Question (again): Is there some way to backup a computer before installing a program?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Is there a way to 'backup' how a computer is prior to installing a program (AdAware in this case)? Last time went on a spyware installing binge, the computer got a blue screen. This computer has Windows XP, and apparently there is a feature to go to the last session(?) that worked. Thing is, when the computer got a blue screen, the last session option did not work.

Is there something to do to initiate it?

[1rudeboy]

And we made it to this point without anyone telling you to buy a Mac!

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Would a network drive work?

Typing ntbackup or NTBACKUP in the run box brings up a window with: "Windows cannot find 'ntbackup'." and goes on to suggest seeing whether the name was typed properly or using Start and then Search.

This computer is a Toshiba, and in the control panel under the performance section there is a Toshiba Power Saver icon. Is this a Toshiba thing?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

That does often happen on these sorts of threads. (And "Are you logged in?").

Now AdAware, Spybot, and G-Zapper (all downloaded and installed after reading about them on FR, incidentally) are installed, apparently without crashing the computer, and hopefully all the bugs and trackers were removed (the scans brought up quite a few).

[Turbopilot]

If you don’t have an Accessories folder in your Start menu, you can click Start -> Run and type “c:\windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe” in the box (without the quotes) and click OK. That will run the System Restore wizard, which gives you the option to create a restore point manually.

[Born Conservative]

NTBACKUP is automatically installed with XP Pro; with XP Home, you need to break out your XP disk and install it.

[Billthedrill]

Sounds like an interesting and somewhat custom installation. The default is to have an Accessories folder and a path established to NTBACKUP's usual location, which is c:\windows\system32. You might try navigating to that location to see if perhaps it's actually there and you've lost the path to it. My guess is not.

Yes, the Toshiba Power Saver icon is a Toshiba thing, although most other brands have their own front-end for this function.

You might also find the backup utility in an i386 folder if someone has one of those out there on the network (these are install directories). There's also one on the installation media.

[Born Conservative]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302700

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Appreciated.

Turbopilot's method seems to have worked.