problems completeing OS repair on a virused computer

[RoyG]

[icecube]

[noby]

[Restek]

[RoyG]

1st to icecube:
I wouldn't say "ruffled feathers" I would say confused. I did not mean to imply that I made a living repairing computers - certainly no one would pay me for that service, and I wouldn't offer it! I am quite certain that other more experienced people, confronted with the set of problems on my wife's machine, would have recognized the cause(s) and been able to effect a cure without all the problems I had.

2nd to restek:
Thank you tor the suggestion of Genie backup manager - I will take a look at it shortly.

Also thank you for the information on the registry - the last time I needed to get into Windows internals the registry was called reg.dat, or some such. I vaguely recalled that that changed with Win98SE, but I wasn't certain to what. In any case, I was able to access an exported registry file I created when I first tried to fix the problems, and extract the game keys and other important info for import into the new registry (which was itself exported for safety first, before each import).

As for the email situation, as I said above, all of our email files are cross saved on each others' computer(s) and can be imported after the fix. Also, by keeping the email folders off of the "C" drive, they can be copied into NEW folders created by the NEW email program, after the cleanup is completed.

Thanks again,
RoyG

[Restek]