Original title: Windows backup. Can a virus/malware free back of windows folder placed on the same hdd be infected with malware/viruses.Or this kind of backup is impervious to viruses.?Thank you.

Yes, it can.

An if place on external drive, then it should not be affected.But if i create a backup with the backup utilities from antivirus programs then is it impervious to viruses/malware, and place it on the same hdd.

Hello, IvanEssentially, if a virus/malware program is running, any resource available to Windows can be affected by it.If your computer is clean and you create the backup on an external drive, disconnect the drive, then get infected, the external drive is not affected.If you plug in the external while the infected Windows is started, there is the risk of the backups being affected.If you boot to a recovery / Windows DVD to either reinstall Windows or restore a backup image and you plug in your external, you should be fine.DavidMicrosoft Answers Support EngineerVisit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.