Fresh Install Questions

shyy · 12 Dec 2017

Hey there, so recently I built my first gaming PC. I was having issues with it not displaying anything so I took it to a PC repair shop. The guy fixed it, and also installed Windows 10 as well as all the drivers. This was great, however, I now have a irrational fear that the repair guy may have left malicious software on the drives. I have an SSD which Windows is installed on, as well as a HDD.

I was planning on doing a fresh install, booting from a USB. I was watching a tutorial that said I could use shift+F10 to clean a drive. However, I was also reading that you should only install Windows with the drive you plan on installing it to, connected. So my questions are: Why must I disconnect the HDD that I'm not installing on? Also, if I want to completely clean the drives, would using shift+F10 be sufficient? Lastly, is all this just irrational fear or do you think these are logical steps I should take?

Thanks!

AddRAM · 12 Dec 2017

It sounds like it wasn`t displaying anything because you didn`t install windows on it yet, did you ? Could you see the Bios ? If not then you didn`t have the monitor hooked up correctly.

If the tech installed Windows, there is no malicious software to worry about, they are not in the habit of installing such things, and could lose their job.

The reason you unplug all other drives during an install is so no system information gets written to those drives.

Why do you want to clean your drive after you just paid someone to install windows ?

shyy · 12 Dec 2017

AddRAM said:

It sounds like it wasn`t displaying anything because you didn`t install windows on it yet, did you ? Could you see the Bios ? If not then you didn`t have the monitor hooked up correctly.

If the tech installed Windows, there is no malicious software to worry about, they are not in the habit of installing such things, and could lose their job.

The reason you unplug all other drives during an install is so no system information gets written to those drives.

Why do you want to clean your drive after you just paid someone to install windows ?

The BIOS was not displaying. It couldn't have been the monitor because it was connected correctly, was tested to work with a different PC, and works now. The guy who worked on my PC was the owner of the repair shop which had many positive reviews on Yelp/Google. I trust the guy, but I just have this irrational paranoia. I suppose I only thought he was going to get the BIOS up and running so him installing Windows kind of threw me for a loop. I get that it's an irrational fear, but it's a fear I have nonetheless.

AddRAM · 12 Dec 2017

Well, he would not have installed windows without checking with you first, yes ?

I far as this irrational fear goes, that`s something you'll have to deal with.

shyy · 12 Dec 2017

AddRAM said:

Well, he would not have installed windows without checking with you first, yes ?

I far as this irrational fear goes, that`s something you'll have to deal with.

Actually, yeah, come to think of it he didn't necessarily ask me but he did notify me what he was going to do before he did it. I suppose I'm just being too paranoid.

AddRAM · 12 Dec 2017

Black Sabbath ?

Asked you or notified you, it makes no difference, either you agree or you object.

Watch out for that ghost behind you

Woody72 · 12 Dec 2017

Couldn't you just make sure Windows defender is turned on and up to date and install and run Malwarebytes? That should put your mind at rest :).

essenbe · 12 Dec 2017

Where did you get the install disk/USB and do you still have the activation numbers? Is your Windows activated?

Just my opinion. If you run some good scans and they come back clean, I don't think it is necessary to do a clean install. However, if it really bothers you and you are concerned, I would do one. There is no sense worrying about something so simple, valid concern or not. If it made me concerned, I would have already done one. We have an excellent tutorial here for doing one. Clean Install Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials It gives you a lot of options. The only thing is, like you said, disconnect any other hard drives except the one windows will be installed on. That is to keep the installer from writing system files to the wrong hard drive. When you get to the "Where do you want to install Windows" screen, delete all partitions on the dive. Just highlight each partition one at a time and click the delete button. Do that until it says Unallocated. Then push the 'next' button and the installer will create the partitions it needs, format the disk and install Windows. After the install, you can connect the other hard drive(s) and format them if you want. Make sure to back up any personal information before you begin. The installation will wipe everything off of the drives. Which, in your case is the point of doing one.

It's not hard at all. If it bothers you that someone else may have put something on your computer, I would do it. There is no reason to be worried, whether it is just being paranoid or not. The reason doesn't matter. Your peace of mind does matter.

zbook · 12 Dec 2017

No matter how much checking you make you may want to perform clean install to have peace of mind.
There is AV software that can detect any recent changes to the computer. Nothing is full proof though so for peace of mind do the clean install.
In the future you can make a backup image of the drive using software. Then if there is any malware, spyware, ransomware, PUPs, etc. you then have the option to perform clean installs and restore the image.

AddRAM · 12 Dec 2017

The only way to get malware, spyware, ransomware etc, is to download garbage without paying attention.

Watch what you`re doing, don't download anything suspicious and you will never have any of those types of problems.

And by all means, Yes, make frequent images with Macrium Reflect.