Clean viruses before a 'Windows 10 / Linux Mint' dual boot

[Borix]

Hello,

I bought a Mini PC (from China on AliExpress website) and I've just received it. It has a 256Gb SSD drive :
- Partition #1, NTFS, 100Gb, with Windows 10 pre-installed (UEFI ?)
- Partition #2, NTFS, 150Gb, free
I want to make a dual boot with Windows 10 and Linux Mint.

Up to now, I only switch on the Mini PC (and everything looks OK), but without connecting it to Internet / to my local network and without pluging any USB key/drive.
I merely wonder how I can be sure that there isn't yet any viruses on this mini PC before doing a clean dual boot ?

Here are some of the 'maybe stupid' ideas I have in mind but I would like some advise :
- Reinstall windows myself with an ISO file downloaded on Microsoft site ?
- Use a LiveUSB of Linux Mint, and write 0 on all the SSD disk with the dd command (dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda) ?

Maybe I am a bit paranoid... but if you have some recommendations I would appreciate them !

[Moonstone Man]

- Use a LiveUSB of Linux Mint, and write 0 on all the SSD disk with the dd command (dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda) ?

That's a marvellous way to wreck the life of your SSD.

Anyway, if there are any nefarious things on the system, you're not going to be certain they're cleaned out by testing from Linux, which doesn't suffer the same issues as Windows and is a hit and miss affair. The only thing you can do is run some intensive scans and tests from Windows... or throw the SSD out. The preferred approach really depends on the level and depth of your paranoia but we don't provide psychological services here.

[Schultz]

Wouldn't something as simple as booting Mint from a DVD/USB stick and formatting the drive do the trick?

[DAMIEN1307]

Wouldn't something as simple as booting Mint from a DVD/USB stick and formatting the drive do the trick?

Formatting the drive would also destroy his existing brand new Windows 10 at the same time...DAMIEN

[Moonstone Man]

Formatting the drive would also destroy his existing brand new Windows 10 at the same time...DAMIEN

I'm fairly certain that that's the intent

[DAMIEN1307]

I'm fairly certain that that's the intent

It would certainly be my intent to destroy Windows completely, but i dont think that the OP has this as his intent at this particular time...lol...DAMIEN

[Moonstone Man]

... i dont think that the OP has this as his intent at this particular time...lol...DAMIEN

Sure it is.

... mini PC before doing a clean dual boot?

The real problem is far worse than the poster suspects. Clearing and reformatting everything won't kill a rootkit, nor will it fix a tampered-with UEFI/BIOS. That leads me to wonder why on earth anyone would buy a computer from a country they don't trust, of all places.

[DAMIEN1307]

That leads me to wonder why on earth anyone would buy a computer from a country they don't trust, of all places.

Bwahahahahahahhaahh...lol...That is the best wonderment i have heard today...lol...DAMIEN

[Borix]

Hello,

Thanks all for your comments.

To Damien : why I bought a computer from a country I don't trust ? Simply because if one buy an Intel NUC it is 25% more expensive and also produced in China (even if Intel don't tell you that before you buy their NUC)...

If I sum-up :
- I can reformat the SSD drive and reinstall Windows 10 if I have a doubt on the Windows already installed
- For rootkit : what can I do ? Before or after reinstalling Windows ? How : with a tool under Windows or a LiveUSB Linux ?
- For tampered-with UEFI/BIOS : what can I do knowing the BIOS seems to be from 'American Megatrends' ?