formating new HDD


  1. Posts : 180
    XP windows Professional
       #1

    formating new HDD


    hey, i want to format a new external 2 TB hard drive, will that get a virus? thanks
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  2. Posts : 19,383
    Windows 10 Pro x64 ; Xubuntu x64
       #2



    Only if you download dodgy software to it, or visit disreputable sites...........but then so might your other disks in the computer.
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  3. Posts : 350
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #3

    soulfood said:
    hey, i want to format a new external 2 TB hard drive, will that get a virus? thanks
    The virus affects the operating system but can be stored in data files, emails attachments, executables, etc.... If you store an infected file on the external drive, the file will be infected, even if you move it to another system. The virus won't do anything though without an operating system to execute to infect.

    Unplugging the external drive will only partially protect you. As soon as you connect it, a virus has the potential to spread itself to other files on the disk. Worth noting though is that most viruses tend to focus on the C:\ drive or for the more sophisticated virus it will use the %SYSTEM_HOME% variable (or others) to find where to install.
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  4. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #4

    Well like Golden says ans Ali it could be anywhere and everywhere but if you want to isolate just that drive and make sure it alone is totally free then wipe it with either the DISKPART option or the Partition Wizard.

    Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

    Partition Manager Server, server partition manager and partition magic server for Windows Server 2000/2003/2008. Server Partition software for Windows Server and None-Server partitions < free version
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  5. Posts : 180
    XP windows Professional
    Thread Starter
       #5

    if i just connect the external Hard drive up, it should just know what to do , right? all i need to do is follow the prompts. correct?
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  6. Posts : 1,167
    Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit
       #6

    You are using XP Pro with SP2. My first suggestion is to upgrade it straightaway to SP3.

    That said when you format any drive it doesn't get a virus. On the other hand if it had any viruses earlier they shall get wiped out completely.

    Good luck.
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  7. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #7

    Yes if you are using the tutorials I qoted I personally wipe the drive with the Wizard and then format it with the DISKPART and I am sorry I quoted the wrong command prompt tutorial I use the one to format a SSD and it can be used as is except that just run to the part in the pic. You don't need to align as in that tutorial unless you are doing a SSD or want to the choice is yours.

    SSD Alignment
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails formating new HDD-diskp.png  
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