Hey everyone! I accidentally got a virus on my laptop and I've been researching how to fix it. I think reinstalling Windows might be my only option, but I share my laptop with my sister who has her own account with important files. If I go ahead with the reinstall, will it wipe out everything that's on her account too? I really don't want to deal with that situation, and I'm not the most tech-savvy person, so any advice would help!
3 Answers
Before you reinstall, have you checked for malware using Windows Defender? That can help you determine if you really need to go through with a full reinstall, which will erase everything on the system. Sometimes, there are easier fixes, so it’s worth checking first!
If your sister's files are only saved locally on her account and not backed up to the cloud, then yes, reinstalling Windows will delete everything. The reinstall process typically wipes the drive clean. Be sure to back up her important data before proceeding!
If you do choose to reinstall, there's an option to keep personal files and apps, but depending on the virus, that might not work. If the virus has infected system files, a full wipe might be your best bet. Just make sure to backup anything crucial first!
But wait, what if her user folder is still on the drive? I think it might be recoverable!