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General discussion

Can Viruses, Worms cause damage to a Second Hard Disk

Mar 11, 2004 11:26AM PST

Can Viruses, Worms cause damage to a Second Hard Disk


I have a second Hard Disk on my computer, hooked
as Slave on the same IDE channel as primary C drive, where the C drive is master. I keep all my
data files on the Second HD

I want to know, if my computer gets infected with
Virus / Worm or other such lovable creatures,
can they wipe out the data on the Second Hard Disk
or format this Second drive ?

The Cache folders for my Browsers (Internet
Explorer and Mozilla) are on the primary C
drive and so is the Temp folder (at C:\Windows)

Needless to say, I don't download any e-mail
attachments from unknown senders or Click
at Pop-Up ads, if any.

My understanding is that these 'Lovable Creatures'
when they come to say hello, they find their place
of residence at C drive.


I will appreciate comments from other members,
specially those who have played hosts to Viruses
and Worms.


Thank you Lord, for giving us Bananas, Hot Dogs,
Chewing Gum and also making computing so
unsafe for web-surfing


Frankie, A God-fearing humble being.

Discussion is locked

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Re:Can Viruses, Worms cause damage to a Second Hard Disk = Yes.
Mar 11, 2004 11:41AM PST

The pests don't limit themselves to such. But it all depends on the pest in question.

It would not be safe to think that D: would survive.

Bob

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Re:Can Viruses, damage to a Second Hard Disk-not usually
Mar 11, 2004 10:24PM PST

If it's data only, such as mp3 files, backup, etc. Viruses/worms act with an EXE such as bootup and activities that you click. They can replicate themselves and attach to other EXE, COM, and such. They usually do not include code to access partitions and slave Hdd's. I used Partition Magic to create 3 bootable partitions and one storage for a friend. 1 got infected and the others did not.

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Re:Can Viruses, Worms cause damage to a Second Hard Disk
Mar 12, 2004 5:25AM PST

Opinion.

If it is connected it is 'at risk'.

If there is no malware that will attack the second unit today there will be tomorrow.

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Re:Re:Can Viruses, Worms cause damage to a Second Hard Disk
Mar 15, 2004 3:03AM PST

The safe thing to do is check both drives for virus/worm/malware programs. As was stated above, if these programs don't attack a second drive today, it will be possible tomorrow.

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Re:Can Viruses, Worms cause damage to a Second Hard Disk
Mar 15, 2004 9:11PM PST

Thanks to everyone for the advise.

One more question
==============

I was told that if a virus starts formatting your Hard Disk, you should not stop the operation (e.g. by shuting down the power from on/off switch). Once the formatting operation starts, it must be completed or the disk will become non-operative.


Thanks


Frankie