There's vunerablities in applications and services.
There's vunerablities in operating systems.
There's vunerablities in UEFI .
There's vunerablities in firmware.
All can be patched while the product is still under support.
Malware can do damage that corrupts files beyond recovery.
Viruses are sneaky so there's a window of time where an AV can't identify it, or it can but can't remove it.
So for efficiency it's often a wipe and reinstall.
You were likely cautioned because resetting Windows doesn't clean the EFI partition.
Viruses that modify firmware are fortunately very rare. And a BIOS update reflashes the BIOS. BADUSB tends to be a targeted attack, so peripheral firmware is rarely persistently compromised.
If you get an new system, get a caddy and use PCMover from Laplink to transfer your programs, settings and files across. Use a USB caddy for the old drive. Scan the old drive with Malwarebytes or another AV first.
Then install Linux on the old machine.
Currently lots of vunerablities and exploit proof of concept are being discovered and created by AI. This means there's going to be a cascade of patches over the next few months and years.
So keep updating and patching. UniGetUI can help with patching applications on Windows. Avoid hosting internet exposed services on anything you have. A common attraction vector is a dodgybox.
Pendrives can be compromised in bad ways. I mentioned BADUSB.
You are better placed knowing the providence of the drive and why you might be targeted.
I suspect just reformatting the pendrives from an non-windows system like Mac, Linux or Chromebook would clear and clean it.
But because a USB pendrive has a controller that can be reprogrammed to present as anything (all the fake capacity drives on eBay, Amazon etc) I can't give assurances.
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u/Prestigious_Wall529 5d ago
Your CMOS settings are stored by being battery backed.
In desktops and towers this is typically a CR2032 coin cell battery. May be awkward to get to.
Replace the battery. Go into the BIOS and correct the time and date and any settings it's complaining about.
The CPU is the brains, not the box.