And my family wonders why I have multiple external flash drives.

Files like videos or documents, you might get lucky (short of the scenario where the virus originated from said video or document!). I suggest buying one of those external flash drives or a large-capacity flash thumb drive and saving your files onto it, but there's a chance that the virus will infect them as well, so Catch 22 there. Getting your stuff backed up by a professional might cost extra if you go that route, depending on who you ask, but it's your choice next to a full computer wipe/reformat that could reset your computer back to factory settings.

I had to reformat my notebook to factory settings when I couldn't get rid of a Trojan via DIY methods and had to ask the tech guys at Staples to do so. The silver lining in my case was that I was able to back up most of my files.

--
"Now, we may be idiots anyway, and that's fine with me, but I'd rather be idiots with an explosion." - Adam Savage, Mythbusters Season 4 Episode 12 "Steam Cannon"

~autobotcity ~Transformers-Mosaic Allspark.com

Assuming I get a chance, I'll see about transferring the important stuff off my machine. And I really hope I can, given the stuff that I've got going on. I just hope the DIY methods work...I don't think the professionals would bother with mine, nor would my folks be willing to go that route.

--
William Rendfeld
That EchoWing Guy...
Author of "Transformers: Armada (Revisited)"

I recommend Western Digital if you're going to pick up an external drive to backup your stuff. A flash thumb drive is also handy as a sort-of just-in-case.

--
"Now, we may be idiots anyway, and that's fine with me, but I'd rather be idiots with an explosion." - Adam Savage, Mythbusters Season 4 Episode 12 "Steam Cannon"

~autobotcity ~Transformers-Mosaic Allspark.com

Well, I've got a 2 gig thumb drive. Now I just need to see how cheap those external ones are...

--
William Rendfeld
That EchoWing Guy...
Author of "Transformers: Armada (Revisited)"

How much they cost is almost inline with how much they store, and how much stuff you have. My 500 gig drives costed me from $200 to $150 (because I had coupons), and they're worth every penny. Conversely, a 1 terabyte would cost a heck lot more.

--
"Now, we may be idiots anyway, and that's fine with me, but I'd rather be idiots with an explosion." - Adam Savage, Mythbusters Season 4 Episode 12 "Steam Cannon"

~autobotcity ~Transformers-Mosaic Allspark.com

I'll definitely look into it once I have cash to spare. I just hope that's sooner than later...

--
William Rendfeld
That EchoWing Guy...
Author of "Transformers: Armada (Revisited)"