47 replies to this topic

[Digerati]

Okay, just so all reading have an understanding -

rootkit/backdoor trojans are the only thing where I see referals to a reformat as the best possible option for security reasons

Ah! Okay, that's sure different from suggesting earlier that a format is anything but a last ditch effort. Yes, I agree that a format is a viable option in some cases for malware removal - but those are certainly not the norm, but for extreme cases - just as with hardware failures. There are always exceptions to the norm, and the norm is that most PC problems, including malware infestation, can be resolved, often with the help of qualified experts (whether hardware, OS, networking, malware, etc.) without a format and reinstall of the OS.

It is important that we as providers here ensure folks reading understand the substantial consequences of formatting the hard drives - that it is no trivial task to set up a new OS install - especially if there is a lot of proprietary hardware, such as with notebooks - install all new defenses, networking/Internet, email - a lot a work to setup a new PC. Even if you were wise enough to have a current backup, I have seen many reformatted hard drives get reinfected once the user restored all his data from his backup/recovery media.

The point is, you try all else first. Otherwise, you learn nothing, but how to install an OS. As for the referals you are seeing, please, heed this advice, if any one (expert or not) recommends a format at the beginning of the troubleshooting process, find another "expert"!

As for rootkits, note there are some rootkits that can survive a format - ready to reinfect again as soon as the OS is loaded up. So in that case, a format is a waste of time, on top of all lost data and updates - and customizations that make a computer "personal".

[DaChew]

As for rootkits, note there are some rootkits that can survive a format

and rewrite the mbr after you fix it with the recovery console

I used zap and wipe back in the fat32 days

[Digerati]

back in the fat32 days

That's a good one!

And way before FAT32 was FAT (later named FAT16) and for that we used the "original" PCTools from Central Point - on 5 1/4 inch floppies of course - At that point in time, PCTools had the best disk analyzer and FAT file system repair tools around. A couple years later, a new upstart, another out-of-his-dad's-garage story - Norton Utilities came on scene - later bought by Symantec, which then bought Central Point and squashed PCTools, it's main competitor. Everyone was too busy blaming Microsoft for behaving like a monopoly to notice what happened.

Oh well.

Happy Easter!