Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

When running the freshly minted copy of Windows, the old infested copy can either be visible to it or not. If it is visible, then data files can be copied from it to the new Windows instance as needed. And, you might use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software running in the new clean copy of Windows to remove the malware from the old copy. If you think you've cleaned out the old copy of Windows, then you may want to boot it to run your applications. If so, be sure to hide the new copy of Windows from the old copy - just in case there is still an infection.

Answered by Hemant Singh , an ibibo Master, at 2:02 PM on August 01, 2008

Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

When running the freshly minted copy of Windows, the old infested copy can either be visible to it or not. If it is visible, then data files can be copied from it to the new Windows instance as needed. And, you might use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software running in the new clean copy of Windows to remove the malware from the old copy. If you think you've cleaned out the old copy of Windows, then you may want to boot it to run your applications. If so, be sure to hide the new copy of Windows from the old copy - just in case there is still an infection.

Answered by R.P. Singh , an ibibo Master, at 6:30 PM on July 24, 2008

Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

When running the freshly minted copy of Windows, the old infested copy can either be visible to it or not. If it is visible, then data files can be copied from it to the new Windows instance as needed. And, you might use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software running in the new clean copy of Windows to remove the malware from the old copy. If you think you've cleaned out the old copy of Windows, then you may want to boot it to run your applications. If so, be sure to hide the new copy of Windows from the old copy - just in case there is still an infection.

Answered by Rocky , an ibibo Master, at 11:25 AM on July 22, 2008

The two big downsides to a clean install are losing the installed applications and all user data files. Trying to backup data files before wiping the hard disk clean is an accident waiting to happen, you're bound to overlook some. One way to insure that all files are backed up is to make a disk image backup. In fact, it can't hurt to make an image backup, even when you opt to remove the malware rather than doing a clean install of Windows. From the new copy of Windows (or another computer altogether) you can cherry pick data files off the image backup at your leisure.

Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

Answered by Sharad Singh , an ibibo Master, at 4:08 PM on July 21, 2008

Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

When running the freshly minted copy of Windows, the old infested copy can either be visible to it or not. If it is visible, then data files can be copied from it to the new Windows instance as needed. And, you might use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software running in the new clean copy of Windows to remove the malware from the old copy. If you think you've cleaned out the old copy of Windows, then you may want to boot it to run your applications. If so, be sure to hide the new copy of Windows from the old copy - just in case there is still an infection.

Answered by Yash , an ibibo Master, at 9:55 AM on July 18, 2008

Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

When running the freshly minted copy of Windows, the old infested copy can either be visible to it or not. If it is visible, then data files can be copied from it to the new Windows instance as needed. And, you might use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software running in the new clean copy of Windows to remove the malware from the old copy. If you think you've cleaned out the old copy of Windows, then you may want to boot it to run your applications. If so, be sure to hide the new copy of Windows from the old copy - just in case there is still an infection.

Answered by Ni .. , an ibibo Master, at 6:33 PM on July 15, 2008

well, Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

When running the freshly minted copy of Windows, the old infested copy can either be visible to it or not. If it is visible, then data files can be copied from it to the new Windows instance as needed. And, you might use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software running in the new clean copy of Windows to remove the malware from the old copy. If you think you've cleaned out the old copy of Windows, then you may want to boot it to run your applications. If so, be sure to hide the new copy of Windows from the old copy - just in case there is still an infection.

Answered by Romi , an ibibo Master, at 11:54 AM on July 15, 2008

hi there

The two big downsides to a clean install are losing the installed applications and all user data files. Trying to backup data files before wiping the hard disk clean is an accident waiting to happen, you're bound to overlook some. One way to insure that all files are backed up is to make a disk image backup. In fact, it can't hurt to make an image backup, even when you opt to remove the malware rather than doing a clean install of Windows. From the new copy of Windows (or another computer altogether) you can cherry pick data files off the image backup at your leisure.

Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

Answered by Reeta K , an ibibo Master, at 7:28 PM on July 11, 2008

well, Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

When running the freshly minted copy of Windows, the old infested copy can either be visible to it or not. If it is visible, then data files can be copied from it to the new Windows instance as needed. And, you might use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software running in the new clean copy of Windows to remove the malware from the old copy. If you think you've cleaned out the old copy of Windows, then you may want to boot it to run your applications. If so, be sure to hide the new copy of Windows from the old copy - just in case there is still an infection.

Answered by .... ..... , an ibibo Master, at 8:45 PM on July 10, 2008

When running the freshly minted copy of Windows, the old infested copy can either be visible to it or not. If it is visible, then data files can be copied from it to the new Windows instance as needed. And, you might use anti-virus and anti-Spyware software running in the new clean copy of Windows to remove the malware from the old copy. If you think you've cleaned out the old copy of Windows, then you may want to boot it to run your applications. If so, be sure to hide the new copy of Windows from the old copy - just in case there is still an infection.

Even without disk image backups, it is possible to both do a clean install of Windows and also save the existing infested copy of Windows (not for the applications necessarily but to insure that you have all your data files). How? Hard disk partitions. You can keep the old copy of Windows in one partition and install the new, fresh, clean copy in a different partition.

Answered by Arvind Pal , an ibibo Master, at 7:15 PM on July 09, 2008