I understand your opinion, Steve. Just not sure I agree. I'm old enough to remember when computers first became standard tools in the office/academia.
Viruses as a threat were unknown, then slightly known, then well known and removing them accepted as SOP. But there was a progression. Didnt happen all at once.
In the PC and virtual world 2008 was a lifetime ago. TA'S HD seems to have had viruses. The number which are on Mesa's HD is significant enough , if not quarantined, to have messed with speed and functionality. The number cited by BN, if not quarantined, would seem to me to have rendered his HD virtually impossible to use.
That's why in part I don't believe databases explain the difference, unless all the bad stuff was quarantined. But, if it was , I don't see why starting it up would allow those viruses to delete files.
I'm not aware of anyone claiming viruses deleted files. As far as I'm aware the alleged file deleters are:
1) LE and the prosecution (least likely)
2) Antivirus software, triggered by the original defense team (most likely)
3) the current defense expert (undetermined and unrelated to the original alleged deletions)
There isn't enough real information for anyone on the outside to make a clear determination on what actually went on. We haven't heard from Juan's expert, and that may shed some light on the situation.
I choose not to speculate on how fast Travis' computer would or wouldn't have run with X number of viruses, active or quarantined. It's not an issue that any of the parties have brought up, and frankly I'm grateful for that.
The computer environment of 2008 is similar to the one today. Viruses of this nature arose with the internet ca. 2000, and its been more the same than different since then.
As someone with above average knowledge of these things, which imo says more about the average level of knowledge than about my own, I simply wanted to point out that the numbers you find significant are not at all to me, and I hoped you would find that information helpful.
You strike me as a keen critical thinker, and I don't want to lose you down a rabbit hole.
But really, we have to wait for more information before any of this becomes really clear, if that ever happens.