Can a virus destroy my computer or hard drive?

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Just thought this might be worth trying. My friend's PC was infected by Malwarrior. It prevented her anti-virus programmes from working and prevented her from downloading any others. I suggested that she try downloading SuperAntiSpyware, which is available free from FileHippo.com. The programme downloaded successfully and destroyed the viruses. At another time, her brother's PC became infected with several viruses, only these viruses would not allow him to access the Internet for more than a few seconds before closing it down. He therefore could not download this anti-virus programme. I copied the programme onto a data disc-pen and he was able to run straight it from there. Again, it got rid of all the viruses. Hope this comment is useful.

Leo, on some of the comments the last part of these comments are not readable. They are covered up. Am I doing something wrong?

Since XP hit the market I've managed to attract a virus on twelve or fifteen occasions. It's a price I pay for traveling to the dark side of the net. Over the years I've found that the virus's have become more complex and downright malicious,so please allow me to offer some points to consider in making your computer healthy again. With the exception of a couple of times I've found the only way to get rid of a virus is to reformat as indicated in the article. If you suspect that you have a virus DO NOT shut down your computer. I've had several infections that would't allow a reboot in safe mode and several that wouldn't allow a reboot at all. The boot process would go into a continious cycle of trying to boot. If you can still navigate in your machine attempt to backup any pictures,music,or documents to CD or DVD. It may be the last chance you get. If you use an external hardrive for backup DO NOT attempt to backup anything to it. If you're lucky the virus might not be on that drive. I never backup to my external drive until I have disconnect from the IP and run a full system scan. If you use a external drive for backup some of the software programs for conducting the process have a catalog file that tells your computer where everthing goes when you do a recovery or you may have created a recovery disk as part of the program. If you know where this file is burn it to it's own CD. Once you've gotten to this point you can try some of the methods mentioned in the article and the comments section. If a reformat is the only way out then load you installation disk. As it goes through the process of loading windows you'll have the option to format the hardrive. There are actually two format options with one being identified as a fast format. Do yourselve a favor and use the slow format. It takes a lot longer but I used the fast format option once and it didn't get rid of the virus. Your engaged in a operation you don't need to repeat immediately. After you reload the OS you can get your updates. The Windows firewall should offer enought protection to complete that task. If you have a full system backup it's time to load and run the program to recover your data and all will be right with the world. If you have a full backup you'll need to install the updates or the recovery program is going to have a problem. If you don't have a full backup its one program at a time starting with security. One more point on external hardrives for backup. If for some reason you can't use the program to restore the data, like maybe someone stole your catalog file. Don't panic! All your files are still there. Turn on the hardrive and go to my computer, Windows should reconize it. Your backed up files will most likely be a set. You can download the whole thing to your documents and use exployer to open the set and pick out the individual files (pictures,music,documents)and move them where they need to be. Twelve Gig,76000 files,five evenings,piece of cake! Hope this helps.

Backup, Backup, Backup!!!

Once a month, after Microsoft updates on Tuesday, I use Acronis TrueImage to make a full image backup of my disk drive to an external disk drive. Weekly I make a backup to an external disk drive of my "MY Documents" folder. And during the week if I make any updates to documents I copy them to a USB pen drive. I keep several months of Acronis TrueImage backups so if necessary I can go back farther than the past backup if somehow some virus slipped through my anti-virus scans.

Reformating and reinstalling everything is like torture, and to be avoided at all costs. Acronis TrueImage is simple, easy, fast, and has saved me a couple of times.

PS: The virus I got seem to have come from geek sites I went to researching some problem.

Many thanks for answering my query re your article a few days ago. A latte should be with you by now.

I had the same thing happen with the cryptic 'warning' message and the inability to access or upgrade my Norton anti-virus software.
I had a virtual Symantec technician look at it and they thoroughly destroyed my system to the point where it was virtually inoperable... after that, I took it to a local shop and they are unable to wipe the HD and get rid of the virus so I do need a new drive. Before doing this, I had a computer person at my office try to fix it.
Vicious, ugly virus! Now if only people put their time and effort into the common good instead of hurting unsuspecting people the world would be much better off...

My laptop is a windows vista. I was working normally on subtitle workshop when suddenly it said the the program had a problem and had to shut down. When I restarted the program, I had a black screen and I was unable to boot my computer. Now it would not even want to reinstall Vista and I get a message saying that my hard disk is dammaged. I don't understand what happened.

"ATTENTION" "EARTHLINGS" "NEVER,NEVER,NEVER USE RESTORE ON YOUR COMPUTER,TURN IT OFF"If your computer gets even a smell of a virus it is saved on this section of drive and when you restore you also restore virus or malware!

i scanned my computer and it says its infected but it can't get rid of it what do i do? it says its in archives

Hi, DEALING WITH INFECTIONS PART ONE
I think I have come up with a reasonable strategy for dealing with PC infections. In my opinion it is not worth the trouble of trying to clean them off both time wise and also you can never be completely sure that they have been totally eradicated.
So instead invest in an external hard drive, they are really affordable now and can serve more than one purpose [storing films or a music library for instance]
Next download a Disk Imaging programme.There are great free ones available. I use Macrium Reflect Free version which is very easy to use and reliable.
Make a disk image on to the external as a fall back. This will include everything on your PC.
Then make a backup on your documents and music etcetera although you have already got this in your full disk image.This documents back up is done by copying to your external and not via the Disk Image programme.
Now you have the fall back use your rescue CD or Windows disk to reinstall your system to when you bought it. Depending on your disk you may have to reinstall drivers as well so make sure you have that sorted.
Now comes the painful bit.You will need to reinstall all your programmes from the web or any disks you may have. You will also need to visit the Microsoft Updates site to bring all software up to date. This can entail several visits and a lot of time depending how old your PC is.
Next replace your documents from the external to your PC.
At this stage I usually run CCleaner to get rid of rubbish but that is just my preferance.

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