a computer maintenance task where the pre-existing operating system or application in question is loaded, anew, to the computer storage medium (HDD/Flash drive) from the installation media (CD/DVD/USB/Net). The software in question will already have been installed (and maybe running) previously, but some catastrophic failure (virus/corruption/bloating/disk failure) has necessitated that the software be reloaded into the computer.
Questions tagged [reinstall]
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        Buying a "Used" Router
I am buying a "new" router from an open-box sale at a company that liquidates eCommerce returns. Plan to use it for a home network at cottage.
I'm a bit nervous that it could have been modified by whoever had it last.
What are the main risks in…
        
        GWR
        
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        Does reinstalling ubuntu eliminates all existing rootkits/ malware/spyware/ virus etc?
If I do a fresh installation of ubuntu from an uninfected cd, will it remove all the existing rootkits/malwares/spywares/viruses etc if any ? Is formatting the hard disk required before reinstalling or these malicious programs will be removed even…
        
        aks
        
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        Clean install - Security risk old files
I am running macOS 10.11. The system is as far as I know not infected, but natural I can not be sure. The system was in the past not as secure as it should have been (missing security updates and suchlike). 
I want to use the opportunity of the…
        
        Linus
        
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        Is it safe to reinstall Windows without first decrypting the whole drive?
I am using TrueCrypt's 'Full Disk Encryption' and according to TrueCrypt's FAQ I should 'Permanently Decrypt System Partition/Drive' before reinstalling Windows. This does not make any sense to me. Would reinstalling Windows not undo the encryption…
        
        Xen
        
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        Trust linux images burned from untrusted systems
For securitys sake I'm assuming my system is successfully compromised after a targeted and/or non-targeted attack.
I've downloaded some linux images and burned them to do a re-install.
Since I can't trust my compromised system, I have to assume the…
        
        sfx
        
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        question about clean reinstallation of infected windows 7 (nuke from orbit approach)
I am attempting to reinstall windows 7 on my infected PC (with the shortcut virus) using a fresh USB drive.
The USB drive is NOT infected and contains the ISO.
will the USB stick I'm using get infected if I use it for reinstalling ?
I plan on…
        
        Ronnie
        
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        Is there any 100% safe way to download an iso of Windows?
I've been concerned about security and I have been reading a lot about stuxnet and hearing a lot lately about the leaked NSA exploits and the more recent leaked exploits NYtimes  and how they are being sold on the black market. That got me thinking…
        
        LateralTerminal
        
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        Attackers gained remote access to my computer for an hour. Do I need to reset all 9 devices in my house?
I got scammed and hacked. The scammers said they were from Microsoft and my computer had a virus and they were going to install some antivirus software on my computer and clean the virus for me. So I let them remotely connect to my computer for more…
        
        kekehuang11
        
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        How to distribute software with one time installation key in complete offline
I have the requirement that I have to distribute software in SD card. And this application should work without internet. I can share the installation key through SMS.
Since application and installation key are distributing through offline (without…
        
        HILARUDEEN ALLAUDEEN
        
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        How to safely reinstall Windows in Thailand - avoiding BadUSB/SSD
I have newly bought HP Pavilion laptop, which i am planning to nuke and reinstall. 
I really do not like the bloatware as it might posses a security risk.
However, in Thailand, i do not trust the sellers of USB sticks and external hard drives, i do…
        
        Thailife17
        
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        samba server exposed to wan
I recently realized that my samba server was exposed for about 3 years to the wan (ports opened and smbd was listening). I made a mistake when I configured my firewall and failed to check it.
This was the content of my smb.conf:
workgroup =…
        
        PostMan
        
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        Can an OS .iso downloaded from Microsoft.com be compromised after the download?
I've have looked at and considered Question about potential ISO infection and ISO verification and 
How do I check the hash of an ISO?
I've been concerned about security and I have been reading a lot about stuxnet and hearing a lot lately about the…
        
        LateralTerminal
        
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        Kali Linux: wrong kernel. What to do?
What does this mean :
Unable to boot- please use a kernel appropriate for your  CPU 
what do I have to do ?! 
        
        WAI
        
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        How to reinstall Win7 from a D-drive on an infected laptop
The laptop is infected with some sort of bad stuff (virus? Trojan? malware? etc). I am thinking of wiping it clean and reinstal Win7 "from scratch". 
I am running Win7 from an HP Probook, which has a D-partition titled 
"HP_recovery". From the HP…
        
        B Chen
        
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