Can a virus stay on your computer after you reformat your hard drive?

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353535355353535

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#1 353535355353535
Member since 2005 • 4424 Posts
I scanned my system for spyware before, and after I reformatted my hard drive. It found some spyware on my system that was there before I reformatted my hard drive.
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Kodai_kun

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#2 Kodai_kun
Member since 2005 • 1413 Posts
sounds like it was in the master boot record. You need to do a low level format to eliminate everything
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DirkVDV01

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#3 DirkVDV01
Member since 2004 • 20155 Posts
It can, some stay in the flash memory of your BIOS. Your screwed if that happens.
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spierdalaj666

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#4 spierdalaj666
Member since 2004 • 865 Posts
It can, some stay in the flash memory of your BIOS. Your screwed if that happens.DirkVDV01


wow, didn't know that. Would getting a new chip fix that?
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353535355353535

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#5 353535355353535
Member since 2005 • 4424 Posts
Wait, cant I fix that by flashing my BIOS?
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Krall

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#6 Krall
Member since 2002 • 16463 Posts
It can also stay on other partitions if you have the harddrive setup that way which is more likely what happened.

Did you do an inplace install of XP or a full re-format? Full re-format is when you boot off the XP disc and format the HD (not the quick format option) and then reinstall Windows.
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353535355353535

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#7 353535355353535
Member since 2005 • 4424 Posts

I did a full hard drive reformat.

I should have posted this in the first place, but im not sure if the virus is still on my computer.

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dunamistheou

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#8 dunamistheou
Member since 2005 • 4744 Posts
Use DBAN, then it can't. DBAN mean's Derik's Boot and Nuke. It wipes the driver clean. ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darik's_Boot_and_Nuke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darik's_Boot_and_Nuke)
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#9 ncderek
Member since 2004 • 5513 Posts
oh wow, i never knew it could, this is an interesting thread
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ncderek

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#10 ncderek
Member since 2004 • 5513 Posts
[QUOTE="dunamistheou"]Use DBAN, then it can't. DBAN mean's Derik's Boot and Nuke. It wipes the driver clean. ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darik's_Boot_and_Nuke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darik's_Boot_and_Nuke)



what if you got a virus to where you cant access the internet or any other program to click that link? hmmmm?? lol
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Cyborg-21

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#11 Cyborg-21
Member since 2007 • 2700 Posts
It can, some stay in the flash memory of your BIOS. Your screwed if that happens.DirkVDV01
Didn't know that ! Good thing I have virus protection then :D
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#12 Jiggly_Wiggly
Member since 2006 • 1912 Posts
Clear your cmos, may get rid of that virus.
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Jiggly_Wiggly

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#13 Jiggly_Wiggly
Member since 2006 • 1912 Posts
Clear your cmos, may get rid of that virus.Jiggly_Wiggly
Oh yeah you have to reformat after you do that. And are you sure its a viurs?
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#15 nic0008
Member since 2006 • 250 Posts
ive catched a few viruses in the past, reformat and there gone... well atleast for me
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dunamistheou

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#16 dunamistheou
Member since 2005 • 4744 Posts
[QUOTE="ncderek"][QUOTE="dunamistheou"]Use DBAN, then it can't. DBAN mean's Derik's Boot and Nuke. It wipes the driver clean. ;) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darik's_Boot_and_Nuke (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darik's_Boot_and_Nuke)



what if you got a virus to where you cant access the internet or any other program to click that link? hmmmm?? lol

Who uses only one computer? :P