in the post. I suspect he/she may not know there is a difference between a restore and a recovery.
I repeat, it's his/her choice as to the next step.

savethewhales, please let us know what you decide to do and if you have questions about it, ask and we will help guide you through whichever process you choose.

Edited by Queen-Evie, 02 March 2009 - 01:43 AM.

Yes, it is correct that I meant system recovery. Sorry about the confusion. I actually have run AVG in safe mode, and we thought the computer seemed to be running more smoothely, but no, it is bogging down again. This is consistent with the usual state of the computer as the problems seem to resolve themselves for a day or more but then return and have been getting progressively worse. My experience thus far has been that regular scans by every program I have used have failed to locate much undesirable software. Some of these infections, I am sure, are very old. In fact one undesirable file was created 5 years ago according to what I read in there before I recently found and deleted it. While I have no doubt that the malware removal software which you have mentioned may well be more affective than anything I have yet tried, I feel that the peace of mind I would feel makes a system recovery worthwhile.
You have all offered much assistance and I am very grateful. It's hard to put a price on personal security (although many do) and your guidance is immensely appreciated. At the moment it seems I have no questions and all the information which I need to move forward with this. I'm going to spend the day backing up what I wish to keep and I plan to do a system recovery as soon as I am ready. I will keep you informed.
Thanks again!

I would have to agree with eviltwin69. I wouldn't raise the white flag until I did some scans and maybe submit a HJT log

I suspect it will be faster and more effective to restore this computer to it'soriginal state, before it was ever used. I have learned that VAIO computers are equipped with a program to do this, which I understand, is for some reason above average. I discovered this while doing an autoruns scan to clean up my auto startup programs. There was a program in there called VAIO Recovery PartSeal, which I left active, and while I was learning whether or not to delete it I of course learned its function and got the idea to use the recovery sytem. Unfortunately, I know nothing about how to do this. If anyone can offer me guidance, I would very much appreciate it.
Thank you in advance for any help you may be able to offer.

eviltwin, you are not the only one who read the original post. savethewhales specifically mentioned a system recovery.
As I stated, that is what I am responding to. Restore points were not even mentioned in the post. I suspect he/she may not know there is a difference between a restore and a recovery.
I repeat, it's his/her choice as to the next step.

savethewhales, please let us know what you decide to do and if you have questions about it, ask and we will help guide you through whichever process you choose.

OK if you read his whole post and wanted to give solid advise why wouldn't you tell him to just scan and submit a hijack list. There are so many other things to do to get a system right and free of malware,rather than a clean OS install.I think that telling any newbie to a computer system,to do a clean install is BAD ADVISE...He is no expert with systems if he did NOT even know his AV was OFF.So give good advice LIKE STARTING @ THE BEGINNING with an ONLINE SCAN OF THE SYSTEM, like KASPERSKY,or even at least MS LIVE ONE CARE COMPLETE SCAN.Before doing anything else.

I did not suggest a hijack this log for 2 reasons:

1) I repeat-I was responding to something specific that was asked about.

2) I am NOT a malware removal expert. I used to recommend hijack this, but then I came to the conclusion that
some infections can be cleaned using other methods, and a HJT log may not be needed. And since I am not an expert,
I won't recommend one method over another. The HJT pros are overworked and I will not contribute to their workload if
another method is available.

If savethewhales decides to go through the malware removal process, he/she will at least know how to do a system recovery in the future if one is needed.

As far as my advice being good or bad-think what you want. I stand behind everything I said. And if you actually read what I wrote, I never advised the poster to do a system recovery. I was simply giving info on the process.