Confusing popup from Avast

[mattlarry]

thanks for your help, i'm a bit nervous with computers. i've downloaded the fixabwiz.exe from symantec but it needs me to turn off system restore and run in safe mode, i'm not that confident as i have never done either before, could i potentially damage my computer, or delete loads of files, programs and settings?

[Lisandro]

But it needs me to turn off system restore

It's a normal operation for cleaning infections...
If you find a virus keeps coming back after you delete it, it's most probably infected the System Restore folder, the best way to solve this is to disable System Restore, reboot your machine and then enable it again. After all, run a full avast! scanning. System Restore cannot be disabled on Windows 9x  and it's not available in Windows 2k.

Enable/Disable System restore on Windows ME: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q264887
Enable/Disable System restore on Windows XP: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;%5BLN%5D;310405

Windows attempts to protect files that are deleted from the system folders (just in case it was an accident), so they can be restored if required.
The problem is many malware writers are wise to that and put their files in the system folders, this is also done to confuse you into thinking you could be deleting an important system file. Disable system restore, reboot, scan and if clean enable system restore again.

and run in safe mode

SafeMode (repeatedly press F8 while booting):
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315222

i'm not that confident as i have never done either before, could i potentially damage my computer, or delete loads of files, programs and settings?

I won't be that worry... anyway, don't go so further and follow the instructions. Good luck.

[mattlarry]

thanks for the help everyone, my problems with avast seem to be over, the trojan is gone, there are some residual issues but i'm using another forum for them and to stop any confusion, and unnecesary work on your part please consider my query at an end and thanks for all the help