[beeceebee]

I will read this evening and hopefully learn something new. Since this drive is only attached for a few minutes on days when I want to back up new corresponence etc. And since it worked for a major problem I assume it is fine just to leave it as is. Right??

[Wolfeymole]

I'd leave it plugged in all the time Barry, does it have it's own power supply or is it just powered via USB?

[beeceebee]

It is just USB. From what I gather it is probably made a few years ago since most references to it are from a number of years back. This is a laptop so I cant plug it in all the time. It is not even with me now. Am I wrong in thinking that if it is detached my data is better protected??

[Wolfeymole]

Well I never heard of an external drive being zapped by any surges on the mainboard but there's always a first time I suppose.

But at the end of the day an external drive is always a better medium to store on rather than an internal one.

[RandyL]

And as far as any malware getting on that's the whole point of a seperate drive or a partitioned drive. Malware can only infect the drive that has an operating system on it.

Of course if you have infected backup files on the other drive and you run them (which means you are doing so from the drive that contains the OS) then you could infect the main drive.

[beeceebee]

To quote or paraphrase Michael Corleone "juat when I think I am out they draw me back in"

It never occurred to me to use that portable drive as if it were an integral part of my computer. I save word documents to any number of different folders in my documents (just as an example) Once everyday or two I have been adding newer stuff to the same file in the portable. Keep in mind that I have only had the thing for a short while. I figured that if it is not connected it is safe from the world and forever available to me.

Is there a better way?

[RandyL]

bee please don't misunderstand me. Word documents etc. won't be infected.

What I mean is say is if you have something like a rar file that is infected. If you unrar it and execute the program it contains it is executed from the drive that Windows is installed on.

A backup drive can't execute a virus or trojan. It's only if you open or install such a file or program which will use your main drive.

[beeceebee]

Thanks Randy, I think I understand but let me pose a question because your responce did hit close to home. My computer became infected when I was extracting a file although I am not sure it was .rar. It also included something called installer or the like and I, like an idiot, didnt scan in time. My avast (at the time) went so crazy that I actually thought it was repeating itself. I blew it and I know it. Therefore never again.

I think I have an unextracted .rar on the portable (although I may have deleted it out of fear.) While I don't think I am going to play with that one at all I assume I will get other .rar files in the future.
Therefore is the a safe way to handle them (or safest)
1. download to the poratable hd.
2. Scan the unextracted file using your recommended security programs.
3. extract the the same folder and rescan.
4. If all is clear either move the extracted file to the computer or run directly from the still attached portable.

And, by the way, I am not looking for a safe way to do an unsafe thing. When I said never again I meant it.

[RandyL]

Some types of files can contain malicious code. Avoid those at all costs. Better yet never download anything that doesn't come from a trusted source.

Never download any type of compressed file or any exe file or any other type of file unless it comes from a trusted source.

It really doesn't matter where you save most files. What matters is what you do with them after that. If you execute or open them you can be infected.

You can scan files say an exe and it will be clean or scan other types and they may be clean too. The list is too large to elaborate. But once executed it may install malware or download malware. It is complicated.

Download and save.
Scan.
That's all.

However this will not protect you. Like I said if the files are not from a secure source you will run a major risk. Hopefully your security programs will protect you or clean up the damage but don't hold your breath.

Even though scanned files may show clean once run it could infect. The same thing for program or exe files. The only sure way to protect yourself is to research and use good sense.

[beeceebee]

Fair enough i guess that is all I can do. Thanks
barry

[Dalo Harkin]

The best way to back up data is to CD/DVD as long as they are burnt right and they are protected as in a file and not left out and what not - then the chances of them not working is FAR less than any type of HDD

[beeceebee]

Thanks,
What I have done in the past is about once a month I would download documents to a dvd using Sonic Record Now that comes with the computer. I began to notice that while the disks were fine the program seemed to be causing some problems, Sonic never quite shut down and seemed to interfere with my overall operation of the computer. I wish I could remember exactly what it did. The same program is now in the computer because of the reformatting and installation but I have yet to use it. I am not a big dvd maker just simple stuff as described. Are there any know issues with record now as it is easy enough to use and maybe my problems (which I usually solved with a restart) was just a quirk of the original installation.

[Dalo Harkin]

Use NERO and then just burn the disks as DATA disks whether CD or DVD

[beeceebee]

Going back to this briefly. I copied all the software that came with the WD drive and deleted it from the external. I was just curious to see if it would then be recognised as external storage. Went to My Computer and it was still listed under Hark Disk Drives.

My only question (unless the answer is yes) is: Should I really care???

[Wolfeymole]

It would probably have been some WD diagnostic software Barry so I wouldn't worry about it too much mate.

[beeceebee]

Good, it works fine so I've stopped caring. THANKS!