# restoring computer (easy?)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restoring-computer-easy/436545
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 6, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restoring-computer-easy/436545 "2008-02-06T17:35:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restoring-computer-easy/436545/1 "2008-02-06T17:35:45Z")
We just got our computer back from repair. They had to restore it. Of course the daughter downloaded a bunch of crap on the newly restored computer BEFORE we got anti-spyware and antivirus up and running.
I’m thinking; screw it. We’ll just start from scratch again. I’ve never “restored” a computer.
Is it as easy as putting the restore disk in and hitting go?
Will this effectively solve the problem and get rid of all the spyware/virus stuff she put on it?
Answers ASAP will be appreciated, before I go home from work…thanks
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### Author:  [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restoring-computer-easy/436545/2 "2008-02-06T17:42:16Z")
[QUOTE=Sigene]
Is it as easy as putting the restore disk in and hitting go?
Will this effectively solve the problem and get rid of all the spyware/virus stuff she put on it?
[/QUOTE]
Yes.
Possibly, depending on what you ask it to do. Some restore disks just reinstall the OEM programs and drivers.
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### Author:  [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2008, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restoring-computer-easy/436545/3 "2008-02-06T17:49:21Z")
Some restore disks have a partial and complete restore. In your case, you want the drastic, start-from-scratch version which should include a format. It will return the system to the way it was when you first purchased it, which means the original operating system and files supplied by the manufacturer.
If you choose a partial restore, you won’t have a guaranteed clean start.
Anything you had on it before such as upgrades, drivers and application programs will have to be individually loaded by you.
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### Author:  [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)
#### Post date: [February 6, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/restoring-computer-easy/436545/4 "2008-02-06T18:03:24Z")
[QUOTE=Sigene]
Is it as easy as putting the restore disk in and hitting go?
[/QUOTE]
Generally, yes, but with my SATA drives I’ve found that I need a floppy with a driver in order to format (downloaded from the maker of my motherboard)–otherwise, Windows tells me that there’s no harddrive in the system.
Aside from that, what they said.