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New computer from local store.

Tags:
  • Hard Drives
  • Computers
  • Storage
  • Business Computing
  • Data Security
  • Security
Last response: in Systems
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September 19, 2014 5:34:50 AM

So I recently bought a gaming computer from a local computer store, it comes with a preinstalled Win7 (by the shop owner) and a 3yr avast licence which I bought as an add-on for £40.

Being the very paranoid person that I am, is it likely that they COULD install a key logger or any other malicious software without me knowing onto the OS/SSD/HDD? A friend of mine who is in the computer business said it is possible they could do that, and yes they would be in a lot of trouble for that, but the only way they would is if they were caught.

The OS comes with a product key and a disc so I suppose I could reinstall if I was that worried? Am I being too paranoid or is it justifiable?

More about : computer local store

a b G Storage
September 19, 2014 5:52:34 AM

Hey there Cmaq16,

It is true that it can be done, but I doubt that it would benefit someone (since they can't be sure if the computer would be connected to the internet).
It wouldn't hurt to check, though. If you have everything you need to reinstall your Os, I would just do a complete wipe of the disk via partial or complete writing of zeros on the drives that you have bought with the laptop. It would wipe any type of data from them and you should be good to go. Do have in mind though that writing zeros means a complete and total wipe of the entire drive and it is highly probable that even a data recovery company couldn't even retrieve the data, so do back up whatever you need from there. After that do a clean fresh install of the OS and you are good to go.
A good tool to do that is WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic. It has both quick and full write zeros options. Here's a link: http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=810...

Hope this helps :)  if you have any questions, feel free to ask

Captain_WD.
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September 19, 2014 8:11:21 AM

Captain_WD said:
Hey there Cmaq16,

It is true that it can be done, but I doubt that it would benefit someone (since they can't be sure if the computer would be connected to the internet).
It wouldn't hurt to check, though. If you have everything you need to reinstall your Os, I would just do a complete wipe of the disk via partial or complete writing of zeros on the drives that you have bought with the laptop. It would wipe any type of data from them and you should be good to go. Do have in mind though that writing zeros means a complete and total wipe of the entire drive and it is highly probable that even a data recovery company couldn't even retrieve the data, so do back up whatever you need from there. After that do a clean fresh install of the OS and you are good to go.
A good tool to do that is WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic. It has both quick and full write zeros options. Here's a link: http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=810...

Hope this helps :)  if you have any questions, feel free to ask

Captain_WD.


Thanks for the reply, I haven't received the computer yet and it will be ready for collection on Monday, so I won't have any files to lose if I wipe the disk? To remove whatever they put on there (if there is anything) I assume I would have to reinstall the OS, do I have to reformat the drives (internal SSD, external HDD) aswell?
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a b G Storage
September 21, 2014 11:25:59 PM

Cmaq16 said:
Captain_WD said:
Hey there Cmaq16,

It is true that it can be done, but I doubt that it would benefit someone (since they can't be sure if the computer would be connected to the internet).
It wouldn't hurt to check, though. If you have everything you need to reinstall your Os, I would just do a complete wipe of the disk via partial or complete writing of zeros on the drives that you have bought with the laptop. It would wipe any type of data from them and you should be good to go. Do have in mind though that writing zeros means a complete and total wipe of the entire drive and it is highly probable that even a data recovery company couldn't even retrieve the data, so do back up whatever you need from there. After that do a clean fresh install of the OS and you are good to go.
A good tool to do that is WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostic. It has both quick and full write zeros options. Here's a link: http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=810...

Hope this helps :)  if you have any questions, feel free to ask

Captain_WD.


Thanks for the reply, I haven't received the computer yet and it will be ready for collection on Monday, so I won't have any files to lose if I wipe the disk? To remove whatever they put on there (if there is anything) I assume I would have to reinstall the OS, do I have to reformat the drives (internal SSD, external HDD) aswell?


That is correct, since you haven't put anything yet, there wouldn't be anything there to lose except the OS. Make sure the guys at the store give you your OS CD so you can install in after you wipe everything off the drives. Writing zeros removes even partitions and any formatting done on the drive. When installing Windows, you will be asked to format and partition it. If you have a second drive in that computer (besides the SSD with the OS) you will need to initialize, format and partition it, after you install your OS on the SSD. This is done very easily.

Hit me up if you need guidance on how to do any of the above,
Captain_WD.
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