Windows 7: Formatting infected USB sticks

Yes if BIOS IS INFECTED.
Communication takes place with a chipped device via BIOS first thing.
No they are not all infected, they have to be infected with a BIOS update i.e. FLASHING THE BIOS.
Stuxnet was installed by NSA and the flash drives were left in conspicuous places that personnel working at the centrifuge plant in Iran frequented, the picked them up, one was inserted in a drive on the plant net and trashes many slowing the enrichment of uranium..

If you purchase electronics from reputable establishments you are relatively safe. If you watch where you insert your USB stick you are relatively safe. If you take care in surfing the net and have adequate anti-whatever you are relatively safe.

Bill

Why are you bootin from USB?
Disconnecting Drives? Why?
Bill

If I've got to scan a drive for logical errors or malware then booting off of the USB to a Linux OS and employing a suite of tools from the USB seems logical.

As for disconnecting drives this helps me to inadvertently avoid booting of the suspect internal drives rather than the USB especially since the USB would be plugged in and there is a chance of cross contamination if I'm not on the ball. May sound unnecessary but it makes me happy

Very unnecessary
Cybersecurity is my hobby.
If you boot from USB and access those drives, or they are plugged in, your efforts are in vain.
Why don't you run a VPN?

Recommended AV’s, malware scanner, adware scanner, pup scanners
All Free!

I don't see how!


VPN for doing what?

Are you running OS from USB with HDD or SSD connected via sata on motherboard?

Call it "Windows To Go"...I thought you could not boot and use HDD for that? Only special USB Keys.

That is incorrect.
USB you can run almost any OS
WintoUSB
by Haslo
WintoGo by M$
Most any linux distro.
Black Arch Linux, my fav