Why my PC gets virus

join said:

Suppose I did a Clean Windows Install, then I turned off auto run, showed 'File name extensions and Hidden items", then I inserted a USB which had been full formatted to transfer .rtf, .mp4, .Rar, .jgp, .png, .avi files, and Firefox HTML Bookmarks. No .exe file at all, but the PC still gets viruses.

Where are the viruses from? From the bookmarks, or the USB itself, or from all the above files? Can someone help me to avoid this trouble? Thank you.

My PC is Lenovo Ideapad 320 laptop
Windows 10 Home, latest version 21H2

If the USB stick and it's contents come from an infected computer, that's where the viruses came from.

The problem is that if you got viruses on the comp before... then whatever AV you were running... got beat up and had it's lunch money taken by the virus. Moving files from that install to a new one... will do the same thing.

Unless you switch to a different security method... the viruses will just keep moving from install to install.




These folks can clean any infections. They aren't fast, but when they are done.... you are clean!

Virus, Trojan, Spyware, and Malware Removal Help Forum - BleepingComputer.com



Another tip: Do your clean install and before you stick that USB flash drive into your comp... make a full backup.
Then you can try all kinds of things, and if you get re-infected... just restore from the backup, and try again.

Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

AOMEI World Backup Day Giveaway

join said:

Thanks for reply. I still wonder:

1) I don't see anything wrong from the files I transferred from the USB, the viruses hide in those files and bookmarks? Can I save the HTML bookmarks in my email, then import later?

2) I have many USB drives which save a lot of .mp4 files, and rtf files from the infected PC. How can I keep them safe? There are many infected PCs which save a lot of important files, then people have to delete them all? This makes no sense to me.

3) If I don't download an antivirus again, just leave the PC for the Windows Defender, is it OK?

That all depends on which virus you have. Some of them are pretty clever.

The best method, is clean install of Windows... then make a backup.... Then you can start moving your data over one thing at a time. IF the virus pops up... then restore from your backup and try again.

You can scan just about any files at VirusTotal to find out if they are clean.


Most folks on here use Windows Defender and Malwarebytes for a 2nd opinion.


My Windows install with my programs is approx. 37 GB. It takes me about 2:30 to make a backup, and about 2:00 to restore from one.




I follow this advice myself... all the time. ^^
19044 = Win 10
22000 = Win 11

join said:

This is new to me. I use these software to save my files for backup, can it help me to avoid viruses?

Yeah it will. Look at step #1 on the far left of this pic. If you choose that option, it will back up Windows and everything it need to boot.




And on the far right is how to make the bootable Rescue Media. That will allow you to access your backups... even if Windows won't boot.

I don't mess around with just backing up files. I backup all of Windows.
Then it's like a chalk board. Do your math problem, and if you make a mistake, erase the board and try again.

That's the way backup software works. It's like a safety net.


I can delete the System32 folder and be backup, running again in 2:00 minutes.


In your case, you can do a clean install, make a backup... and then slowly start bringing your files over.
If the virus pops up... just restore from a backup and try again... just don't bring over whatever caused the virsu to pop up on your clean install.


It works for other things too. Wanna test some iffy program... go for it. If it works fine... cool.
If it doesn't... restore from a backup.

join said:

I am sorry if you think I am slow understanding. My question is that

1) when I do a clean install, everything is deleted, how can I back up after the clean install?

2) What did you do to get as the picture shown?

Oh... when you do the clean install... then immediately go to the link I gave you and download and install Macrium Reflect.
Then make a backup.


At the Macrium Reflect website... this is the one you want...









Here's my full post about Macrium...



Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition


Quickie Macrium guide...






Macrium Reflect User Guide...
https://updates.macrium.com/reflect/...user_guide.pdf

Macrium Notes:
1. A full OS image backup will be approx. 1/2 the size of the total "used space" on the C:\ drive.
2. Backing up takes about 60 seconds for every 20GB of "used space" on the C:\ drive.


Full tutorial...
Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect








Macrium Reflect, the way I use it... is just like System Restore... except Macrium... actually works.

The only hard part is that you're on a laptop. So you will need some place to store the backup(s).
If the laptop has a separate storage drive you can store them there... or you can pick up a cheap external hard drive and store them there.

1. Clean install.
2. Get and install Macrium and make a full backup.
3. Then, you can start bringing over some of the files that might be infected.
4. Just bring a few at a time... then run your AV.
5. If everything is cool... bring a few more and run your AV again.
6. Keep track of what you're bring over and the AV scan results.


Let's say you bring over all your .mp4's and it all scans clean. But then you bring over, maybe your bookmarks,
and suddenly the AV says;;; You got a virus.

Then restore from a backup and start again... bring the .mp4's and skip the bookmarks cause NOW you know they are infected... etc., etc., etc.


Every time you bring something over that causes the infection to appear.... don't bring that over next time.




OK, I gotta do some errands. There's everything you need to know in here.
Just relax, and read it all, till it makes sense. You will see how it works after you do it a few times.

All this really does... is let you use a backup after a boo-boo, instead of having to reinstall Windows again.