90 TECH ADVISOR • MARCH 2020SECURITY SPECIAL
messages to save them. You should also back up your
device drivers with a utility such as Double Driver, in
case you don’t have the driver discs anymore or don’t
want to download them all again. Remember, you can’t
save installed programs. Instead, you’ll have to reinstall
the programs from discs or redownload them.
If Windows won’t start or work well enough to
permit you to back up your files, you may create and
use a Live CD, such as Hiren’s BootCD (HBCD), to
access your files.
Once you have backed up everything, reinstall
Windows either from the disc that came with your
PC,bydownloadingtheinstallationimagefrom
Microsoft,or by using your PC’s factory restore option,
if it has one. For a factory restore you typically must
press a certain key on the keyboard during the boot
processin orderforrestoreproceduretoinitialize,
andyour PC should tell you what key to press in
the first few seconds after you turn it on. It there’s
no on-screen instructions consult your manual, the
manufacturer, or Google.Step 7: Keep your PC clean
Always make sure that you have a real-time antivirus
program running on your PC, and make sure this
program is always up to date. If you don’t want to
spend money on yearly subscriptions, you can choose
one of the many free programs that provide adequate
protection, such as Avira Antivirus Free Edition and
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition. If you’d prefer
a more robust AV program, we recommend Norton
Security Premium (2019) – see page 55.