can a virus jump off of a usb ext hdd just by being plugged into the usb port?

I recently got an external enclosure to recover all of my files off of my old laptop hdds. One of them had to be removed/replaced from my old laptop after I got a virus that kept me from getting into windows).

The drive was removed and replaced about 7 months ago. If I put the infected drive into the enclosure and then plug it into my new laptop, is it possible that it might jump off of the drive and onto my new computer before I can scan and eliminate the virus?

 

Yeah, viruses tend to jump onto your hands too, so make sure you wash your hands after playing around with that USB drive.

 

If your external harddrive is infected, yes you could infect your computer by plugging the infected harddrive to it.

Just like how you can infect your notebook by plugging in an infected USB drive, opening an infected e-mail, downloading an infected file, etc.

Clean your external harddrive or have it scanned before plugging it in.

 

It's possible from autoplay. Install antivirus on your new laptop first.

 

aside from the smirky comment, yes, this actually can happen.

 

Seems to me that autoplay would be the only way you would get a virus from simply plugging it in.

 

Indeed. I would disable Autoplay entirely via the Windows Control Panel first, and make sure your antivirus software is up to date.

 

Since your notebook is available since 2009, I guess you don't use XP?
If it's Vista, read this Microsoft webpage.
The webpage explains autorun and autoplay and it explains what steps need to be taken to disable autorun; download Microsoft patch->restart computer->change settings.