One of the most successful ways to scan a computer is by scanning it without booting on itself. This can be done by removing the hard disk and attaching it to a clean computer and make a thorough scan. This way, the virus has no chance of residing into memory.
Though, doing this requires some technical knowledge of physically detaching hard disk but some would rather try this than wiping out their hard disk by reformatting.
Tools/Equipment Needed:
1. USB to IDE cable - This is available at any computer store ranging from $10 to $35. Price depends on the brand.
2. A clean and uncompromised computer with USB socket, updated AntiVirus and internet connection.

Procedure:
1. Remove the hard disk from the infected computer. Be sure that power is turned off and cables are unplugged.
2. Attached IDE and power connectors to a hard disk.

3. Plug the power of the IDE-USB cable to power outlet.
4. Attached the USB connector to a clean and uncompromised computer using the USB cable.

5. The newly plug hard disk will be detected and will be added to the list of drives. In this case the added external hard disk is named HardDisk-X.

6. There are two ways to scan the external hard disk
a) On My Computer, right-click the external hard disk and select Scan with Antivirus…

b) Open your AntiVirus program. Do a manual scan and select the external hard disk.

Do another scan with Free virus scanners:
1. Download and scan with TrendMicro Sysclean.
2. Download and scan with Ewido Micro Scanner.
Removing the External Hard Disk:
1. Before unplugging the connector, the device must be safely removed.
2. Click on the “Safely Remove Hardware” from the taskbar.

3. Select device and click Stop.

4. It will display “It is now safe to remove…” then remove the usb cable and unplug the power of the USB-IDE cable.
5. Return the hard disk and check if it the threat is gone.
4 Responses for "Scanning and Disinfecting Infected Hard Disk via USB"
This is great to know! I always had to piggy back the hard drive to another computer, but this is way simply to do. Thanks for the tip!
bootup with a livecd and scan from from the OS in the ramdrive ..cheap and easy the way I like it!
My computer is so infected, all my desktop icons are gone; and I can’t open any files or programs. I have no mouse so I can’t do much of anything. Is there a disk on the market that can self-start and erase the malware?
Nice tutorial. Beats my way of laying the box on its side with the HD balanced on a sheet of newspaper and cables everywhere
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