How can I salvage the data on an old HDD without putting my current data at risk?

Question

I've got six HDDs sitting in my room from old family computers. We have family videos, pictures, and music we'd like to keep, but each and every one has been virus-stricken, making it impossible to install them into my new computer. At the moment my laptop has Norton 360, so an IDE to USB docking station would be capital, but those are too expensive. My desktop however does not, for we are already using all three of our licenses (all on laptops, too). I need some way to safely attach my old HDDs to my desktop.

I was thinking I could use Debian Linux, then the viruses that took down my previous computers couldn't take down my new one since they're on separate (and completely different for that matter) operating systems. In fact, I need one of the HDDs to set up a dual-boot system between XP and Debian anyways. Would this be safe to assume?

>inb4 Norton sucks.
I didn't come here to be flamed for using Norton.

Answer 1

I don't know about Debian, but with Ubuntu, you can set up a dual-boot without repartitioning and without needing an extra installation medium (CD/DVD/USB).

Answer 2

You have to get rid of the viruses. If the files are infected and you put them on any version of Linux then that's where they'll have to stay. If you open them on a Windows machine then that machine will soon be infected too.



If you don't trust Norton then use another anti-virus, Avast, MSE, Avira and AVG are all good and free. Also, download the free version of MBAM - http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free and run that on the drives when you attach them to your computer.



To attach the drives use an IDE PATA/SATA to USB adapter - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&N=-1&isNodeId=1&Description=pata+sata+usb+adapter&x=0&y=0 These things will work on any PATA/SATA drive.



Once the drive is attached run the anti-virus program on the drive and then use MBAM then you can be fairly certain that between them any malware would have been found and quarantined.

Answer 3

I'd set each of the six up as a slave, then connect one of them and scan it with anti-virus software from your from your C: drive. Once it's disinfected, repeat the process with each of the six in turn.



I shouldn't be too paranoid about infecting your C: drive. So long as it has an anti-virus product already installed, you should be fine.



Try installing TDSSKiller, and the free version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and the free Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool onto your C: drive first, then connect an infected slave, and boot into Safe Mode with Networking before you perform a scan.



Try this:



Firstly, boot your computer to the Safe Mode menu screen. You do this by repeatedly pressing F8 as soon as you boot up. Once there, use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode with Networking. Continue to boot from there, by pressing Enter. You will now see some drivers being loaded. There will be a pause at some point. This usually lasts for no more than 30 seconds.



If that's successful, download and run TDSSKiller.exe from Kaspersky Lab. It's tiny, and takes just a minute to run. It hunts down and kills a specific family of rootkits:



http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684



Regardless of the results, download the free version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (MBAM). Install it, get updates and run a full scan (still in Safe Mode). This is a direct download link. Copy and paste it into your browser’s address bar, and press Enter.



http://www.myantispyware.com/mbam



After that, boot normally and run another full scan with MBAM. It will detect any malware that wasn’t running in Safe Mode.



If the problem still exists, download and run the free Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool:



http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/utility



You should now delete TDSSKiller.exe and the Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool, as updated versions are often made available. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can be easily uninstalled, should you wish to do so, but it may prove to be beneficial in the future.



Hope this helps.

Answer 4

as quickly as you have the previous HDD on your new laptop you're able to do what you want with it. you may reproduction regardless of archives you like on your important HDD. you may delete folders or man or woman archives. or you may in simple terms format it and clean each thing. A 2d HDD is amazingly sensible for backing up helpful archives, pictures, music and so on.

Answer 5

Most viruses wont be active until it's running as the main drive, so you shouldn't have any issues hooking them to your desktops' IDE slots to retrieve data. Plus you have Norton 360, so I really don't what the problem is here.

Answer 6

Connect the HDD, and load up a lightweight distro like Puppy Linux. Download Puppy, burn it to a disc, reboot and load into the CD/DVD drive, mount the HDD and move all of you important data over to a clean HDD.



http://www.puppylinux.com/