If you had a virus, performed a FACTORY RESET without doing virus scan, do you still have the virus?

[NHDave]

Originally Posted by skinsguy37

That will most definitely do it. Biggest rule of thumb, no more than one AV installed at a time. An accompaniment software like malewarebytes is OK, but definitely not two AVs at once.

Side note. Malwarebytes 3.x Pro is more than sufficient as the only security product you have installed. As of 3.x Windows will actually see it as a qualifying AV and not bug you about not having AV installed.

Another side note. I and others have had some issues with 3.x and have reverted back to 2.x, I still run it standalone, no other AV. Will try 3 again before long to see if the issues are fixed.

[vision33r]

Most computer virus these days are crypto and a factory reset will not fix it. Because it is a low level or file system level infection. Programs all run on top of file systems. So when your file system is infected, resetting the programs and OS isn't gonna get rid of it.

The other type of virus are remote execution keyloggers and they are not really viruses. They are malware that installs hijacks to gain access and steal information. These can be reversed with factory reset.

[ReblTeen84]

Factory reset should clear it off, but depends on how you do it. I know if you use the regular built-in Windows one, it can save your files, which wouldn't work if they're encrypted anyway so not much point there.

Me, I'd just boot into Windows recovery off a stick, format and/or clean the disk and start from scratch. I've hit the point in my life where I don't care about losing apps and I'm not going to waste time trying to clean up a virus, plus I backup to Carbonite, so I'm generally not worried about losing any data. I keep a backup on a external disk at times, but even then I don't do that half the time anymore. About the only thing I use a real computer for at this point is photoshop, games and listening to music while Save data's backed up to Steam and the photos are all backed up offsite.

[TwoByFour]

A factory reset of Windows will do a reinstall of Windows that is hidden in the boot sectors of the disk. So any virus should be deleted. However if the virus got to the boot sectors, that would be bad and the disk would need to be wiped clean including the boot sectors. You will have to do a Windows new install from CD or other media.

If you think this will happen again you can avoid losing data by setting a Windows checkpoint and then when the machine is acting weird, just do a restore to that checkpoint. Be sure to do a virus scan before setting the checkpoint and another one after restoring.

[Oklazona Bound]

Originally Posted by TAZORAC

I figured out why my computer was freezing, I thought the virus was somehow still lurking, but I had too many anti-virus/malware items downloaded. I had to delete Avast and Norton.

I buy and sell used computers. Some people have so many different protection programs running in the background they hog up most of the memory making the computer run very slowly.

You just need one good antivirus program that covers all the potential threats and keep it up to date. If you still feel something is not right, reinstall windows. Like others have said that should take care of any virus in your system. Then add your antivirus software. Don't download software or anything from places that are not from trusted sources. And be very careful when you open file attachments. Always virus scan anything off the internet.