[TGConfused]

Ok..heres my situation..hope you guys will be able to help

My computer was infected with malware a little while back...I downloaded everything to find the malware and delete it...apparently i had a rootkit and a hijacker..since whenever i did a google search..the results redirected me to something else...so, after the programs supposedly found the malware and deleted it..i turned my computer off....I turned it on the next day..only to see that the comp wouldn't come on...it got to the windows welcome screen..only to make the noise when it comes on and it sounded like it got interrupted, then restarted..it kept doing this for a bit...so i thought I had no choice but to do system recovery..I did that...and it was like it gave me a new account, since I had to resign up and go through the same things that I did when I first got my comp...but it backed up all my files...and when I finally got on..everything looked new like it was when I first got my comp, I needed new updates and everything since it was apparently like it was when i got it...but my original icons were still on the screen and in the start programs list..but they wouldn't open saying a runtime error had occured..I went to my C: folder and saw that my original Compaq_Owner account that I had was still there..with all my original files and programs which i was able to access..my comp also won't let me switch users, saying the only one that I have is the new one that I made..which isn't true considering my old one is still on my comp...my question is...how do I get back to this...or how do I get all of these files and programs back on my comp just the way it was....If I could get everything back to the way it was would be perfect...it's like my comp is back to the way it was when I got it..except everything that I had basically is still on my comp..although it wont let me access them on my "new" account, they are still in the C: folder and I can access them there...but im afraid to do anything because of risk of screwing my comp up even further..please help....all answers and help is greatly appreciated thanks

[DerekC]

Welcome to TGConfused.

Sounds like you make a mistake when you reinstalled windows. I'm guessing that you didn't do anything like format beforehand. You ended up reinstalling windows over your previous installation, which is why all your original files and things like the previous account's "Documents" folder appears on the c drive.

This is why you cannot access any of the files and programs. Technically they are not installed on your current windows installation. Hate to say it, but your best bet would be take advantage of your situation and backup all your personal data onto a cd/dvd. Then run the system recovery again. This time making sure you remove and recreate the partition, then format it before reinstalling windows.