Is a Windows Reinstall Necessary After Malware Detection From a Game Mod?

Honestly, just deleting the suspicious file should be enough. The flags from VirusTotal seem to indicate generic detections rather than a specific malware threat. Sometimes antivirus software triggers alerts for behavior that seems off, but it could just be the file acting unusually because it’s modifying another game. If the game works fine without it, I’d say you’re probably in the clear. Just keep an eye on things, and if you notice anything strange later, then consider taking further action.

False positives can happen, and this isn't uncommon for mods. It's like what I've experienced with my favorite games; I've had to add them to the exception list just because they get flagged by my antivirus software. Deleting that file and running your scans sounds like the right move. If you're still worried, check out forums for the game and see if others had similar issues or findings about that file.

If there's any doubt, better safe than sorry. You can do a fresh install of Windows, and yes, that typically just involves the C drive. Since you already deleted the game from D, that’s a good move. Make sure to secure your accounts, especially if you had any active logins. Relying on a password manager is great, but ensure to log out of everything just to keep your info safe.

I think before going to the lengths of reinstalling Windows, there's a bit more to consider. If you’re seeing signs of strange behavior, like what I’ve read about its suspicious file names, that's a concern. But if you think your accounts are safe and haven’t noticed any issues, a reinstall might be overdoing it. Perhaps just verify everything’s clean and consider more casual monitoring for a bit. But stay vigilant!