Microsoft don't exactly make it easy for us, though! Do they?
Strange that everything is always "somebody else's fault" including the fact that the operating system is a botch job to start with and needs gigabytes of updates and patches just to paper over the cracks.

Carole and Andy. I echo Gene. Good Backups are essential, but as John says, a backup of an existing problem or infection will just restore the problem.
Mgas - I have been using Acronis True Image for a couple of years now and I haven't found Ny problems running it. It can be installed on the PC or run directly from a CD without Windows even booting up. The installled setup allows you to "explore" a disc image as if it was a real "read only" drive. Useful if you wantes to copy individual files from the backup.
I believe the latest version of the programme has a lot more whistles and bells compared with the version I have been using, but I don't "need" more than the basic backup ability.
As mentioned earlier, I thik it is on a UK computer magazine "freebie" disc this weeek but can't recall which one.

Quack!
GtD.