You are standing in a cubicle somewhere in Computer Village or in some so-called "Computer Engineer's" shop (Nigerians still don't know the difference between a Computer Engineer, someone who obtained a university degree and is capable of manufacturing a computer from scratch, and a Hardware Technician who understands the inner workings of a computer system and simply knows how to repair or maintain it, but has no knowledge of how to produce or create one), the overhead fan is rolling but it is blowing hot air and you are really wishing you didn't have to be here at all. The techie checks your computer for a while, then shakes his head, looks up and says: "Your system has a virus. We will have to format it." You stare at the system in despair for a while, and then you sigh and ask, "will I lose all my files, all my data?" And then the techie tells you he can only try, but you shouldn't be too hopeful. You beg him to try, but that he should go ahead and format the system if there is no other option. He starts work on the system, formats everything to make sure the malware is not lurking in any file, inserts his own pirated copy of the Operating system and installs it, and then he finally installs his 'recommended' collection of utilities and software, including your commonly used software, packs it up and tells you your system is just like new. You walk away unhappy, wishing there was a better way to remove viruses and other malware without destroying personal data.
If the narrative above sounds familiar or you have experienced it before, then you need to know that there is another way.
Given the fact that most Personal Computers bought by Nigerians these days are Laptops, all of whom ship with recovery options (all you have to do is insert a blank DVD and follow the Recovery Disk creation prompt), from which the computer can be restored to its factory default settings and pre-installed software, it is a source of continual amusement to me to hear these so-called 'computer gurus' telling unaware customers that they have to not only approve the total erasure of their data, but also have to pay for re-installation of any software they want. Often, the software these guys install do not match the quality of software that shipped with the Laptop. They are also usually pirated.
If you have had the misfortune of having your data completely formatted or erased from an infected laptop because you were told that there was "no other way", or if you currently have a malware infected system that you have consigned to the wardrobe because you can't bear to have it blanked out by some street techie, then take heart. You don't have to let it happen to you or experience it again.
A true professional hardware/software repair and maintenance technician will dismantle your laptop, remove your hard disk or hard drive, attach it to a better-protected system with up-to-date anti-malware software (try BitDefender, Smadav, Norton 360, G Data or many others), remove the malware and associated infected files that cannot be healed and leave your data intact. All he needs to do after re-inserting the hard drive into your laptop is to use the Recovery disk to restore the Operating System back to what it looked like when you first bought it.
Usually, the only files you may lose are personal files that have been infected and couldn't be healed by an efficient anti-virus/anti-malware. Official documents like Microsoft Office documents (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc) are usually left untouched by a true professional. People like this are not easy to find in Nigeria, but they are usually COMPTIA A+ certified and will not be caught using or recommending pirated software because it violates the code of conduct of an A+ Technician.
So next time your system crashes because of some malware invasion or infection, find an A+ certified technician online and give him or her a call. They may be able to save your documents, and perhaps the day. :-)
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