USB Flash Dive questions.

I've read about some of the problems regarding flash drives being infected before you even use them.
Are any of the flash drives being sold in the US virus and rootkit free?
Any preferred brands?
Is there any software I can use to check them?
I want to try to use a flash drive for a Shadow Protect image and see if it will work when I want to revert to the image. I use Windows 7 Pro.
Any info?
Thanks.
Hugger

 

Infected? I always reformat mine, so if there's anything on there..........

Most of the junk on them you don't really need or can replace with something of your own choice anyway.

HTH

Correct me if I am wrong, people, but if you're going to make a backup image you'll have to wipe it clean and reformat anyway..

 

Once it's formatted, all good to go.

 

.
Have a look at Panda USB Vaccine. It can be configured to disable "auto run" on the PC and USB Flash Drives the moment they are plugged in. That should prevent anything on the flash drive from getting into the computer before you've had a chance to scan or format it.

 

How do I reformat a flash drive?

 

You are using Windows, it should actually ask you what you want to do..
when you put the usb in..if not-
Hopefully, you don't have your puter set to just 'autorun' anything put in your usb ports!!

Go to My Computer, clk on the usb drive, then right clk to open the menu-
there should be a choice to format the usb drive, among others.
That will erase all the info on it...
It will also ask what you want it to format to...ntfs, FAT, etc.

Been awhile since I've been on windows, but shouldn't have changed that much..anyone else?

 

In Explorer, right click the device > format.

philby

 

Thanks everybody.
Guess I'll buy one tomorrow and play with it.
Hugger

 

I posted a couple of notes on this a while back over @ Virtual Dr http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?t=238013 You might find them useful.

 

HAN,
Thanks for the info.
Hugger