Comments for Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

Comment from Richard on 2009-08-26

2009-08-27T05:30:31Z

I wouldn't just hook it up to my main regular use PC. For this purpose it's best have a "bare bones" basic utility machine that is equipped with a good backup solution, and updated with current win updates & current reputable AV, & any other anti-whatever tools required, and "recently backed up", preferably in the previous minutes to less than an hour before the connection of a possibly or actually infected HDD,
then connect the HDD, scan it, clean it, etc. for this type of scanning & virus etc. infection removal it's best to have an anti-whatever program that can load the registry from another OS install, in this case the registry on the "other HDD", if the registry can't be scanned then it could be an exercise in futility since the registry can contain keys that point to encrypted self-installers or internet retrieval calls for reinstalling or redownloading the virus, malware, etc. and then you've wasted all that time.

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Bruce Harris on 2009-03-27

2009-03-27T22:04:56Z

There is a great product sold by Cyberguys.com that allows you to connect SATA and IDE drives (or both at the same time) to another computer using a USB cable. Item # 131 0852. It comes with all the cables for power and data, and makes scanning as well as formatting and pulling off data from non bootable drives a snap. I bought one for $40.00 and am very pleased with it.

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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Comment from Patrick on 2009-03-27

2009-03-27T09:00:39Z

If I have a computer that I suspect is infected, would it be safe to back up the documents and settings files to a place like MOZI online backup or could a virus go along with even one of those files and when downloading later get it
back on my computer after reformatting?

It doesn't matter where you back the up to, if they're infected, they're infected. Take great care restoring only those files that you need.

- Leo
27-Mar-2009

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Frank C. on 2009-03-25

2009-03-25T18:35:35Z

Fahad's comment about starting the good computer in safe mode with the attached infected drive hooked up by USB seems the best primary way to go.
But I'm a single user, at best probably involved with a computer problem with my family every 2 years. I'd have to keep a computer around for an event that might never come up. Frank C.

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Frank C. on 2009-03-25

2009-03-25T18:18:38Z

If you handle this problem by using an old XP computer and this supposedly good, old XP computer runs into this 5% liability what are you going to do, have a stack of good, old XP computers to take its place?

The point is that the old computer wouldn't have any important data on it. So after experiencing the 5% problem you could reformat and reinstall it without any major trauma.

- Leo
26-Mar-2009

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Frank C. on 2009-03-25

2009-03-25T18:12:54Z

What is a live Bart PE?
Frank C.

BartPE is a tool that you can use to make a bootable CD from your Windows CD. It's fairly geeky to set up. More on it here: How do I make a Windows XP boot disk?

- Leo
26-Mar-2009

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Frank C. on 2009-03-25

2009-03-25T18:01:18Z

What's the difference between installing the infective drive as a slave and either hooking up a good drive by USB or hooking up the infected drive by USB?

For most folks it's just easier to deal with an external USB interface than to have to crack open the PC and install the drive internally as a slave.

- Leo
26-Mar-2009

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Frank C. on 2009-03-25

2009-03-25T17:57:28Z

I don't get the comment by Leo "an alternative is to get a USB interface or external hard drive enclosure (specifically for this size of hard drive, and then perform the repair work with it installed as an external drive.)" I understand this to mean you just use an external drive to hook up to the USB port of the infected computer or take the infected drive and put IT into a usb drive enclosure?
Also I cannot subscribe to this topic with an RSS Feed-I get an error message. Frank C.

Put the suspect drive into an external USB enclosure.

- Leo
26-Mar-2009

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Fahad on 2009-03-24

2009-03-24T22:08:39Z

I'm doing the same all the time, just make sure your anti virus/spyware are updated and dont load windows normally... attach the infected HD and load the windows in "SAFE MODE". Windows will recognize the new HD, just start your Antivirus and do full scan for it.
I think this will make it 99.9% safe to do this as I've never seen a virus that can start it's job in SAFE MODE.

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Charles c. on 2009-03-24

2009-03-24T22:02:44Z

Hears my take on this. my engine in my van had a knocking noise in it. then i discovered I am really low on oil. i put oil in and it stills knocks. the damage is already done. like an operating system the registry files are corrupted and can't be repaired. first thing is reformat and partition your drive. this way xp will see it as two drives and you can reformat and not loose all your programs. first and foremost buy a good anti virus and a firewall. if you can spend good money on a computer then protect it. I use sunbelt software vipre and their firewall. I have never had a problem because it stops all the bad guys at the door. it the best i have found and it is not a resource hog either.now the last thing buy a second drive and backup all your important files. by the time you fool around switching drives you can do it the right way format and start new.

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Andrew on 2009-03-24

2009-03-24T16:32:33Z

I keep an old XP machine around for just such an occurance. It has all the programs and install files I use. Thus, if that 5% becomes more than a statistic, who cares!

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Mikhail on 2009-03-24

2009-03-24T15:24:34Z

In a case like the one described above there is more simple solution (imho) - special live cd. Many antivirus vendors have such live cd's. Look for example at DrWeb Live CD - http://www.freedrweb.com/livecd?lng=en

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

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Comment from Mark on 2009-03-24

2009-03-24T10:45:20Z

I use Avira Antivirus. It's totally free and has the option of running a virus check before windows is loaded thus giving it the ability of removing files containing viruses that would be locked and protected from deletion when windows is running. I've cleaned a few stubborn viruses and trojans that way and is a good alternative in many cases to putting a bad disk into a good computer. If this doesn't work try booting from a live Bart PE and running an AV from that. That is probably just as effective and much safer than putting a bad disk into a good computer. If you don't know how to create and run a PE disk than you really should think twice about putting an infected disk into your machine.

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A comment on: Is it safe to install an infected drive into a working machine to clean it?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
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