Remove malware by formatting

[khoshtipi]

Hi,

When the C: and D: drives are infected, the formatting of them can kill all the malware existing on those two?

Machine: Windows 7.

 

[amaze904]

Yes but there are much less stressful way to accomplish a quarantine.

MBAM
Kaspersky
Vipre
Rogue
I can post some links when I get home as I am on mobile device right now ;D

 

[khoshtipi]

It was just a question that wanted to know. Thank you. And you are completely sure about it, yes?

 

[amaze904]

Absolutely-

Can help you with any malicious infections though if you want to avoid re-installing an OS and drivers....

 

[khoshtipi]

OK & thanks again dear amaze904.

 

[Layback Bear]

A little more information that will help.
A format does not clean all the information off of the hard drive. It just makes it difficult to get to but it can be got if some wants to.
Please read these it will help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/233819-dariks-boot-nuke-use-secure-wipe-hard-drive.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/172617-secure-erase-wipe-definition-methods.html

 

[Borg 386]

Yes, formatting the drive will remove malware & viruses. However, bear in mind that you should format the ENTIRE hard drive to be sure to remove everything. Rootkits make their own, hidden partition & formatting the entire drive is the best way to ensure that hidden partition is destroyed.

This tool can help you with the process.

Darik's Boot And Nuke | Hard Drive Disk Wipe and Data Clearing

Layback Bear has posted some good links above to aid you in this process.

Just out of curiosity, what are the infections/malware present on your system? Although starting over is generally the safest option, there are a lot of good anti malawre/virus removal tools that can help clean a system.

 

[amaze904]

X.x I tried to be as much help as I could- these guys will help you a lot then I can with far more knowledge- lol
I tried

 

[Stephanie]

Hi khoshtipi

Just formatting a HDD is not a %100 sure way of cleaning a Drive (infected or not) and if the PC was off the shelf it may well have a hidden partition, I have used DBAN with good results (its not fast but it works) but saying that an infected PC can be cleaned of Virus / Malware without destroying all data, can you post your PCs symptoms ?

Note - DBAN will destroy all data make sure you have your Motherboard Drivers etc.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Just to add to this thread, not all viruses, trojans, rootkits etc. will be removed with formating the hard-drive, some malicous software can even infect the BIOS.

 

[amaze904]

X.x
What would you use clean a bios infection??

 

[x BlueRobot]

I guess you could reflash the BIOS, or use a form of specialist malware removal software. I'm not a security expert by any means.

 

[Layback Bear]

amaze904 infections can get into anything and everything on a computer system. To list all the may be could be would take for ever.

Do you have a infected computer?

 

[amaze904]

I never meant to hijack someones thread...

i dont believe im infected as i just built this computer- im not using the same AV i have been using for years and am comfortable with though. i switched from Vipre to Bitdefender.

I was just curious as i have never seen a bios iinfected and wouldnt know how to fix/find it.
is that a common infection/ do most AV scan there?

 

[mohavepc]

I never meant to hijack someones thread...

i dont believe im infected as i just built this computer- im not using the same AV i have been using for years and am comfortable with though. i switched from Vipre to Bitdefender.

I was just curious as i have never seen a bios iinfected and wouldnt know how to fix/find it.
is that a common infection/ do most AV scan there?

Amaze:
Have a look here: MYBIOS. Is BIOS infection a reality? - Securelist
Some good info on Bios infections.

 

[amaze904]

oh i see thanx

much obliged

 

[khoshtipi]

@layback bear: Thanks. I saw those links. I think both clean & clean all kill all the malware. You also think so, not? And If we clean all the HDD by clean all command, 100% there is no way for recovering data from it and forever!?

@Borg: Thanks. I have been familiar with DBAN before. It works like clean all command perhaps.
PS: The phrase malware & viruses is not true. Because viruses are one part of malware general name.

@amaze: Thanks. You did that help that I needed.

@Stephanie Hi & Thanks. Apparently I have mistook about saying my ask obviously! I don't want to wipe my HDD so that recovering be impossible after that. I want just format it for removing malware. Maybe I want to recover that drive in the future!

@Bluerobot:thanks. Wow, great adding. I read that link that mohavepc posted it.