My PC is FUCKED.

MC Mystery

Hey there, I was having some serious virus issues on my PC and I tried to fix it myself, because I took a bunch of classes at community college and fancied myself good at computers. I am a fucking idiot. I think I might have accidentally deleted some important portions of Windows, as my PC will suddenly shut down on it's own, AND has reinstalled INTERNET EXPLORER (which I worked for a long time to completely remove from my computer). Internet Explorer's files also aren't saved anywhere I can find them any longer.

I can't find my PC Restore disk (to reset everything back to the factory settings). What can I do to get a new one? Is there someone I can call? or is there some kind of windows ap I can run to find what important pieces of Windows I'm missing and reinstall them?

MoSiAc

Which version of windows are you running? I know XP has a repair function if you have the OS disk. Dunno about vista.

Cyvros

The Vista and 7 install discs also have repair functions on them (both OEM and retail discs). I've quite idiotically and catastrophically arsed around with system files several times before on both XP and Vista and the install discs have repaired everything properly.

Also, as a matter of interest, does IE need to be uninstalled on your machine? Could be more trouble than it's worth if it's only because you don't like it.

supabeast

Without a restore disk you’re kind of screwed. You can either download a pirate version of Windows which probably won’t accept your OEM serial number or buy a new one. Try contacting the PC manufacturer; they might be able to send you a restore disk.

Wibod

Uninstalling IE is never really a good idea, unless you know what you're doing as it is tied to a few important things in XP iirc.

Cyvros

Also, a lot of apps tend to kind of embed IE. Steam and Inform are the only two examples I can think of at the moment, but I'm pretty sure there are a lot of them out there.

shadydentist

The manufacturer of your PC should send you a new one if you ask, though they might charge a small fee.

Count Funkula

First of all, IE is so embedded into all facets of the WIndows OS that you can't ever really remove it. Remember those lawsuits a few years back where Microsoft was accused of engaging in monopolistic policies by basically forcing people to use their web browser? Yeah, well it's still pretty much like that. If you don't like IE, don't use it. Just ignore it and use Firefox or whatever you want. Just having it on your PC isn't going to do anything bad.

Secondly, just deleting files you think might be "suspicious" is not a good way to clean a PC virus. Use anti-virus and anti-malware software, and if they don't help, rebuild your PC with a restore CD or a Windows install CD (you will have to re-install your drivers going that route).

As far as where to get a restore CD if you don't have one, try calling the customer service line for whatever brand of PC you have. If it is a generic, home built PC and you don't have a Windows CD, you can buy cheap "system builders" Windows CDs from Newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=system+builders+windows&x=0&y=0

Good luck.

Soggychicken

I agree with contacting the manufacturer for the restore disc. But if that doesn't work, I don't think you need a product key to do a repair install.