Content

• Steps

If you plug in a USB or SD memory card in your computer and find that there is no data left or you only see shortcuts, then it's possible that your storage device is infected with a virus. Fortunately, your file remains, just hidden. With just a few free commands and tools, you will be able to restore your data and remove the viruses on your drive and computer.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Fix drive errors

1. 

   Plug the defective USB into the computer. When the data on the USB is turned into a shortcut, the actual file remains in the hidden location. This process will help you restore and see your file again.
   • Do not open any shortcut on the USB as it may spread the virus.

2. 

   
   
   Determine the letter name of the USB drive. You need to know the letter name of the USB drive or memory card that has been infected with the virus. The fastest way is to open the "Computer" / "This PC" window. The USB drive letter name will appear next to the drive label.
   • Press ⊞ Win+E to open windows in all versions of Windows.
   • Click the folder-shaped button in the taskbar to open a window.
   • Click "Computer" in the Start menu if you are running Windows 7 or Vista.

3. 

   
   
   Open Command Prompt. You will do a few quick commands on the Command Prompt to fix the faulty drive. The process of opening the Command Prompt depends on the version of Windows you are using:
   • In all versions - Press ⊞ Win+R and type "cmd" to run the Command Prompt.
   • Windows 8 and Later - Right-click the Windows button and choose "Command Prompt."
   • Windows 7 earlier - Open the Start menu and choose "Command Prompt."

4. 

   
   
   Type.attrib -h -r -s / s / d X:\*.*and press↵ Enter. Instead X with the USB drive letter. For example, if the USB is in drive E, type attrib -h -r -s / s / d E: *. * and press ↵ Enter.
   • The command will unhide the file, remove the read-only attribute, and remove shortcuts.
   • This process takes a while, depending on the amount of data on the USB.

5. 

   Open the newly created unnamed folder on the USB. This folder contains all data previously hidden by viruses.

6. 

   Copy the recovered data to a safe location on the computer. This is a temporary place where while you clean your drive, you can create a folder on your desktop to hold your files. Just drag files from the USB and drop them into the folder of your choice.
   • It will take a while if the data capacity is large.

7. 

   Right click on the drive in "Computer" / "This PC" and select "Format". The Format window will open.
   • The reformatting process will wipe the drive clean, so make sure to copy all of the data on the USB drive.

8. 

   Uncheck "Quick Format" and click "Start.’ When "Quick Format" is unchecked, the computer will scan and remove the USB intrusion. This will take a long time. advertisement

Part 2 of 2: Scan your computer

1. 

   Load some UsbFix launch. It's a free program that scans for and removes most of the common intrusions. You can download it for free at.
   • Click the "Research" button after running UsbFix. The USB drive will begin to scan.
   • Click the "Clean" button after the scan is complete. Any problems that UsbFix detects will be fixed.

2. 

   Make sure your antivirus program is up to date. If the drive is compromised while it is connecting to the computer, it is possible that the computer is infected with a virus. First you need to check that your antivirus program is up to date. You can do this by right-clicking on the antivirus icon and selecting "Check for Updates".
   • If you don't have an anti-virus program, you need to install it right away. Popular freebies include Avast !, Bit Defender and Windows Defender.
   • If the USB flash drive becomes infected with the virus after it is plugged into another computer, let the user of that computer know that your drive has been compromised.

3. 

   Run a scan with an antivirus program. After updating or installing an anti-virus program, run a scan on your computer. This is especially important if you do not scan your computer periodically.

4. 

   Download and install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. The free version of this program can detect and remove many common viruses. You can download it for free at.
   • Select a free certificate during the installation process.

5. 

   Run Anti-Malware and install the updates (if any). You will be prompted to check for updates when Anti-Malware runs the first time. Download and install any available updates before starting the scan.

6. 

   Start scanning with Anti-Malware. The process takes 20-30 minutes.

7. 

   Click "Quarantine All" when the scan is complete. The read infected files that the software finds will be deleted. advertisement