When your system gets affected by a malware infection, you may experience a different kind of problem. Malware can harm your system programs, files, and hard drive. Some malware can even affect your system performance, cause frequent system crashes, or even lead your system to BSOD errors, eventually causing data loss. Hence, you should always have a backup of your system for such situations. But, how would you recover your PC data after malware infection if you’re out of backup? 

Many people have raised queries about recovering data from Windows PC after a malware infection. In this post, we’ve mentioned a few effective and tested DIY methods to help you restore system data. Let’s get started!

Methods to Recover PC Data after Malware Infection

• Enter Safe Mode
• Delete temporary files
• Scan your PC with an antivirus tool
• Check your web browser
• Use a live antivirus rescue disk
• Disable suspicious startup items

Method 1: Enter Safe Mode

The easiest solution is through Safe Mode to recover your PC. This way, you’ll be able to run your PC with minimum programs and services needed. If any malware loads automatically when your system starts, entering SAFE MODE will prevent this from happening. 

1. Go to the Start menu, click the Power button, hold the Shift key on your keyboard and click Restart. (See Image 1)

Image 1: Choose to restart your system

2. Next, follow Troubleshooting > Advanced Options > Startup Settings. (See Image 2)

Image 2: Choose Startup Settings on the Advanced Options window

3. Click Restart, and once the system restarts, press F4 to Enable Safe Mode. (See Image 3)

Image 3: Enable Safe Mode by pressing F4

4. Once done, your system will restart with the basic applications and services.

Method 2: Delete Temporary Files

Now that you’ve booted into the Safe Mode, you may want to run a malware scan. However, before that, delete all the temporary files on your system. It will free up some space on your system and run a little faster to run a malware scan. To delete temporary files, follow the given steps:

1. Open Windows Explorer by pressing Windows + E and then go to This PC. 
2. Then right-click on the C: drive and go to Properties > General > Disk Cleanup. (See Image 4 )

Image 4: Open Disk Cleanup

3. Next, select Clean up system files and then select choose the temporary files and click OK. (See Image 5)

Image 5: Clean up system files

4. Once done, start performing the following method.

Method 3: Scan your PC for malware

Now that the temporary files are deleted, run the anti-malware tool to perform a detailed scan for any virus. Windows 10 come with a built-in anti-malware program, Windows Defender Antivirus. The program thoroughly scans your PC and wipes it to protect your system. To run a malware scan, follow the given steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Now, navigate to Update & Security > Windows Security. (See Image 6)

Image 6: Open Windows Security by following Update & Security in the Settings app

3. Next, go to Virus & threat protection and follow the instructions given on the page. 
4. If there will be any malware, the program will show you on the screen. You’ll have to follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process to recover the PC. 

Method 4: Check your Web Browser

Malware can modify your Web browser’s homepage or connection settings to infect your system. It can also display multiple pop-ups, advertisements, causing problems in browsing. You can check the home page of your Web browser and connection settings as well before launching it. Follow the given steps: 

1. In Google Chrome, navigate to Menu and go to Settings. (See Image 7)

Image 7: Open Settings in Google Chrome Menu

2. Now, scroll down to Search Engine > Manage search engines. (See Image 8)

Image 8: Select Manage search engines 

3. All the searches will show in the result. Check if any suspicious entry is there. If you see any such entry, select it, and click ‘Remove from list.’ (See Image 9)

Image 9: Remove the suspicious entry from the list

4. Once done, restart your browser, and check if the problem is resolved.

Method 5: Disable Suspicious Startup Items

Sometimes, malware may act as a desktop application and start automatically with your system’s basic startup programs. You need to disable the malware from running automatically, spreading through your system, and causing harm. Follow the given steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. 
2. Once open, navigate to Startup, and select the application you find malicious. Then click Disable. (See Image 10)

Image 10: Disable selected application/program

3. Once done, reboot your system and check if the problem is fixed. 

Method 6: Uninstall Malicious Application from PC

 We’d also recommend you uninstall any suspicious program or software installed on your system to recover your PC. Follow the given instructions:

1. Open System Settings and follow Apps > Apps & Features.
2. Select the suspicious application or software, right-click on it, and click Uninstall. (See Image 11)

Image 11: Uninstall selected app/software

Method 7: Reset Windows 10 

If you still face problems with your PC after a malware attack, you’d need to reset Windows 10. However, this process asks you to remove everything to work out, take backup of your important data first, and then perform this method. To reset Windows 10, follow the given steps:

1. Open Settings and follow Update & Security > Recovery Reset this PC > Get Started. (See Image 12)

Image 12: Select get started under Reset this PC.

2. Choose to ‘Remove everything’ to remove all faulty or corrupt system settings, drivers, apps, software, etc. (See Image 13)

Image 13: Choose ‘Remove everything.’

3. Click Just remove your files > Next > Reset > Continue. (See Image 14)

Image 14: Click Reset > Continue

4. Once done, reboot your PC, and check if the PC is working fine. 

EndNote:

A malware infection can cause serious problems, such as system malfunctioning, freezing, or even blue screen errors. It may even change your web browser’s home page or connection settings. Hence, if you find your system affected by a malware attack, try all the solutions mentioned in this article. However, a few methods, such as Resetting Windows and Deleting Temporary Files, may cause data loss. Fortunately, you can recover any lost data using a powerful data recovery software like Stellar Data Recovery for Windows. 

If you are looking for free data recovery software, then download free license version of Stellar Data Recovery Free Edition.