Can the PC get viruses from backup files after a clean install of Wind

@join, I suspect that would like to save your data if possible before doing a clean install. Is that the case?

MeAndMyComputer said:

@join, I suspect that would like to save your data if possible before doing a clean install. Is that the case?

Yes, I moved all files to a USB drive for backup, I suspect that they would bring the virus back, and the bootable USB media was the same because I downloaded the ISO file from the infected PC

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Berton said:

Just to add, getting infections brings to mind rootkits, if doing a fully clean install I use a program to wipe all the partitions from a drive, put it back to its as-shipped condition.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/win...otkits-malware

I did not wipe all the partitions before doing it, but I followed this instruction during the installation: Delete all partitions/volumes on the Drive # (ex: Drive 0) that you want to install Windows 10 with UEFI on until that Drive # shows as unallocated space.

Pejole2165 said:

Just another idea, pretty sure most reputable anti-virus providers offer an online scan service which, even if it won't remove viruses, would at least tell you whether your PC and backups have any detectable viruses, you can then decide on a course of action depending on the results.

Fabler2 said:

One thing you could try is perform a clean install again and scan it with Defender (full scan). If clear then go to settings - devices and turn off AutoPlay. Connect the USB drive, right click it in File Explorer and run a full Defender scan on it.

Before I decided to do a clean install, I have tried to run a lot of antivirus apps and online too. They could find some small threads, but never the serious ones

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pparks1 said:

are these app's (exe's), legitimate software obtained in a legal sense? Since I gave up on any pirated software about 15 years ago, I've almost never experienced a problem.

Not much apps, I keep them because I am lazy to download again. They are free software like VLC player, extreme download manager.... I know pirated software makes a hole in the system, and can let the PC get virus easy, but they are not serious thread and can be found by antivirus software. Remote access backdoors have to be implanted directly in person, all antivirus software cannot recognize them because they are like system files.