India Broadband Forum

nethack

Let me present an approach to remain virus free without any antivirus!!!

BACKGROUND:-
Since u r using Internet on ur PC..., there will be a time when u face Virus Problem on the OS which connect to Internet.
Simplest solution is to restore that OS with its backup which was not infected...

Tools Needed:

1. PowerQuest PartitionMagic.
2. PowerQuest BootMagic.
3. Norton Ghost.
4. At least One FAT32 Partition.
5. Good IQ….

DISCLAIMER:-
Make sure you understand everything clearly before following these steps, this information is also available in PartitionMagic help (in a complex manner), I will not be responsible for any data loss.


First, Install PowerQuest PartitionMagic and view your disk partitions:

Initially Partitions looks like this:-


Use Resize option of PartitionMagic to resize your Primary Partition.


Then use Move option of PartitionMagic.


Then use Create Partition option of PartitionMagic.


Now Place the cursor on Partition-2 (MY_XP)
Right Click > Advance > Hide Partition.
Then
Now Place the cursor on Partition-1 (Newly Created)
Right Click > Advance > Unhide Partition. (if this option available)
Right Click > Advance > Set Active. (if this option available)
(Note : Both steps are very critical for successfully installing two “Separate” OS)

Now restart your PC, You will get some error regarding boot failure, as there is no OS installed on Partition-1.
So let’s now install the new OS on Partition-1.
Just insert your OS CD in CD Drive and push reboot button.
Follow the instruction from “Bootable OS CD”, and make sure you are installing the OS on newly created Partition (Partition-1).

After finishing the installation and getting up to the desktop, its time to install BootMagic.
“BootMagic is a PowerQuest application included with PartitionMagic that helps you run multiple operating systems on a single computer. Each time you start or restart your computer, BootMagic presents a list of available operating systems from which you can select the operating system you want to boot.”
After installing BootMagic run BootMagic Configuration (X:\BTMAGIC.PQ\BMCFG32.EXE), then you will see like this:


Just ensure that both of your Primary Partitions are available in the list.
Then ensure that “BootMagic Enabled” is checked.
Then click Save and Exit.

Now restart your PC, this time you will see a Boot Menu asking “in which OS you want to boot”
You can now choose - in which OS you want to start, you can select the second option (Partition-2) to boot to your previously installed OS.

************************************************** *************
Now start in newly installed OS (first menu option) and install all the software’s you need in that OS.
Just make sure No Virus infect the system at this time, because we are going to make a backup of this OS along with all the installed software’s.

Now start the PC with any DOS bootable media such as “Bootable Win 98 CD”, then go to the directory in which “Ghost.exe” is available using CD command, and then type Ghost.exe at command prompt to start Norton Ghost.

Notron Ghost is a GUI system, so manipulate its menus to make the Backup of your Partition-1 on your D: or E: drive, say “D:\MyOS1.gho”.
It will take some time to complete and show a progress bar in between.

After the Progress Bar reaches 100%, your backup is ready.
Whenever you find that your OS on Partition-1 is not working properly or infected with Viruses,
You just have to start your PC with any DOS bootable media such as “Bootable Win 98 CD”, then go to the directory in which “Ghost.exe” is available using CD command, and then type Ghost.exe at command prompt to start Norton Ghost

But this time use Ghost menus to Restore the backup file “D:\MyOS1.gho” to your Partition-1.
(Note : all the data of selected target partition will be lost)
It will take 3-20 minutes, and…. Bingo! Your UnInfected OS is Back…..
************************************************** *************
although the approach can help in "remain virus free without any antivirus" (as antivirus eats a lot of resources) but it is Recommended to install a good antivirus all the time.

dre@ms

I simply restore my computer using Windows in-built application, SYSTEM RESTORE. This has saved me loads of time.

ShAdOwCoN

Second that .... It saves you a lot of headache

nethack

Although SYSTEM RESTORE is a very handy tool it can't be compared with Norton Ghost, bcz it merely restore the windows registry and some important system files, it can't restore all the files affected by Virus!!!.

for some "small Virus" attack it may be a good solution, but for a "complex virus" attack it simply fails.

pothi

There is a simple solution available with me. Get a free Ubuntu Live CD and install it. It's the ultimate Virus solution that I could think of.

ShAdOwCoN

Unfortunately tats a good sol only for casual users

If like me u r under the compulsion to use softwares like Microsoft SQL server 2008 , Rational Rows , Visual Studios etc ...Linux is simply not an option

nethack

We all know Linux is the ultimate Virus solution, but the question is "what is the percentage of users who use Linux?"

Secondly in Linux Systems also we often encounter problems and need to reinstall everything to solve it, the approach discussed here applies for Linux Backup/Restore also.

Most important thing is it takes 3-20 Minutes only to restore any partition (with all installed s/w).

Mr.Tooth Fairy

well nethack.. i would like to ask u somethin like this only as u have explained ere.. for me i dint had virus problem but like same software like i installed paragon partition magic.. and as u described above has all components like partition manager, boot manager , formatting option and all....


for me it was not a virus problem just to see the app.. i went to boot manager somwher e i clicked... now at tht time i just had vista ultimate only one os installed.. i clicked somehwere as far as i rmember.. it displayed primary partition physical memeory 0... i just clicked somehwere as i was in hurry and closed the program...


the next time when i switched on my lappy.. boot manager opened.. saying vista will boot in 15 secs.. and tht secs went on and on.. like form 15 secs to 0 sec then again it will come back 15 secs and counting back..


what should i do?? unfortunately i inserted os cd... boot cd n did system restore.. thank god working lappy ....


but i still get one black screen... saying vista os ? or insert floppy drive to poot from promary.. somethin like tht.. if i press enter vista boots normally.. before it was not coming.. can u plz tell me how to remove tht screen.. it comes when i boot my laptop..initialy.. thanks.. expecting help...

nethack

hey @milan,
never do something... something... related to O.S installation in a HURRY.

anyway u face the problem bcz u r using VISTA..........
look what someone has to say about the great VISTA......

Mr.Tooth Fairy

Lol.. Nice one..

sb21pro

why dont u just install an anvivirus re ???

ShAdOwCoN

Thats a classic

nethack

Just Installing an Antivirus is not going to solve my problem bcz :-

1. None of the Antivirus give me a 100% Gurantee, while above method certainly can.
2. Each Antivirus consumes some of my very valuable system resources.
3. Antivirus too need some of ur time to update them or for their maintenance.

So when Antivirus can't give me a 100% Gurantee and it also need my time (update), why did'nt i give that time (3 -20 mins only) for the above process to remain Virus free!! Guranteed.

Evander Leopold

but it also needs an extremely/absurdly large amount of HDD.
maybe i didnt understand it properly or didnt read it thoroughly,
what happens if I need 1 terabyte of HDD for my daily purposes ,then how much total HDD should be needed.

nethack

the process is very simple, and u dont need any absurdly large amount of HDD.
the process is :
u install ur OS and all other needed s/w on C:, just make sure it is virus free, then make a backup of ur C: drive (OS + all installed s/w's) to say D:\OS1.gho (if ur C: drive contains 8-10 GB data then the size of its backup will be about 4GB only), then may be write that backup file on a DVD.
later on when u face some virus/other problem in ur OS, just restore that partition from its backup in just 3-20 mins only.

if u need 1 terabyte of HDD for ur daily purposes then also there is no problem, just store those data on a drive other than C:

DM111PUSP

hi nethack,

although a bit difficult process but really.. really.. useful one.

thanks.

sb21pro

yaa doc, always be careful while doing stuff like os repair, inatallation or modification of system elements.


@ nethak
this is a very nice and unique way of stay safe
good work , rep 4 u

nethack

Dear @sb21pro,@DM111PUSP,
Thanks for the feedback.
The approach discussed here is really useful and i myself depend heavely on this.

jrccc

Hello,
You try "DEEP FREEZE". It is easy!

Sid

well i am happy with my anti virus .......