Momentus XT, Momentus, Momentus Thin, MobileMax, and other notebook drives

[WiseDrive]

If you cannot do a clean install, you have assumed the risk that is well known from cloning.

[KrypteX]

Cloning is fine, if done right. Of course, if the source drive is already full of viruses + lack of proper SATA drives + heavily fragmented.... all that will transfer to the new drive. This is not rocket science.

[WiseDrive]

Cloning should never be done for consumer machines on a one-off basis as there is no way to ensure faults and incompatibilites will not be placed on the new drive.

Seagate should cease to support cloning.

[GregNYR]

Thanks guys for all of your feedback and support.

As I've mentioned previously I'm running a MacBook Pro and use TimeMachine as a backup tool.

After reading you posts I do agree with you guys that cloning a machine that may have viruses, malware and other bad things on it is not the best way to go since you will infect you fresh install or new drive with them afterwards. 

I would like to scan my MBP and my backup drives for viruses, spyware..... just to make sure I don't have any on my hard drives.

Since I'm on a Mac I've never done any research for virus, spyware, and malware scanning programs for Mac's.

What programs would you guy's suggest I get for "Mac" to help me out with this. I'm not looking to save money here. Im looking for something that will do the job and make sure that non of my drives contain any viruses or malware on them. I want the best program that runs without eating up a ton of resources (Like new norton antivirus software on PC) and does the job that it's suppose to without interfering with my daily activity on my laptop. (if such program exists of course).

I'll try to look for such a software as well but my free time is very limited since I'm studying all the time in medical school. 

Thanks guys for your input. 

[WiseDrive]

Can't really help you on Mac virus scanners.

But it is well known that no single anti virus or malware protection is 100% effective.

Multiple scans from several different scanners CAN reduce the odds of a malware / virus infection, but the odds cannot go to zero.

There are some malware / zero day exploits out there in the wild that no anti malware firm have detected yet, and no matter what scanning you do, you cannot eliminate the risk.

Cloning is an excellent way to ensure that very difficult to remove malware, like root kits, are faithfully preserved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit

[KrypteX]

Perform a proper scan with Avast Antivirus for Mac (free) or Kaspersky.

Do a scan with Malwarebyte's Antimalware.

They WILL find any viruses if they are up-to-date.

Clean your machine of any fond virus/malware, update the drivers if needed (check SATA drivers), defragment and then do the cloning with Acronis True Image.

It should work just fine. Done it hundreds of times on old and new hardware, never had any problem.

Hope this helps.

[WiseDrive]

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KrypteX wrote:

Perform a proper scan with Avast Antivirus for Mac (free) or Kaspersky.

Do a scan with Malwarebyte's Antimalware.

They WILL find any viruses if they are up-to-date.

Clean your machine of any fond virus/malware, update the drivers if needed (check SATA drivers), defragment and then do the cloning with Acronis True Image.

It should work just fine. Done it hundreds of times on old and new hardware, never had any problem.

Hope this helps.

---

This procedure as described above will ensure that many modern root kits will not be detected.

To improve (but not guarantee) the detection of modern root kits...

A) REMOVE the drive being tested

B) Install a known clean drive with a fresh copy of Windows / Mac OS etc.

C) Download and install the latest anti-malware on a known  clean machine

D) Activate the anti-root kit scans (usually optional)

E) Update the anti virus signatures

F) Install the drive under test in an  external housing

G) Ensure that "Removable media scan" is activated

H) Do full scan of drive under test in the external housing

Repeat the above procedure with a second scanner software

[KrypteX]

I believe that Seagate put the cloning feature with a good reason and other companies created several good cloning softwares. Do you want us to believe that they are all wrong and you're the only one who knows what he is talking about ?

Also... I totally disagree that your method would avoid rootkits. As simple as that. 

(edited to comply with forum rules)

[WiseDrive]

http://forums.seagate.com/t5/Momentus-XT-Momentus-Momentus/Norton-boot-tidserv-MBR-virus-after-Momen...

Norton boot.tidserv MBR virus after Momentus XT Firmware Update 215451 for ST95005620AS

Additional note:

If anyone offers to send you firmware, beware.

Insist on firmware obtained directly from Seagate.