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Author Topic: Reformatting?  (Read 417 times)

Offline MjTalon

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Reformatting?
« on: July 16, 2009, 06:37:48 PM »
Does reformatting your HD mean you have to completely reinstall the OS also?

& a question on System Restore: Would it get rid of any viruses before that set date?
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Offline Anodizer

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Re: Reformatting?
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2009, 08:35:56 PM »
Quote from: MjTalon on July 16, 2009, 06:37:48 PM
Does reformatting your HD mean you have to completely reinstall the OS also?

& a question on System Restore: Would it get rid of any viruses before that set date?

Yes..  Reformatting in essence basically allows you to write over any existing information..
Then we have what's called the low-level format which basically zeroes out the whole drive (digital info is a series of 1s and 0s)

I always use Dban http://www.dban.org/download and Nuke the entire drive..  They format the drive to D.O.D. standards..

And yes, you will have to completely reinstall your OS..  You'll lose everything, so be sure to back-up any files you need(music, videos, documents, etc.)
Programs cannot be saved and will have to be reinstalled as well..  Then you'll also have to do all the OS updates..  It's quite a bit of work..

There are a few different versions of system restore..  If you have a factory built system such as Dell, chances are there is a restore partition on your hard drive..
Windows uses this to put your hard-drive back to exactly the same way it was when you got it new (all with all the BS software they force on you)..
Basically, it ghosts an image of the factory installed OS and programs over to the OS partition of your hard drive..  If you don't have any restore disks or
an actual Windows disc, you should never format the whole drive, only the OS partition (unless the restore partition gets corrupted somehow)..

Windows system restore basically sets the system back to a certain date that you backed up or backed itself up..
This is usually a temporary fix and you will still have to reformat and reinstall everything..  Even after using Windows System Restore,
the virus will still reside in your system as well as your registry.. 
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Offline Fulmar

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Re: Reformatting?
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2009, 10:22:50 PM »
Quote from: Anodizer on July 16, 2009, 08:35:56 PM
They format the drive to D.O.D. standards..
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Offline BaldEagl

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Re: Reformatting?
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2009, 12:07:56 PM »
You don't have to 0 out your drive but yes, reformatting means everything gets wiped off and you start over with a "clean" drive.  You then have to reinstall the OS, all of your programs and then bring your data back.

The problem you have if you have a virus is that your data is likely infected.  So if you save all your data somewhere else then bring it back to the reformatted drive you'll probably bring the virus back too.  That's why your should always save your data on back-up discs, another system, etc.

Doing a Windows system restore won't get rid of the virus.  Doing a manufacturer restore will but that's the same as reformatting.
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Offline Chalenge

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Re: Reformatting?
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2009, 01:56:13 PM »
This would be a good place to insert an advertisement for Acronis True Image Home 2009.  :devil
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Offline TilDeath

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Re: Reformatting?
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2009, 04:34:46 PM »
I did the OS install for free (lives kinda local and he is a very respectfull and nice young man) on his new rig.  He stated that he had a virus on his old rig and that he backed up his data.  No matter how many times he reinstalls the OS as long as he keeps bringing over the infested data, music etc this system will never be right.  Start fresh and keep it fresh.  Install a AntiVirus after doing your OS and driver updates.  I also recommend doing a low level format of your HD rather then the OS format to make sure the virus you have is not hopping about on your HD (remember the Monkey Virus).  Call me if you need help again.  This install will cost you an Arbys Happy Meal.

TD :)
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Offline Anodizer

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Re: Reformatting?
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2009, 04:49:53 PM »
Quote from: TilDeath on July 17, 2009, 04:34:46 PM
I did the OS install for free (lives kinda local and he is a very respectfull and nice young man) on his new rig.  He stated that he had a virus on his old rig and that he backed up his data.  No matter how many times he reinstalls the OS as long as he keeps bringing over the infested data, music etc this system will never be right.  Start fresh and keep it fresh.  Install a AntiVirus after doing your OS and driver updates.  I also recommend doing a low level format of your HD rather then the OS format to make sure the virus you have is not hopping about on your HD (remember the Monkey Virus).  Call me if you need help again.  This install will cost you an Arbys Happy Meal.

TD :)

I too believe a low level format is a good idea in the case of any infection that can't be eradicated from the OS..  Especially in the case of boot sector viruses.. 

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Offline MjTalon

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Re: Reformatting?
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2009, 05:32:39 PM »
Quote from: TilDeath on July 17, 2009, 04:34:46 PM
I did the OS install for free (lives kinda local and he is a very respectfull and nice young man) on his new rig.  He stated that he had a virus on his old rig and that he backed up his data.  No matter how many times he reinstalls the OS as long as he keeps bringing over the infested data, music etc this system will never be right.  Start fresh and keep it fresh.  Install a AntiVirus after doing your OS and driver updates.  I also recommend doing a low level format of your HD rather then the OS format to make sure the virus you have is not hopping about on your HD (remember the Monkey Virus).  Call me if you need help again.  This install will cost you an Arbys Happy Meal.

TD :)

What number do you want from Arby's Rich?  :)

On a serious note. I'll give you a call hopefully this upcoming week. Won't be able to get up there anytime soon. Unfortunately the phrase you gave me "if you bang it up it's on you" is the truth  :o. I accidently downloaded a file my friend linked me to which had a rootkit on it and now it's infected. I don't mind wiping the cpu clean seeing as that everything I have i could get back with a good 2-3 hours of grabbing again.

The only downside is that when I had her running smoothly she wasn't protected at all so it was just a ticking time bomb on my part.
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Cavalier - 82nd F.G
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