With Windows since about Windows NT I don't format ahead of the OS install. I just start with a blank, no partition drive and tell the Windows installer to install there.

Now there can be malware but there's not much story about use. Torrent users get hit all the time as well as crack users.

Did you check out the SMART VALUES in say a Speccy report?
How is at https://www.piriform.com/docs/speccy/using-speccy/publishing-a-speccy-profile-to-the-web

The above doesn't really tell enough.