Check if any data remains on other disks or HDDs after a Windows reinstall.
Check if any data remains on other disks or HDDs after a Windows reinstall.
Hello, If a virus or malware exists on another disk partition or HDD besides the primary (C drive), will it remain after formatting that partition and reinstalling Windows? Even with an upgraded Windows version like 8.1 to 10? Additionally, can malware from a mobile device end up in your cloud backup, and then reappear after a factory reset? Please explain your concerns.
Viruses can quickly survive on additional storage devices and restore themselves. Moving them to a cloud backup is significantly harder.
I don't have a specific malware name to identify. Could you provide more details about the threat or file?
The outcome varies. Clearing the system partition removes the active virus, but infected files remain in non-formatted partitions until reactivated. Their activity depends on the virus and its complexity. Regarding cloud backups, the result hinges on setup and whether any files are compromised. Most viruses need user interaction—be mindful of what you enable on your system.
You can keep all data on c: and d: even after formatting them. But if you remove the partitions and reformat the entire drive, everything gets erased. If malware exists in d:, reformatting c: won’t remove it and could re-infect your system. I don’t think malware can automatically upload itself to your account unless you accidentally attach an infected file. Of course, backing up the whole drive will include any malware present. Some malicious programs can survive a factory reset, but most don’t.
When you format the whole driver, the virus remains until overwritten (HDD), but on an SSD it disappears permanently—since the system can no longer access it, it effectively stops existing.
The likelihood of something happening doesn't matter. The statement simply asks if it's feasible.