Retrieving pictures and other files from an old virus infected HDD

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
J

Jawz_cod

Reputable
Jul 5, 2014
61
0
4,630
Hi!

My old computer has an HDD in it with a lot of pictures and possibly other files that I would like to retrieve and store on my new computer. I'm not looking to reuse the old drive. The problem is that I'm pretty sure it's infected with a virus, which I obviously don't want on my new computer. The old computer does NOT work, so I would have to put the HDD into an extra slot in my new PC.

Is there any way I could get the files without getting the virus too?
 
Solution
woodson75
The boot order should be set in the BIOS to boot from your current HDD. Once you've attached the old HDD and when you boot, go into the BIOS just to make sure that you'll be booting from the right drive.

Once you've booted, immediately do a scan on the old HDD, with whatever AV software you have, followed by Malwarebytes and all should be good.
Sort by date Sort by votes
J

Jawz_cod

Reputable
Jul 5, 2014
61
0
4,630


So I don't have to worry about it spreading to my other drives, or injecting itself into any of the files I transfer over?

Also, it has an old OS on it. It will just act like a normal hard drive and not try to boot up that OS or anything, right?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
woodson75

woodson75

Distinguished
Feb 5, 2013
847
12
20,015
The boot order should be set in the BIOS to boot from your current HDD. Once you've attached the old HDD and when you boot, go into the BIOS just to make sure that you'll be booting from the right drive.

Once you've booted, immediately do a scan on the old HDD, with whatever AV software you have, followed by Malwarebytes and all should be good.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
mjslakeridge

mjslakeridge

Splendid
Mar 6, 2013
3,386
4
21,965
Or you could disconnect all of the storage drives in your new PC and connect the old HDD and see if it boots up with the old OS. If so do a virus scan. If it finds and removes the virus, you should be able to reconnect the other storage drives and transfer the files you want to keep. I think that this method will reduce the chance your new drives could become infected in the event the virus "jumps" over to the new drives before the scan can be completed.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom