2 Hard Drives - Boot Sequence - Viruses

[matt4x4]

I have a new 120GB SSD HD, with an the old stock 7200rpm 320GB Western Digital HD (WDHD), I have Vista on both HD's (freshly installed and working perfectly on the SSDHD) and if I want to use the old system, I boot the WDHD, which has a lot of bloat-ware and old programs scattered everywhere.

I was thinking to use the WDHD for all the "unknown" downloads which might have a virus. I've heard of the program Sandbox and there are others just like that. Wouldnt my way be 100% solid, because as far as I am aware, viruses can not spread through RAM.

If I have both HD's hooked up its easy for viruses to spread.

If I boot from one HD, and leave the other unhooked (power and data cable) is it possible for a virus to spread to the unhooked HD?

 

[townsbg]

No viruses do not spread through ram so if you are paranoid enough to disconnect hard drives a virus on one will not get on the other. If you want to do that all you have to remove is power from the drive since without power the drive in not functional. Now if I where you all I would do would be to remove the drive letters. Doing so would leave each drive inaccessible from the other and as far as I know a virus on one still wouldn't be able to get on the other drive.

 

[Vistaar]

I was thinking to use the WDHD for all the "unknown" downloads which might have a virus. I've heard of the program Sandbox and there are others just like that.

Much malware can be avoided by uploading installers to VirusTotal for analysis before running them. Nevertheless I'm still in the habit of keeping Malwarebytes Free installed, even though it is one of the 50+ programs at VirusTotal. It is much more effective against PUPs than most antivirus software. BTW what antivirus did you install on your new SSDHD?

I haven't gone so far as to use Sandboxie, but I'm thinking that I will if I continue running Vista beyond the end of support. It currently still supports Vista and XP. Forum member Virtual6 is an advocate of Sandboxie. You might want to read his posts at http://www.vistax64.com/windows-upd...ls-1-2-ie9-internet-options.html?#post1404256 and http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/304029-windows-vista-sp2-still-usable.html?#post1404167.

 

[matt4x4]

I just downloaded a bunch of updates again, I thought I was done with those. I guess this will continue on for awhile.
One of the updates was MSE, which is on the bottom right by the clock, so it is installed now.
I use CCleaner all the time.
I also have the free Malwarebytes software.
That is all I use.

But like I said in the O.P. I learned how to boot sequence the Desktop hard drives. At first it was just to see what I had originally on the first HD and redownload the programs onto the fresh SSD-HD. Then I just continued using the old HD but I noticed on it was crashing a lot, again and thats the main reason I did a fresh clean install on a new SSD-HD. Anyways from that experience it got me thinking about getting back into downloading stuff. My old laptop was filled with good stuff. My words here are generalized, I am sure you all know what I mean and its not pictures.

My previous laptop was real old. I put XUbuntu on it and liked it and I used that for all my "entertainment" downloads. That old Dell laptop unfortunately is gone. I dont really want to spend more coin on an old laptop just for my downloads. I figured since I am booting from different HD's it would be a good way to utilize the Desktop computer.

So from the previous 2 replies, if all I need is to power off the HD perhaps a simple rerouting of the power cable to the desk would suffice, or a simple switch.

The renaming of the hard drive letters makes me wonder then if that would mess up anything else.

My conclusion is to reroute power cable from the old Western Digital HD and have the cables go to behind the large monitor. Then when I feel the need to do some "entertainment" downloads then I flick the switch or just plug in the cable - When the computer is off of course. Turn it on, F10 to BIOS, change boot sequence and I am good to go.

 

[virtual6]

This method of HDD isolation is, as you said, 100% solid, and one I endorse.

If you want to get a little fancy, buy a hard disk power switch selector like this one:

hard disk power switch selector

I bought that model last fall but never installed it...it's still on my to-do list.

Another method is to mount your drives in "sleds" that slide in and out of special bays in the computer case.

My current method of isolation is to use an older HP laptop for testing and downloads, like you were doing...a sacrificial system so to speak.

My eventual method will be to run several virtual machines on one powerful (real) machine.
I think the VM's are sufficiently isolated.

The method of removing the drive letter (like E: or whatever) from the unused disk (effectively unmounting it) while one or the other system is running will provide some measure of protection, but the unmounted drive can still be "found".

If you are going to only have one disk powered on at a time, there's no need to change boot parms or change the BIOS order...the computer will boot from the one with power.

 

[ilikefree]

I use Toolwiz Timefreeze to test software installs then reboot and install again if I like what I see.
I have the downloads folder set as an exception so I don't need to download programs again

 

[Vistaar]

One of the updates was MSE, which is on the bottom right by the clock, so it is installed now.

Is your Antimalware Client Version 4.8.204.0 or 4.9.218.0? (You can find out by opening MSE, clicking the Down arrow to the right of Help, and selecting About.) I'm still trying to figure out why so many MSE users running Vista had serious problems after http://www.vistax64.com/windows-upd...-security-essentials-4-9-218-0-kb3140527.html.