Wiping External Hard Drive Questions

paulyjustin · 16 Mar 2018

I have a laptop that i do everything on mostly. I have a usb drive that i back up information on and also a 1tb external hard drive as well. However, the thing is a while back i had an issue with an old laptop that did not work anymore and went to a repair shop and they were able to transfer data from my broken laptop ssd to it. The ssd still works etc. But the thing was they did not transfer everything into my external hard drive but did most of it.

The thing is i might have only connected my external hard drive to my new laptop that i bought a while back only a few times just to see if indeed the files are there. I do not recall if i connected it to my laptop or my desktop. I believe it might been desktop because i dont want any chance of virus hitting my laptop etc. But i might have connected external hard drive to may laptop.

Im going to buy another computer solely for streaming online and web browsing. Thus if i get virus with it, i don't mind since it won't my main laptop. I will most likely be buying a chromebook as oppose to windows computer. The chromebook will be most likely 16gb so i will be buying a usb stick or microsd card thats 64gb. First off, which is better? I dont mind having the usb stick out etc. Bud do chromebooks prefer microsd or usb stick? The thing is i would be downloading files/movies onto that 64gb stick. Thus any virus i have on it, i do not mind because i will be downloading movie etc. Now if ever get a virus on my usb or chromebook, i could easily format my chromebook and usb where it would be brand new without virus right? The other thing is this. If i connect my external hard drive the 1tb one to the chromebook, if the external hard drive already has virus, well i could connect it to a chromebook like that and then wipe it? The thing is right now i kind of want to wipe out my external hard drive because i think there might be a chance it has virus. But could i connect an external hard drive to a chromebook and do it that way or not? Or does it require windows? The other thing is i have another usb stick where i think it might have virus so thats why i would not connect it to my laptop. Could i connect it to a chromebook and wipe it so i could use it in future where i connect to my primary laptop without any worry? Thanks.

Masterchiefxx17 · 17 Mar 2018

With any normal internet common sense, it's quite difficult to download or get a virus.

First off, which is better?

Either would do, a microSD card would sit inside the PC rather than sticking out.

i could easily format my chromebook and usb where it would be brand new without virus right?

That is correct.

If i connect my external hard drive the 1tb one to the chromebook, if the external hard drive already has virus, well i could connect it to a chromebook like that and then wipe it?

Formatting a device wipes all of the data on it.

because i think there might be a chance it has virus.

Why do you say that? Why are you so afraid of a virus?

paulyjustin · 17 Mar 2018

Because im planning to stream tv/movies through those sites that allow you to stream for free.

Also because im planning to download videos/movies from sites that might have virus etc.

Masterchiefxx17 · 17 Mar 2018

It sounds like you plan on downloading illegal pirated content. Not only is that against the forum rules here, but it's illegal.

It's common sense. Do not download content from the internet where you expect to get a virus. You won't be having a good time and it could harm you. Viruses can spread to your other computers, steal financial information, your identity, etc.

My recommendation to you is to cease what you are doing with these websites.