How do i format Ext4 back to Fat32 on windows?

[Lostone98]

Scrap all that it all works, sorry that was all over the place.

 

[SpyderTracks]

re-reading it i think you miss understood, i want to put Linux on old desktop not on a new system. My dad likes to use it to go online, my dad is stubborn, im going to put Linux on now just hope it works other wise in in trouble lol. just backing data up

As said previously, if you put linux on your old system without first doing a full clean install and wiping the drive, you will have an infected Linux partition, and also any data drives that have been connected to that system.

That system is completely compromised, there's nothing you can do about that aside from clean install the boot drive and disinfect any connected drives.

 

[Lostone98]

As said previously, if you put linux on your old system without first doing a full clean install and wiping the drive, you will have an infected Linux partition, and also any data drives that have been connected to that system.

I'm at loss as my external drive has important data that I cant loose. In linux install, I completely wiped the hard drive in the linux desktop and then installed OS. I typed in neofetch and come back with no errors. This desktop only has one internal drive.

With my second desktop it had two internal drives with no important data (just old game files) I wiped the first drive and installed linux. Then I wiped my data on the second. I guess I should have wiped my second before the install?

As I say I can't completely format my external drives as it has years of important data.

I'm so sorry to be a pain, my brain is in overload.

 

[SpyderTracks]

As I say I can't completely format my external drives as it has years of important data.

I didn't say wipe them, you only need to wipe the OS drives.

Data drives need to be disinfected before they're reattached to the system otherwise they'll infect your new clean OS.

Welcome to IT security. Protection is only reliable method. Once you're infected, it's a nightmare to properly disinfect.

 

[Lostone98]

I didn't say wipe them, you only need to wipe the OS drives.

Data drives need to be disinfected before they're reattached to the system otherwise they'll infect your new clean OS.

Welcome to IT security. Protection is only reliable method. Once you're infected, it's a nightmare to properly disinfect.

Ahhh the OS drives makes sense.

 

[SimonPeters116]

I didn't say wipe them, you only need to wipe the OS drives.

Data drives need to be disinfected before they're reattached to the system otherwise they'll infect your new clean OS.

Welcome to IT security. Protection is only reliable method. Once you're infected, it's a nightmare to properly disinfect.

How do you disinfect a data drive, without connecting it to the system?
Wiping the OS drive is straightforward enough. But to disinfect a data drive, you'll want an AV? Which would be installed on your system? And if the data drive isn't connected to the system, how does the AV disinfect it?

 

[SpyderTracks]

How do you disinfect a data drive, without connecting it to the system?

Physically attaching it via USB or PCIe doesn't activate it within the OS until you search in windows explorer

So long as you action the AV clean from the root of the drive at the drive name, you haven't "opened" the drive

 

[SimonPeters116]

Ahh! I was thinking along those lines tbh. But I wasn't sure, so thought it better to ask, just in case I get nobbled at some time in the future.

 

[Lostone98]

Data drives need to be disinfected before they're reattached to the system otherwise they'll infect your new clean OS.

What does disinfect mean, do you mean use an anti virus program to scan the external drive? Im Autistic its hard to grasp this, i think im going to find a group that does work on pcs, there so much i don't understand. I feel like at this point i'm being a pain.

Edit: I don't understand the term disinfect. I have to read sentence over like 5 times to absorb info, my mind is like a sieve. Could you share a you tube video that explains the matter in hand? I find videos better as i'm more visual. Sorry about this.

 

[Lostone98]

How do you disinfect a data drive, without connecting it to the system?
Wiping the OS drive is straightforward enough. But to disinfect a data drive, you'll want an AV? Which would be installed on your system? And if the data drive isn't connected to the system, how does the AV disinfect it?

That went over my head what do you mean by How do you disinfect a data drive, without connecting it to the system? I'm not mocking you but I'm getting so lost lol. I want to get this right as in about 3 months I'm getting a new desktop for 3 grand on here as this is such a big investment. Everyone has been great and I'm a pain in the kneck I must admit. I feel so frustrated that I'm not getting this, I love everything computers mind.

 

[SimonPeters116]

What does disinfect mean, do you mean use an anti virus program to scan the external drive? Im Autistic its hard to grasp this, i think im going to find a group that does work on pcs, there so much i don't understand. I feel like at this point i'm being a pain.

Edit: I don't understand the term disinfect. I have to read sentence over like 5 times to absorb info, my mind is like a sieve. Could you share a you tube video that explains the matter in hand? I find videos better as i'm more visual. Sorry about this.

I can't show you on a video, sorry.

Disinfect. In a person, a virus is an infection. The same idea also applies to a computer. If a computer has a virus, it has an infection. You remove the virus, remove the infection, using another word 'disinfect' it.

To disinfect a computer or computer drive, you need an Anti Virus program. Personally, I have Malwarebytes free version as my backup. It's more for my own peace of mind than anything else. It has never found a virus on my computer. The built-in protection of Windows Defender works well apparently. Perhaps @SpyderTracks will have a better option.

Now you obviously cannot wipe your data drive(s), otherwise you will lose all your data. Therefore you must remove any virus, or viruses, by using an antivirus. I've just had to clarify this myself, in a post above your last one.
I'll try to draw you a picture
A data drive, on its own, is a record deck, on the table, with a record on it, not connected to anything. To hear the record, you have to connect the record deck to power, and also to speakers. Then you have to switch it on and then switch it to play. Once you do that, you can listen to the music recorded on the record.
What you have to do with your data drive is to do everything except switch it to play.
So you have to fit your data drive into the computer, with a fresh, clean OS and an antivirus. You then plug all the cables in, so the drive is ready to go, as is normal.
Then you fit all the side panels, connect everything up, as normal, monitor, keyboard, mouse etc, and plug it into the wall socket.
This is my record deck, plugged into the wall and speakers connected.
Then you boot up your computer. Your OS finds the new drive(s) and shows them as, we'll say, drive D.
My record deck is now switched on, but not playing the record
Do Not investigate what is on this new drive, you already know, it's your potentially catastrophically infected data drive.
The very next thing, is open your antivirus and instruct it to do a Full scan of drive D. It may have a different name for Full scan, things like Deep scan, or Intensive, for example. Depending on the size of your drive, the full scan could be half an hour or longer.

If you Do investigate this drive, just so you are absolutely certain it's the right drive in your own mind, that is hitting Play.
As soon as you hit play, you let the virus escape into the rest of your newly installed Operating System. You are back to square one.
Once your antivirus has scanned your drive, it'll tell you it has found a list of potentially infected programs, apps, files and ask you what to do with them. Delete them or quarantine them if that's the only option. Personally I'd run the same scan again.
Now you can investigate what's on the drive.

This is a group that works on PC's. It's a group that pulls PC's to pieces, and rebuilds them, for fun.
They want to know why that piece is there, can it go here instead? They want to understand all the little details. I don't like these wires being routed this way, or the way they look. I'm going to buy new wires and route them that way instead. They also like helping people get the best computer they can. Anyone can make a list of parts and get a computer that does the job. These people like to look at the list of parts, think I'd have one of these rather than that bit there because it's more efficient and cheaper.
I, personally, have built my last three computers myself. None of them has been anything special, just your ordinary, middle of the road computers. We don't do it because it's a job, we don't have to do it. We do it because we want to, because we like doing it.. For my job, I'm an International truck driver. Absolutely nothing to do with computers.
Don't be concerned about being a pain. We've come this far together, we might as well finish the journey together.

 

[Lostone98]

I can't show you on a video, sorry.

Disinfect. In a person, a virus is an infection. The same idea also applies to a computer. If a computer has a virus, it has an infection. You remove the virus, remove the infection, using another word 'disinfect' it.

To disinfect a computer or computer drive, you need an Anti Virus program. Personally, I have Malwarebytes free version as my backup. It's more for my own peace of mind than anything else. It has never found a virus on my computer. The built-in protection of Windows Defender works well apparently. Perhaps @SpyderTracks will have a better option.

Now you obviously cannot wipe your data drive(s), otherwise you will lose all your data. Therefore you must remove any virus, or viruses, by using an antivirus. I've just had to clarify this myself, in a post above your last one.
I'll try to draw you a picture
A data drive, on its own, is a record deck, on the table, with a record on it, not connected to anything. To hear the record, you have to connect the record deck to power, and also to speakers. Then you have to switch it on and then switch it to play. Once you do that, you can listen to the music recorded on the record.
What you have to do with your data drive is to do everything except switch it to play.
So you have to fit your data drive into the computer, with a fresh, clean OS and an antivirus. You then plug all the cables in, so the drive is ready to go, as is normal.
Then you fit all the side panels, connect everything up, as normal, monitor, keyboard, mouse etc, and plug it into the wall socket.
This is my record deck, plugged into the wall and speakers connected.
Then you boot up your computer. Your OS finds the new drive(s) and shows them as, we'll say, drive D.
My record deck is now switched on, but not playing the record
Do Not investigate what is on this new drive, you already know, it's your potentially catastrophically infected data drive.
The very next thing, is open your antivirus and instruct it to do a Full scan of drive D. It may have a different name for Full scan, things like Deep scan, or Intensive, for example. Depending on the size of your drive, the full scan could be half an hour or longer.

If you Do investigate this drive, just so you are absolutely certain it's the right drive in your own mind, that is hitting Play.
As soon as you hit play, you let the virus escape into the rest of your newly installed Operating System. You are back to square one.
Once your antivirus has scanned your drive, it'll tell you it has found a list of potentially infected programs, apps, files and ask you what to do with them. Delete them or quarantine them if that's the only option. Personally I'd run the same scan again.
Now you can investigate what's on the drive.

This is a group that works on PC's. It's a group that pulls PC's to pieces, and rebuilds them, for fun.
They want to know why that piece is there, can it go here instead? They want to understand all the little details. I don't like these wires being routed this way, or the way they look. I'm going to buy new wires and route them that way instead.
I, personally, have built my last three computers myself. None of them has been anything special, just your ordinary, middle of the road computers. We don't do it because it's a job, we don't have to do it. We do it because we want to. For my job, I'm an International truck driver.
Don't be concerned about being a pain. We've come this far together, we might as well finish the journey together.

I installed the OS and moved the data from the external drive back on the pc without scanning it with an AV but I did not open the files itself. So I need to re install the OS and don't open the drive but Scan it with a AV first?

Edit: Linux does not have any antivirus programs. Just built in software.

 

[Lostone98]

"So you have to fit your data drive into the computer, with a fresh, clean OS and an antivirus. You then plug all the cables in, so the drive is ready to go, as is normal."

It's late so answer in day, so I need to remove the inner drive, i know next to nothing with the inner of desktops?

 

[SimonPeters116]

I didn't realize your data was on an external drive. I wouldn't even have moved my data from the external drive. If you copied your data across, you now have to scan both your external and your internal drives. Before, only your external drive needed to be scanned.
You don't need to remove your internal drive, its physical location isn't important. To do anything with a drive, it has to be plugged in to power and data connections.

I know next to nothing about Linux, except that it's an OS, and it's usually Open Source.
There are a number of different OS's under the Linux banner, called distro's.
One is Linux Mint, another was Red Hat. I don't know if Red Hat is still being developed.
I don't know how a Linux distro will deal with a data drive infected with Windows Virus's.
So at this point, I think we need to wait for another, more knowledgable than me, poster.

 

[Lostone98]

I didn't realize your data was on an external drive. I wouldn't even have moved my data from the external drive. If you copied your data across, you now have to scan both your external and your internal drives. Before, only your external drive needed to be scanned.
You don't need to remove your internal drive, its physical location isn't important. To do anything with a drive, it has to be plugged in to power and data connections.

I know next to nothing about Linux, except that it's an OS, and it's usually Open Source.
There are a number of different OS's under the Linux banner, called distro's.
One is Linux Mint, another was Red Hat. I don't know if Red Hat is still being developed.
I don't know how a Linux distro will deal with a data drive infected with Windows Virus's.
So at this point, I think we need to wait for another, more knowledgable than me, poster.

As I understand there is less chance linux to get a virus then windows but not impossible.

I have two desktop with linux (I may get linux on my new desktop as I'm happy how it works)

The one is my dad's and this has one internal drive at around 400gb this wiped.

And my own gaming pc that I had from pcspecialist.co.uk. this has two internal drives at around 400gb and 1tb. Both have been completely wiped. I did not open any just straight away formated Both.

I have 3 external hd drives that's not been wiped. Non have been scanned as I don't know what's the best option on linux. I have not yet used the two drives but one has been put back on with my dad's backups on his pc, this is mistake I made but don't know an work around to scan this drive.

I don't know if this info helps, my drive consists of music ripped from cds, game roms, photos, documents and ripped bluerays.

Thank you for the help.

Any infection on the drive was from win 7 as so I'm not sure it can pass on Linux os?

 

[Lostone98]

@SpyderTracks

So question i have how to disinfect external drive on linux without wiping the drive.

 

[SpyderTracks]

@SpyderTracks

So question i have how to disinfect external drive on linux without wiping the drive.

I'm sorry, there's just too much to go over here, and the risk if you aren't able to follow is very high.

But yes, there are multi OS viruses that can infect multiple OS types, there are also bootloader viruses that operate outside of the OS at a lower level. Your system has been running completely exposed for over 2 1/2 years, it IS compromised and you have to expect from every level. It needs full disinfection at a low level by someone who knows what they're doing.

It's not something I feel comfortable advising further on. I would suggest getting someone with knowledge to show you through or pay for a service. But I would strongly recommend learning about the importance of basic IT security to prevent this happening in the future.

 

[Lostone98]

I'm sorry, there's just too much to go over here, and the risk if you aren't able to follow is very high.

But yes, there are multi OS viruses that can infect multiple OS types, there are also bootloader viruses that operate outside of the OS at a lower level. Your system has been running completely exposed for over 2 1/2 years, it IS compromised and you have to expect from every level. It needs full disinfection at a low level by someone who knows what they're doing.

It's not something I feel comfortable advising further on. I would suggest getting someone with knowledge to show you through or pay for a service. But I would strongly recommend learning about the importance of basic IT security to prevent this happening in the future.

Thank you for your time. Is too complected avoid getting my new desktop infected too that I'm getting in a few months, As soon I use my external drive that i used on my old pc it just get effected too until i format it. Same with the Steam deck, I assume Sd card pc to steam deck im just going infest it. So much money on this, major thing i learned keep things updated and dont wait just do it asp.

Edit Simply way would format my drives just loose my data i have and reinstall data on. it will be easy for me to do, i know the biggest issue is formatting on an infested pc on infecting my drive and then the desktop or i just risk it formatting it on a clean system (new one in 3 mounths) and then that all messed up too. The only data i cant loose is my dads but mine is just roms, videos and music (the music took me a long time to rip mind, its for an SD card on my Flac music player, not much of a clue what os is on that, must be an Android based software. no important data on that mind)

Im going to do a group, seeing my support worker monday and will tell him.

 

[Lostone98]

It needs full disinfection at a low level by someone who knows what they're doing.

Can they remove any threat on my PC without reinstalling the data on the drive external or internal? My sister partner works with PC's but i wont see him till the end of next year.

Edit: My dad said the warranty is void becuse I put Linux on a windows 7 pc and will no longer fix it or replace it, this computer is from 2012 from currys/pc world, Im I missing something here?

 

[SpyderTracks]

Can they remove any threat on my PC without reinstalling the data on the drive external or internal? My sister partner works with PC's but i wont see him till the end of next year.

Already explained above.

Physically attaching it via USB or PCIe doesn't activate it within the OS until you search in windows explorer

So long as you action the AV clean from the root of the drive at the drive name, you haven't "opened" the drive