Bill; Fortunately I had most of my data files for my A.C. catalog and other hobby files such as COTY/TOTY, Exhibitor information, mailing address label files for my A.C. Subscription Service, Newsletter formats, chip scans, backed up on 3 x 5" diskettes. I chose to do a complete system restoral using the reformat cd that came with my HP computer to restore all the settings back to the factory settings that came with the machine. If you do this, (which some people advised me NOT to do .... and then only as a last resort) you will lose all information and software programs that were installed after you set up your computer initially.

What you will have after the system restoral is accomplished is the equivalent of a brand new machine out of the box with factory settings only. Any hardware such as printers, scanners; and software programs that were loaded such as Word, Office, Zip drives, games, checking accounts such as Quicken, etc. all have to be reinstalled using the setup disks that came with your accessories. Sometimes drivers may have to be downloaded from the manufacturer's sites in order to get them working again. It's a lot of frustrating work to get everything back to where it was before you were infected.... especially if you didn't have anything backed up.

You may still be able to salvage many of your personal files onto back up disks before doing the system restoral. I would not back up your email address list, unless it has been saved on a backup disk before the infection .... but would re-create it after your hard drive has been cleaned off and re-installed. Most importantly, have your anti-virus program operational before you send out your first email .... and don't open any email attachments in the future.

The only good thing about doing the system restoral (besides getting rid of the virus) is that you will have gotten rid of lots of un-needed junk such as old emails and saved information that you probably shouldn't have been saving in the first place as it was taking up valuable space on your hard drive.