Windows 7 System Restore

This is a guide on how to do system restore in Windows 7. Follow the instructions carefully because this will save your computer from virus and spyware infection.

I did an experiment on my machine with a Windows 7 install. My objective is to get my PC infected with a virus to personally experience how important and effective the System Restore function is.

Self-inflicted PC virus infection procedure:

1. Uninstall Eset Nod32 version 4.
2. Retain Windows Defender.
3. Insert a USB flash drive which is infected by a virus. I used Huelar.exe virus in this test.
   
4. Ran the virus, which, by the way, is so fast in replicating itself in Windows 7.

Observation: Windows Defender did nothing. It did not detect the virus even at USB insertion. That made me conclude that it's a useless anti-virus, security software, or whatever it is. And so, I disabled it (the guide on how to disable Windows Defender in Windows 7 will be posted soon).

How Windows 7 System Restore helped?

Part of my plan is not to install an anti-virus software and, instead, use System Restore to delete the virus. The result was awesome. Here's how:

1. Click the Windows 7 Orb (Start Menu).
2. Right-click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties'.
3. At the sidebar, click 'System protection'.
4. The 'System Properties' window will appear.
5. Click the 'System Restore' button, click 'Next' and then select your desired restore point, preferably with the date and time prior to virus infection.
6. There will be on-screen notifications, your system will restart, and after reboot will notify you if it is successfully restored.

Now, do not click anything yet. The autorun and start up ability of the virus was deleted but folders or files might have been copied and will reinstall the virus once clicked. Do the following:

1. Download and install Eset Nod32.
2. Scan your system. The folders and files propagated by the virus will be quarantined and can be deleted later.
3. To ensure that your Windows 7 system is totally virus-free, delete System Restore points. Here's how:

• Click the Windows 7 Orb (Start Menu).
• Right-click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties'.
• At the sidebar, click 'System protection'.
• The 'System Properties' window will appear.
• Click 'Configure' and then click 'Delete'.

You're not done yet, create a new restore point as follows:

• Click the Windows 7 Orb (Start Menu).
• Right-click 'My Computer' and select 'Properties'.
• At the sidebar, click 'System protection'.
• The 'System Properties' window will appear.
• This time, click the 'Create' button and then type your desired name for the restore point for easy identification, click 'Create' and wait until it is finished.
• Close and exit.

That was long wasn't it? It's worth it. You will have full system recovery without the hassle of reformatting the hard disk and reinstalling Windows 7. That's what is important.

By the way, if you followed the instructions and something went wrong, don't hesitate to ask for help or advise.