Is This a FULLY Reliable Method to Recover from Ransomware?

That looks very good then, thank you very much.
In addition to having created the USB Recovery Drive with system files I also took a snapshot of Disk Management when it was new.
It should be normal since the computer is new but to verify, is it ok for what I want to do?

Caledon Ken said:

Yes that disk looks normal for an UEFI boot but it doesn't matter, when you run clean in diskpart all the partitions will be gone. Windows will recreate.

Now I might go with software created with the new Media creation tool so that I was installing V1709, not sure what your recovery drive version number is. Your friend should be able to follow the clean install tutorial.

Clean Install Windows 10

of course this route means no vendor software (Acer) would be installed.

That's the plan I'll use.
When I created the USB Recovery drive the computer was on Version 1709 (build 16299.64).

Bree said:

A recovery drive with system files included should also include the OEM customizations of the machine that created it. It is capable of installing windows and all the vendor software. It is effectively a 'factory reset' drive specific to the PC that made it.

I'll still keep that option in mind as that is what I was planning to do. My friend doesn't do well on computers and that's why his wife's computer is in so much trouble. Even though a factory reset includes all the vendor software it now appears to me that I should do that just the same. If I do a clean install I'll probably get blamed because "it isn't the same": I've been through that many times over the years.

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
@Chuck7
100% failsafe method
1) Immediately power off --don't even shut down computer via software -- POWER OFF IMMEDIATELY -- Just pull the plug out. !!. Ignore any scamsters telling you not to switch your machine off. !!!
2) Unplug internet connectors and any other external peripherals
3) insert bootable partition manager and boot to computer.
4) Format offending HDD (usually the one where the Windows OS is stored on).
5) now re-boot computer with backup / recovery software --e.g Free Macrium or equivalent
6) Restore from CLEAN SAFE BACKUP.
Only re-connect back to the Internet if you are sure restored computer is clean. Do a full scan before re-connecting to the Internet again.
Job done
NEVER PAY ANY MONEY to those a--holes or even waste any money with a 1-off Ransomware "cleaner".
Always ensure you have clean backups.
I'd almost go so far to say if your machine ever gets infected with a virus simply do the same thing --it's usually FAR FAR quicker than spending hours running A/V cleansing software which won't necessarily be 100% effective anyway -- especially when you run it on an infected machine.
It's like telling a Pilot that the plane on the ground is seriously defective but here's how to repair it --but you have to do it while the plane is flying !!!!!!
Cheers
jimbo

Thanks for that plan: it worked for me on my friends computer.

Caledon Ken said:

Yes it should. On his first screen he would hold shift down and press f10. This starts command prompt. Then enter these commands.

diskpart
List disk
Select disk 0
clean
convert gpt
exit
exit

The above assumes in the select command that he wants to install windows on disk 0 (list command shows what disk are available) and that he is booting UEFI (convert gpt).

Diskpart doesn't ask questions, if you clean wrong disk you will be in recovery mode. You said he didn't have data.

Ken

Hi Ken, I tried that when I had the opportunity to do so. When I did List disk, Disk 0 & Disk 1 showed up. However I couldn't select Disk 0. How could I have selected it?

Caledon Ken said:

Not sure, haven't seen a situation where you could not select and listed disk.
Did you get an error message?
After you select disk 0 did you try list disk again. Did one have an asterisk beside it.

That was my mistake: I hate to admit it but I tried doing the diskpart from within Windows.
I would also like to note I was in favor of a clean install but I did the factory reset so the owner couldn't complain "but it's not the same" if you know what I mean.