Please, please, help me out! Rootkit is ruining my PC!

[_chocobo_lord_]

Alright, back in June I built a PC and I've been doing great with it. But yesterday my Anti-virus found a very serious Rootkit called "hacktool.rootkit". Norton couldn't remove/quarantine it and since I've been infected my PC has been crashing, etc. My only option now is to re-install windows, fresh and clean. Now, I'm not a big computer-whiz, so I need some help. Can someone recommend something (like a program, etc) that would backup my songs, Apps (Norton, Photoshop, Spy Sweeper), and bookmarks? And how exactly would I go about re-installing Windows? I'm especially worried about Norton, Spy Sweeper, and Photoshop not working because I've used their Serial Keys. Can I use them again possibly?

Your very sad computer forum browser,​

_chocobo_lord_​

 

[XEN]

My only option now is to re-install windows, fresh and clean. Now, I'm not a big computer-whiz, so I need some help. Can someone recommend something (like a program, etc) that would backup my songs, Apps (Norton, Photoshop, Spy Sweeper), and bookmarks?

I'm not sure but Norton Ghost is meant to be pretty good.

And how exactly would I go about re-installing Windows?

Have you still got the original Microsoft disk?

I'm especially worried about Norton, Spy Sweeper, and Photoshop not working because I've used their Serial Keys. Can I use them again possibly?

You probably can, but it may involve a few phonecalls to the manufacturers support lines...

I wish you the best of luck, I know the feeling of being forced to reinstall XP...

 

[Charchris]

Doesn't Norton Ghost copy EVERYTHING? That means it will copy the virus..

 

[XEN]

Heh, good point Erm... well in that case I don't know :|

 

[Charchris]

Oh yeah, if you have the software or CDs of Norton and Photoshop and Serial Keys you can reinstall them whenever you want.

 

[XEN]

Yeah, but make sure you have them before you reformat.

 

[mammikoura]

for backing up I'd just burn all the stuff to dvds. Or borrow an external hdd from someone, thats what I always do.