# WTF is happening to my computer??? Help
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-happening-to-my-computer-help/636545
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [October 3, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-happening-to-my-computer-help/636545 "2012-10-03T02:44:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-happening-to-my-computer-help/636545/21 "2012-10-03T17:28:47Z")
LOL Okay, I just read **JohnT’s** [post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15551478&postcount=58) in the minirants thread followed by this one. **April R** I really hope your name isn’t Laura.
---
### Author:  [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-happening-to-my-computer-help/636545/22 "2012-10-03T18:03:40Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#):
>
> LOL Okay, I just read **JohnT’s** [post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15551478&postcount=58) in the minirants thread followed by this one. **April R** I really hope your name isn’t Laura.
It’s definitely April 🙂
> [@tdn](#):
>
> I can’t see it anymore.
Good. Thanks for letting me know.😃
---
### Author:  [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)
#### Post date: [October 3, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-happening-to-my-computer-help/636545/23 "2012-10-03T22:49:59Z")
> [@April\_R](#):
>
> I am worried that even if I backup my computer, I am going to end up backing up the virus and end up putting it on my external hard drive. Is that a possibility?
Yes, even a probability. **However** , the virus can’t do any harm if it is just sitting in a backup file. It cannot infect you again unless you actually restore stuff from the backup, and, even if you do that, it is unlikely to infect you again just through restoring your personal data files. If you had to do a full restore of Windows from the backup, it probably _would_ infect you again, but even then, you are probably better off having a computer with malware on it (that you can then attempt to clean off again) than one that is totally hosed.
---
### Author:  [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)
#### Post date: [October 4, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-happening-to-my-computer-help/636545/24 "2012-10-04T02:11:26Z")
I ended up removing it then having to do a system restore and all seems well. No weird randomly linked words or popups. I check my browser and no weird add ons. I think it was a success. Thank you so much everyone for your help.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wtf-is-happening-to-my-computer-help/636545.md?page=1)