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Can a virus stay on my computer after factory reset AND HDD replacement?

Anonymous
2023-11-07T08:20:04+00:00

I'm not even sure if it was a virus causing my problems, but recently I was having trouble booting my computer, as in, it would take me straight into diagnostic mode and bootrec would say there was no Windows installation on my computer.

I figured it was a HDD problem so I replaced it. I haven't had trouble booting since but I've been having extremely slow boot times, and random system files are often unreachable by apps or settings (mainly .dll files) and also got this random error when opening settings. (Error: The Group or resource is not in the correct state to perform the requested operation RuntimeBroker.exe) so I'm a bit worried that this will eventually lead to another complete system failure and I'll have to reinstall something yet again.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. DaveM121 868.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-11-07T08:55:03+00:00

    Hi, I am Dave, I will help you with this.

    Most likely you did not have a virus, it was just an unstable operating system caused the original problem, and rest assured malware cannot survive changing the drive.

    1

    Did you install a full set of drivers after you re-installed Windows from the support page for your PC?

    2

    Your system seems to be still unstable, what method did you use to re-install Windows, did you use a newly created bootable USB created with the official Media Creation Tool?

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  2. DaveM121 868.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-11-07T12:05:57+00:00

    I will find the support page for you, click your Start Button, then just type msinfo and press Enter, please provide a screenshot of the resulting System Information window.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-11-07T11:58:42+00:00

    Alright thank you so much, can I install them directly to the computer or do they have to be instead using a USB like you said?

    Also please may I have a link to the official support page? I'm a bit nervous about installing anything unofficial 😅

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  4. DaveM121 868.4K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2023-11-07T11:14:21+00:00

    If you go to the support page for your PC to re-install any necessary drivers, then you should not experience any problems with your Windows installation in the future.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-11-07T11:12:25+00:00

    Hello Dave

    1: I believe I have some optional drivers that may need to be installed as discovered when I found out that my Internet drivers were missing and had to install them manually on a USB. I thought they installed automatically after connecting and updating however as I am able to run Steam games and other apps without a problem.

    If it matters at all, Settings still ran despite that RuntimeBroker error and nothing really changed.

    2: I used an official installation media to run a fresh install of Windows 10. I'm unsure of the exact name but it's the one with the purple UI that completely installs windows fresh, not the repairing disk (which I have used previously.)

    I tried to use the disk repair USB before and the "repair with disk" option to reset my PC, but the problem happened again a few days later which is what I'm worried about happening again

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