what if anything can a virus physically do to your pc ?
Is it possible for a virus to prevent you from re installing windows ?
2007-12-05 00:07:19 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
About the only thing I can think of is that a while ago hard disk design evolved to the point at which low level formatting couldn't be done (and was also completely unnecessary) and hard disks nowadays will ignore attempts to low level format them but some of the earlier drives that couldn't do a low level format wouldn't ignore the attempts and would actually try do a low level format (which would make the drive unusable afterwards).
If a virus were to do that then it might destroy the hard drive but there's really no way to completely prevent you from reinstalling windows without destroying hard ware (the Chernobyl virus flashed the BIOS with nonsense every April 26th which made a computer unbootable).
2007-12-05 00:54:14 · answer #1 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
2
2016-08-24 02:19:46 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Boot sector viruses can cause invalid headers on your HDD that can prevent Windows from being installed or from booting after windows is installed. The usual repair for this is to download the drive manufacturer's utility program to a bootable CD (Most have an ISO image that can be directly written to a CD using CD Copy. After booting from this CD do a low level format of the drive to repair and damage done by the virus or corruption of the boot sector (do a complete format not a quick you have the time to do it right the first time),
2007-12-05 00:33:49 · answer #3 · answered by ns_comp_tech 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A virus can not do physical damage per se. But yes it can make the drive run at full speed for longer period of times to try and burn out the circuitry... Or constantly keep it busy to make it non responsive. But such viruses are rare.
Usually the virus destroys data on the drive which is easier to do and more damaging.
2007-12-05 00:11:09 · answer #4 · answered by StarChaser 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Physically I guess certain strains can reside in your RAM, making it undetectable to your system, but the damage to your hard drive is corruption of the boot sector and files. So, yes, a virus CAN stop your from simply re-installing. You have to format the hard drive completely, preferably deleting partitions with FDISK first.
2007-12-05 00:11:41 · answer #5 · answered by ~☆ Petit ♥ Chou ☆~ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A virus can cause excessive activity on a hard drive that in itself can shorten the life of the drive.
2014-03-12 02:29:30 · answer #6 · answered by Tego 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not incredibly except you bypass to the comparable internet website the place the virus originated from. on occasion ppl placed attachments on an digital mail and that they could comprise the virus. that's why i don't open them. yet your community needs to have their firewall looked at only the comparable. additionally, attempt loading a sturdy anti-virus application on the computing device like Norton internet Suite. G'day!
2016-12-10 13:13:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no virus is software will not affect your hardware
the best way to remove a virus is to format your hard drive
2007-12-05 00:09:56 · answer #8 · answered by whatanidname 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is possible for a virus to do damage in incredible amounts
basically anything you can think of, can be done, and even more
2007-12-05 00:11:03 · answer #9 · answered by dbogdan4school 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not really all most can do is to corrupt the data on them, however it is theoretically possible to make software that will increase component temperature by allowing more voltages similar to over clocking. so yes haven't seen it yet though
2007-12-05 00:11:45 · answer #10 · answered by flikapotamus 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋