Deleting "my old disk structure"

[joem]

I had to re-install windows after being affected by a virus infestation. I
now have a 60 Gb folder named "my old file structure". How can I delete it?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I had to re-install windows after being affected by a virus infestation.

"Had to? Why did you have to? Almost all single virus infections can
be removed with anti-virus software.

I
now have a 60 Gb folder named "my old file structure". How can I delete it?

In that case, you didn't do the reinstallation properly. Please
describe exactly what you did.

 

[Twayne]

I had to re-install windows after being affected by a virus
infestation. I now have a 60 Gb folder named "my old file structure".
How can I delete it?

If the machine is working well and your'e happy with it, have you tried
just deleting it from Explorer?
You really need to provide more info on what you did and with what and
how.

 

[joem]

If the machine is working well and your'e happy with it, have you tried
just deleting it from Explorer?
You really need to provide more info on what you did and with what and
how.

This folder cannot be deleted with Explorer. I did a "Recovery" without re formatting the disk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I had to re-install windows after being affected by a virus infestation. I
now have a 60 Gb folder named "my old file structure". How can I delete
it?

First, how much time do you have invested in the reinstall?

Clearly, if you have a "my old file strucure" folder, you did *not* do a
clean install, the disk wasn't even formatted, and so it's possible that
there are low-level infections still present on the disk.

I would suggest that you stop, back up your data - if any - to another
drive, then start the install over. This time, remove the partitions from
the drive, re-create and format them, and continue with the install.

If you can't back up to another drive, just go get a new drive (where I am,
250 gig drives are under $70), remove your old one and set it aside (use the
antistatic bag from the new drive). Install the new one and reinstall to
that.

When done, after you've set up the system and the A/V software is running
and up to date, connect the old drive or backup media and copy your data
back into place, and your A/V software should catch any malware.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

This folder cannot be deleted with Explorer.

Why not? What happens when you try?

I did a "Recovery" without re formatting the disk

Then, frankly, you wasted your time.

If your system actually had a bad malware infestation, this can leave the
malware in place. You need to, at very least, format to ensure that the
malware is at least overwritten.

I would suggest it's best that you back up the data, and then re-do the
recovery using the formatting, or preferably repartitioning, options.

HTH
-pk

 

[joem]

First, how much time do you have invested in the reinstall?

Clearly, if you have a "my old file strucure" folder, you did *not* do a
clean install, the disk wasn't even formatted, and so it's possible that
there are low-level infections still present on the disk.

I would suggest that you stop, back up your data - if any - to another
drive, then start the install over. This time, remove the partitions from
the drive, re-create and format them, and continue with the install.

If you can't back up to another drive, just go get a new drive (where I am,
250 gig drives are under $70), remove your old one and set it aside (use the
antistatic bag from the new drive). Install the new one and reinstall to
that.

When done, after you've set up the system and the A/V software is running
and up to date, connect the old drive or backup media and copy your data
back into place, and your A/V software should catch any malware.

HTH
-pk


Patrick,

I thank you for the suggestions. I did indeed spent a lot of time with the
"Recovery" mode. The A/V software has found some of the viruses in the "old
disk structure" which I have deleted.

I was just hoping to be able to erase this redundant "old disk structure"
since it is of no apparent use. It is strange that it cannot be done.

Joem

 

[Gerry]

Patrick

This statement is not one I would have expected from you "and your A/V
software should catch any malware." It is patently incorrect as there
are many types of malware an anti-virus programme will not detect.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~