Recovery Cd

[kkengvibul]

hi everyone!

Some of you might remember that I just recently had some problems with some viruses in my computer. Although I think I've managed to get rid of the virus with the help of people on this board, my laptop hasn't been the same since.

I can definitely feel that my computer is slower and that it ALWAYS freezes many times in a day. Sometimes on startup, the page will get stuck on the windows background page and no icons or the taskbar would come up. So I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to format my computer. I have a recover cd, but not those that come with the computer. When i first bought the laptop, I had to burn the recovery cd myself (through the laptop's program of some sort).

How do I use this recovery cd? It does not run automatically when i insert it into my computer.

Any suggestions?

kkengvibul

[waldwolf]

kkengvibul - In reviewing a few of your earlier posts, I note you had an expired version of Symantec's Norton Antivirus (NAV) installed. This antivirus can cause many of the problems your experiencing as well as a lot of others. Would first suggest, if you still have it, you get rid of the NAV, especially if your not using it anymore. To completely uninstall same, it is absolutely necessary you download/run the Symantec Norton Antivirus Removal Tool, available here.

Then try your system for a bit, to see if the problems continue, before doing a reinstall. Also be sure to back up all your important data.

You also indicated in an earlier post, the Windows CD you had was "found" on the internet. By this did you mean you bought a legal copy of Windows from some internet vendor or was it a pirated (warez] CD you downloaded? I ask not to be critical, but if the CD is a pirated copy, it may have been hacked or even contain virus's/rootkits/trojans etc. Would not recommend it's use.

Now if the "recovery" disk you have is one you burned yourself (following startup instructions from your computer system), just insert it in the drive, click on START > RUN and enter in the window the letter of the CD/DVD drive containing the Recovery CD, followed by a colon, forward slash and the word SETUP (ie: E:\SETUP). That should start the process. HOWEVER, before undertaking this procedure, read you owners manual for specific details/cautions when doing a reinstall.

Most computer manufacturers offer (at a price) a system reinstall disk specific to each computer. It may be worthwhile for you to look into same.

waldwolf

[kkengvibul]

Thanks for your reply waldwolf.

I've already uninstalled NAV many months ago, then I moved on to AVG, then it expired. So now I'm using AVAST. What i said in my earlier posts was that I don't actually have a Windows CD because i only have a Recovery CD that came with the computer (burned myself). My Windows XP is a genuine copy and not pirated, it came with my Acer laptop that I bought at Commart. I don't recall saying that I found my Windows CD on the internet. Maybe I meant somethine else .

Anyways, thanks again.

kkengvibul

[nikster]

How do I use this recovery cd? It does not run automatically when i insert it into my computer.

Any suggestions?

kkengvibul

yeah you need to enable booting from CD in your BIOS. here's how:

- reboot computer

- when you see the Acer graphics, there's some text at the bottom that says "press F2 to enter setup" or something to that effect

- Press F2 at that point and enter the Bios setup

- The bios setup is some sort of crude text interface - you'll have to navigate to the boot menu, and there you have to enable booting from CD and switch the boot order so that the system attempts to boot from CD _first_.

The boot order determines how the system boots up, e.g. try the CD first, if that doesnt work try the Hard disk, etc. Make sure CD-ROM is the first entry in that list.

Save and exit BIOS. Say "Yes" when it asks you if you really want to save.

If you don't dare to do that, then have a shop do it for you.

Or go to the Acer service center and have them restore your system. Even if it's out of warranty, they will not charge you much for that. I have had very good experiences with the Acer service center in Chiang Mai, don't know about BKK.

You can also purchase an extra year warranty for cheap there... well worth it IMHO.

Now... once the system boots from your recovery CD, hope and pray that it will work. I have never done this so I don't really know how reliable it is...

PS: Another word of advice: Download all the latest drivers for your system from Acer website before attempting this. Burn the drivers onto a CD. Then, when the new system is set up, you can just install the drivers from CD. This has the advantage that if the new install messes up your network drivers, you can fix it with the new drivers. Has saved me in the past