Question Process of clean installation via Installation media

[jackfloyd2005]

Hello. Recently I have found a bitcoin miner virus that disguises itself as the system files. Stuff like Issass.exe took up 8k kilobytes in details of task manager, plus it would crash my games as a result of overload. I want to reformat the C: drive and clean install Windows 10. So far, this is what i have for the process:

1. Boot into installation usb drive
2. Get to advanced/custom installation
3. Reformat each partition, then delete each partition
4. Hit the “New” button to create a partition of the unallocated space
5. Continue the installation for clean and healthy system files.

Am I doing anything or am I missing anything? Thank you for reading this and I hope you could help me. Oh, and I only have one drive.

 

[Colif]

1. Boot into installation usb drive
2. Get to advanced/custom installation
3. Reformat each partition, then delete each partition
4. Hit the “New” button to create a partition of the unallocated space
5. Continue the installation for clean and healthy system files.

3. could just delete the partitions without formatting them 1st.

looks about right to me

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-windows-10-clean-install.html

 

[USAFRet]

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

Section II, Step 6 & 7 speak to deleting the existing partitions,a nd continuing with a clean slate.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

Thank you for the help. I also wanted to know if I should change the boot settings?

 

[Colif]

Thank you for the help. I also wanted to know if I should change the boot settings?

what motherboard do you have? the answer depends on if the bios has a function similar to priority booting where it lets you set a drive as a 1 time boot and then uses the default ones on next one. If so, I would set USB as priority and normal hdd as 1st in line in boot order.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

I have the ASrock Pro4 AM4 mobo.

 

[Colif]

I don't see a priority boot menu here - http://asrock.pc.cdn.bitgravity.com/Manual/AB350 Pro4.pdf

Turn off secure boot - see page 63
Turn off fast boot - page 64

with both those on, the PC won't boot off USB

looks like you change boot order so USB 1st, and boot drive second.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

hmm. So should I leave the boot options on but change the boot order?

 

[Colif]

does windows still work?

If it does, try this
Put USB with win 10 on it into USB slot
go to settings/update & security/recovery
under advanced startup, click restart now button
this restarts PC into a blue menu
choose Use a device option
pick the USB from the list
PC will restart and boot from the USB

OItherwise, I am not sure what you mean by boot options?

 

[jackfloyd2005]

Yes, Windows 10 does work. I’ll do what you recommend, then move to the actual process. By boot settings I was referring to the Secure Boot and Fast Boot. Thank you.

 

[Colif]

By boot settings I was referring to the Secure Boot and Fast Boot

oh, no, you would need both of those off if you were to try to boot from BIOS.

Hopefully the windows option works instead as then you don't need to change anything.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

I looked through the advanced settings in windows, but I don’t see an option to boot from usb.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

Looking through the settings, I saw Fully Clean the Drive. It says it wipes all data and reinstalls Windows. Would that reinstall the system files?

 

[USAFRet]

Looking through the settings, I saw Fully Clean the Drive. It says it wipes all data and reinstalls Windows. Would that reinstall the system files?

"the settings"
What settings, specifically?

 

[jackfloyd2005]

It was under the advanced startup, under troubleshooting. However, it was along the lines of Reset Everything.

 

[Colif]

the Use a device menu shouldn't be in the troubleshoot area, it should be on menu before that.

first page should have

• Continue - Exit and continue to windows
• Use a Device - Use a USb drive, network connection, or windows recovery DVD
• Troubleshoot - reset this PC or advanced options
• Turn off your PC

https://www.lifewire.com/advanced-startup-options-2625805

 

[Colif]

Looking through the settings, I saw Fully Clean the Drive. It says it wipes all data and reinstalls Windows. Would that reinstall the system files?

The problem with a reset is if the virus infected the image files of windows 10, a reset using those files will only result in a pre infected system.

You might be able to fo it, it might work fine, but clean install is always safer idea after a virus.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

Ok. But in the advanced startup before the troubleshooting, I only have Continue, Troubleshoot, and Shutdown.

 

[Colif]

Oh well, looks like you need to disable fast boot and secure boot and go through the bios instead. Sorry about wasting your time.

Menu isn't always in that area.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

Ok. It’s perfectly fine; if anything, I’m wasting your time. I’ll just turn off fast boot and secure boot and set the usb as the boot device. Will I have to go back into bios to switch the Disk Drive back or will it automatically if I remove the Usb?

 

[scout_03]

did you do a full virus and malwares scan without network on .

 

[jackfloyd2005]

Without network on? I’ve done like 5 full scans but I think the issue is the infected files are named as system files to stop the anti-virus from detecting it. I’ll do that before i clean install. Thanks.

 

[Colif]

Ok. It’s perfectly fine; if anything, I’m wasting your time. I’ll just turn off fast boot and secure boot and set the usb as the boot device. Will I have to go back into bios to switch the Disk Drive back or will it automatically if I remove the Usb?

you shouldn't need to go back into bios after its installed. Hopefully the PC will boot from hdd when it asks to restart during install process.

clean install should wipe all trace of virus off PC so shouldn't need scans but probably won't hurt.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

Alright. I’ve started the format and reinstall, it’s currently installing. Thank you guys for the help, I just built this PC and i didn’t want it to die. I’ll report if there’s anymore errors.

 

[jackfloyd2005]

Alright. I’ve started the format and reinstall, it’s currently installing. Thank you guys for the help, I just built this PC and i didn’t want it to die. I’ll report if there’s anymore errors.

Everything worked. I know for a fact that the virus is completely nuked, as i formatted and deleted the files. Thank you guys a lot.