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How to backup files without infecting the new drive before formatting C and OS


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#1 vivid2233

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 06:36 AM

I moved my question to a better section. Thanks world

 


Edited by vivid2233, 23 June 2024 - 04:22 PM.


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#2 hamluis

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 08:47 AM

If...you suspect that ANY drive/partition contains infectious malware...it occurs to me that the first order of business would be a current check for malware...on each partition.  Any other effort would be a waste of time, IMO.  In the event that such checks do not discover/reflect malware...it seems that such partition/drive should be deemed to be safe to use...assuming that malware exists without any evidence of such...seems to be folly to me.

 

Making routine backups of an O/S that has no evidence of malware...seems prudent.  Such backups...or portions of such...can be restored easily, following the guidance for using backup software.

 

Louis



#3 ranchhand_

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 10:50 AM

 

eliminate any potential malware or viruses

Why don't you just log in at the infection removal section of this website, follow the instructions to the letter, and let one of the experts review your OS and then you will know for sure if there are any infections. In reality, if you use the factory image to reinstall Windows that will nuke any viruses (as well as all programs and data!) and you will start with a clean system.


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#4 midimusicman79

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 11:50 AM

And if you would like to do so, please follow the instructions in the Malware Removal and Log Section Preparation Guide.

 

Good luck! :)


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#5 vivid2233

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 03:43 PM

Hello world,

 

I have a question that doesn’t involve how to format or install an operating system, nor does it concern system images (which I can create and restore), or running scans with various anti-malware software (which I also do). I’m asking a specific technical question, and I hope to receive advice on different methods.

 

Let’s say you want to format and reinstall an operating system after a long period of use, in order to eliminate any potential malicious software or viruses and return to a clean factory image. You also want to format the other internal disks in addition to the C drive, with the idea that an unpleasant and nasty virus might be lurking patiently on drive D or E, for example, or on a USB drive, waiting to reinfect the new C system. I understand that most software installers are on the C drive and rely on the system, but let’s consider the worst-case scenario.

 

I’m wondering how to back up my important files on the other mechanical drives, which are several terabytes in size, as well as USB drives (D, E, etc.), without infecting the new drive with a simple copy-paste backup. Should I transfer them to the cloud instead? I’m not sure if my question is clear enough, but I hope it is.

 

I know there are live Linux distributions that work toward this goal. How about this?

 

And you, how would you go about saving or transferring a file without infecting the new storage?

 


 

Edited by vivid2233, 23 June 2024 - 04:16 PM.


#6 0lds0d

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 04:23 PM

Pull the drive(s).

Install it in an external drive housing(s) or case(s) or enclosure(s).

Connect to a clean desktop after startup or if already running.

Use as any other external drive after booting up; and do not boot from it.

Scan it with the resident antivirus scanner and other online scanners.

If it appears then to be clean, then media and docs can be copied, BUT understand these still could be infected so there is always a risk factor involved in this method.


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#7 Chris Cosgrove

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 04:48 PM

I have merged the two topics into this one so that all the info is in one place. Also, I deleted three posts that now would just confuse the issue.

 

Chris Cosgrove



#8 MoxieMomma

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 04:59 PM

Thanks, Chris, for consolidating the *3* topics. ;-)

"And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming"

Cheers

Edited for typo

Edited by MoxieMomma, 23 June 2024 - 05:00 PM.


#9 Pkshadow

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Posted 23 June 2024 - 05:21 PM

Suggest bookmark this and when in doubt use a new one : https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/safety-scanner-download#how-to-run-a-scan

 

2 computers, 1 for important files and work, the other for play.   The 2 never meet except when scan files going to the external drives.

 

Not going to get into risking important files... .


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#10 vivid2233

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Posted 26 June 2024 - 06:09 AM

My 3 topics have been about jazz dancing,I can see. I am still sorry, I did not select the right section :whistle:

 

In fact, it is just a general question to open a debate between us, there is no computer to troubleshoot, sorry :santa:  

 

Yes, it would be possible to generate an FRST report and ask for help on specialized forums, but the goal is not to repair a computer since, in this example, we spent time reinstalling it entirely to make it as good new OS.

 

The question may be legitimate. If a USB key or a hard drive is deeply infected with a virus and it has not been detected by any software* so far, there is no reason for it to not infect all the places where it will be plugged in next. In a business setting, it is forbidden to plug in personal USB drives for this reason. The whole process is invisible on the screen and only your files appear, a simple copy-paste of the files to be backed up on a blank disk, before erasing the internal disk(s) that contain them (ex disk1 ( D )), in addition to reinstalling the OS (ex disk0 ( C )) at the same time would be useless and it seems logical that as long as the new disk is connected to the same corrupted file system, the potential virus will be able to discreetly inject itself and this will create an infinite loop but I am not an expert in programming.

A user who knows how to code would surely have a quick and informed opinion to carry out this easily.

 

For this reason, the cloud might be a effective solution for any user? It would surely have more difficulty injecting itself there and in this way isolate file by file, but transferring several terabytes of personal data over the internet during the reinstall time is not really a good solution, I believe :rolleyes:

Next, I imagine some people regularly use Linux here. I mentioned it because I saw topics elsewhere not really related, saying that with a Linux live, this kind of thing was possible. When I asked GPT, he seemed really enthusiastic : Linux Live Distributions :You’re absolutely right! Linux live distributions, such as Ubuntu Live, are ideal for performing operations without the risk of infection. You can boot your computer from the USB key or Linux live DVD and access your disks without loading the main operating system. This allows you to copy your files safely. it might be possible that this could really bypass the difficulty or would it be the same?

 

There are still other methods to discover that exist to achieve this result, I am sure.

The question remains open and everyone is welcome. And you, how would you go about saving or transferring a file without infecting the new storage? It is always interesting to read different opinions. :)

 

*Example among 1,000, those who click blindly on the Internet and end up with mysteriously very slow computers or those who download games, movies from pirate sites, or even worse, like cracked versions of Office, etc. The community seems huge to be clear. Myself, younger, for some time and I can affirm that sometimes it releases very deep viruses, undetectable by any antivirus. Their goal remains mysterious and does not seem to target specifically the means of payment. Even today, you can easily download software sold at $80 / $300 in stores in 2 clicks, which install without difficulty, they often request admin rights. In this example, one would really have to be naive to think that it is a friend who has made a game or something available to the community and they expect nothing in return, or simply to think that undetectable and recurrent viruses do not exist on earth and in the air.


Edited by vivid2233, 26 June 2024 - 06:23 AM.


#11 MoxieMomma

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Posted 26 June 2024 - 09:19 AM

Thanks for your input @vivid2233.

I don't have specific feedback on your discussion topic, per se.

I will, however, point out that use of "virus" & "viruses" is not quite accurate.
https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/malware/malware-vs-virus/

Respectfully submitted

#12 vivid2233

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Posted 26 June 2024 - 01:35 PM

So have you decided to close my question for users   ? I saw great items here, first question / ban? :spam:






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