Windows Vista System Restore left apps unresponsive!

I recently had a few trojans on my computer and was able to get rid of them with AVG. However, they must have infected some files, because programs intermitently stopped working, and I really don't want to reformat, so I tried the system restore. I tried multiple different restore points, but each time, it would leave many of my apps completely unresponsive even though they were installed months prior to the restore points that I had chosen. I tried letting vista update itself, however that didn't help.
I then tried to reinstall the applications, but every time (even with firefox), vista would fail to install them because the file was corrupt.

Is my only option now to reformat, or is there something else I can do?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Sorry, forgot to specify: The apps simply don't launch, no error, just does nothing. Went straight to the file, even used the run and command prompt, nothing.

PS: I'm using a P5Q motherboard with vistax64 ultimate.

 

Hi and welcome to the BBS,

It might be fortunate that your Vista system is still working at all After "repairs ", you need to rely on luck.

I don't like working with a system that is "sick ". It get's the axe very quickly

What can you try? If you are not uninstalling the programs before trying to reinstall them, uninstall them first (Control Panel -> Programs and Features). You might even want to try booting into Safe Mode and uninstalling them there.

If it continues to seem "sick ", I think you know what I would suggest , BUT the time you spend backing up and reinstalling/reformatting will be made up by the time you spend fussing around with trying to fix any of the problems that may be hanging around (and then you will have [the beginnings of?] a good backup system). At least, that's the way I look at it.

Good luck with it, any way it goes.

Matt

 

Thanks, figured I'd probably need to do a reformat, I hate to follow up with a second question, but I will anyway.

I'm wondering if there's some kind of agreement on this board about the most useful virus protection out there for vista, you guys all seem really knowledgeable, and it would really help for after I reformat so this doesn't happen again.

 

No agreement and you'll get numerous responses, best to look in general security first and if your not satisfied with the numerous threads regarding this issue you could start a new one

 

I had a very similar problem but mine was cause by a reg cleaner. I finally got smart and installed all my programs, set up all my keyboard shortcuts and personalized the entire computer the way I like it. Then I used Acronis True Image to do a backup of my entire hard drive. Once that was done I transferred my address book and documents back into my computer from my External Hard Drive. I had another problem subsequent to that which required a reformat and the Acronis True Image backup cut the time involved to just a fraction of what it used to take. Hope this helps.

 

Good Information

Thank you Arie, this is good input and I'll do it.