Question about Hard Drives/Viruses.

B

Bazzil

New Member
Recently I downloaded something on my PC that contained a virus, and now my computer won't even boot up. I was wondering, if I bought a new Hard Drive and replaced my current one, would this fix the problem and allow me to use the computer?

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers.
 
It would, but so would formatting the hard-drive you have now, or setting it as a slave drive, and running an anti-virus or backing up everything and formatting. You don't have to spend extra money for a new drive, you can just format your current one and start over.
 
Yes...but you would have to reload your operating system and programs. You could then try adding the original disk as a slave; scanning it for viruses and then copying the data off it.

If the data is not important, then try reinstalling Windows.
 
You have to have another drive that already has an operating system installed. The easiest way to do this is (if it's an IDE drive) to set the jumpers on the back of the drives to cable select. It should have an instruction sticker, or something to help you with that. Once that's done, just plug the infected drive into the end of the cable, and the master drive (the clean one) into the center plug. I'm pretty sure that the middle plug is master device... anyone's free to correct me if I'm wrong. Then you just boot from the master drive, scan for viruses, and remove them. If the viruses persist, then copy all but the infected files over to the master drive, and reformat the old drive. Problem should be solved. However...you'd have to have an extra drive sitting about. I believe it would have to be the same file system (or operating system to make it easier) anyway. Hmm.....yeah, unless the files on the drive are irreplaceable, I'd just format and start over...
 
slaves&viruses

NeuromancerWGDD'U said:
It would, but so would formatting the hard-drive you have now, or setting it as a slave drive, and running an anti-virus or backing up everything and formatting. You don't have to spend extra money for a new drive, you can just format your current one and start over.
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wouldnt there be chance of infecting the primary hd if you set virus mcvirusy hd as a slave to it?

I suggest just boot the system using a linux boot disk to run antivirus/formating funness... knopix kiks butt!
-dan
 
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Yeah I know, but I don't have the XP disk and it would be cheaper to just buy a new HD.
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well how are you intending to install xp on your new hdd, they dont come preinstalled you know
 
im 99% sure you wont find a hard drive that has a OS already installed on it. Mostly because the OS has to be installed with the hardware that you are using, say if you had a computer that had win XP on it, if you replace every part and stick the hard drie in there, i guarentee you that you will have problems. The best thing to do would be to buy the new OS.

Now you said that you dont have the disc, so did a friend let you borrow it, did you lose it, or did you buy the computer from a store and have a restore cd?
 
Well it turns out that I do actually have the XP disk, but when I turn my ****ed up PC on, it come up with a little picture telling me to insert a FLOPPY DISK with the OS. When I insert the CD nothing happens.

Anyway, I've recebtly bought asecond hand computer (with OS) so I'll try to make the screwed up HD work
 
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