Hi everyone. I would like to know a little about how the process of removing viruses works and affects the computers. I have Windows XP Home 2002. 1) McAfee has been disabled and I cannot get it to turn "on" again in my computer. Also when I got to the registry editor it closes within seconds as well as the msconfig window. My question is how can I enable McAffee if it won't let me? 2) I know that Norton and McAfee are some of the virus scanners. If the program finds a virus on my computer, and it says I should delete the files, does that mean that even important computer files will be erased? 3)How could I just remove the virus without affecting the computer's original files and programs? I don't really understand much about System Restore, but I do get the idea that it restores everything in the computer to the way it was before the virus infected the computer. 4)When System Restore is done, will that erase any files that I have on my computer such as for example, a) a Microsoft Word document which is a report I have typed b) video files which I have downloaded to Window Media Player on my computer c) music files I have download to Windows Media Player? Another note, my computer did not bring a recovery CD with when I bought it. The booklet says that the computer has Application recovery and System recovery in the hard drive. If anyone can answer my questions I'd greatly appreciate it. If anyone can just give me guidelines or steps that can guide me on how to deal with a virus, I'd appreciate it too. Thanks, andromeda

nortons or mcafee will only ask to delete the virus files. using nortons, it will scan incoming email for viruses. you system will always alert you thru nortons. one must keep up the nortons virus definitions, and they usually load in the background automatically, if and when new definitions are available. system restore on restores corrupted system files. not any documents or applications on the computer. BUT the viruses can reside in the system restore files aso, and it would do no good to run restore. soooooo, get nortons antivirus, install it, run live update for all the latest protection, run the scan to remove existing viruses also. www.symantec.com virus info, removal tools and definitions can be seen and downloaded ,along with the program itself.

If system restore doesn't correct it, you may have to turn it off and scan for virus to find it.(see KKK above) If that works, set new restore point if you're sure it's ok. May have to go to safe mode for this.