drarkayl

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Apr 5, 2013
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I recently got a brand new sandisk SSD.

I already have windows installed on my current HDD but i wanted to install OS and games on the SSD and keep the HDD for storage.

So i disconnected my HDD and attaching the SSD i did a clean install of windows 8.1

NO programs installed or anything like brand new windows i have this annoying redirect adware
(google 'trade exchange adware')
right from the start


I tried wiping and reinstalling but its there again right from the first time i log in.

There are no browser extensions , no crappy toolbars nothing , completely empty c drive.

Can my SSD have some kind of default virus or something?
i know it sounds stupid but how can this exist on a brand new windows?

this is the only drive connected to the system so theres no other way for the malware to enter.

I tried installing with and without an internet connection, no luck.

Please help me out.

 

drarkayl

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I'm using a USB to install the OS
 

drarkayl

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Im using the same USB drive I burned when I installed the windows on my HDD...have been using it to install it in multiple pcs so I don't think that's the issue. other pcs showed no error.
 

drarkayl

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I have wiped the ssd and tried reinstalling like 5 times ...no luck.
I don't understand how the install media could be infected because I have used the same iso to install Windows on two other pcs apart from the current pc.
 

drarkayl

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ok im gonna use the usb to install windows on an old laptop of mine, if i still get the adware then it must be the iso . Ill download the iso again.

will post back when i get the resuts.
 

drarkayl

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ok seriously wtf im going nuts over this.

I used the same usb to fresh install on my laptop and it worked perfectly..no adware.

why is it that when i fresh install on the new ssd that this adware shows up right from boot?

SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!
 

drarkayl

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Im currently downloading another iso file , but how is it that this same file worked on 5+ different pcs absolutely perfectly but is causing the adware on this new ssd i bought? can the ssd have some kind of inbuilt malware?
 
The only thing I can think of is that your OS is somehow keyed to look for specific hardware (probably a specific network chip set) and finding it will allow it to activate the adware. Of course, nothing like this would be found in a Microsoft downloaded OS.

-Wolf sends
 

drarkayl

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IT IS an official microsoft OS(anyway new one being downloaded currently) . But think about this ive used the same thing on the same pc but on a regular hard drive - no malware....disconnect hard drive plug in ssd - yes malware. :S

why will some rootkit malware active on an ssd? rest of the pc remains the same
 
I'm not a root kit specialist here. I can only go by what you've told me. Install here. Nothing. Install there, adware. What the difference? The hardware. Hardware (if coming from a reputable seller) doesn't come infected, so the source is most likely the software being installed. If that's clean, then I don't know what else to say.

-Wolf sends
 

drarkayl

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ok bro i just installed a brand new OS after downloading a fresh iso from microsoft.

same fking adware on boot.

now im pretty convinced that this ssd came infected. but is something like this even possible? This is a brand new ssd from SanDisk .
 
If you downloaded a fresh ISO from Microsoft, installed it, and are still getting bombarded with adware, then either the USB drive is infected, or there's something in the firmware of the SSD (assuming your formatted it when you installed the OS).

-Wolf sends
 

drarkayl

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how can my USB drive be infected? i formatted it like a hundred times and used it to install windows in my laptop simultaneously. I installed the SanDisk SSD dashboard and tried registering my product for warranty and sandisk website says invalid serial number for the product. LOL

feel like suing this company now....selling me an infected drive and possibly fake (since i cannot register it).
 

drarkayl

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Thanks for the reply, but obviously this problem is much deeper than simply running antimalware .

I have sent the drive back and asked for a replacement. I will update when I get the new drive.
 

CWEric

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It is rare but I heard there are viruses that hide in motherboard BIOS to be able to survive a reformat. So its either that or your SSD. http://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/can-viruses-be-removed-from-the-bios-281792/