File Intact, Directory Missing - Caused by virus.


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows Seven
       #1

    File Intact, Directory Missing - Caused by virus.


    Hi there,

    I took home my friend's external hard drive the other day and run a virus scan with Trend Micro's House call which successfully detected and removed nasty viruses from the hard drive.

    When I open to check the hard drive prior to scan, almost all the file directory has been replaced with shortcuts. House call practically remove all of it today and leave the hard drive with no directory to view.

    Prior to the scan, it would have several folders such as:
    - Software
    - Documents
    - Colleges
    - Pictures

    After the scan, it shows no folders, but a manual typing into the head of navigation to D:\Software\ will reveal all the files and it seems intact.

    How do I fix the missing file directories? :)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 10,200
    MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit
       #2

    Netsoft,

    Good is that you can still see the files and folders.

    Since Trend Micro has been known to miss some malware, you need the run WDO over the external drive.

    Here is the approach:
    1. disconnect the external drive (is it usb?)
    2. download and install WDO to a USB stick.
    3. Power off.
    4. Plug in usb stick.
    5. reconnect external drive.
    6. Now and only now, boot from the usb stick with WDO on it.
    7. WDO will perform a quick scan.
    8. Inside WDO perform a custom scan of YOUR entire computer. This can take hours.
    9. Perform a scan of the external drive which can take hours.

    The complete scan of your system is necessary to be sure that there has been no contamination from the external.
    I'm not giving you a "wave the magic wand" method. I'm not Harry Potter.

    WDO stands for Windows Defender Offline.

    Windows Defender Offline is NOT Windows Defender.

    Windows Defender Offline never starts your Win 7 but rather runs from a mini-os which it installs in ram.

    The link for WDO is in my signature. This is a link to a Microsoft site where you will download WDO and find further instructions.

    Here is the procedure I use:
    HOW TO USE WINDOWS DEFENDER OFFLINE ON A USB STICK
    Windows Defender Offline
    · is a free standalone, bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.
    · performs an offline scan of an infected PC to remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware.

    Download Windows Defender Offline (about 764 kB)

    You will have the choice of downloading the 32bit version (x86) or the 64 bit version (x64).
    The link will help you determine whether you are running a 32 bit version or 64 bit version of Windows

    NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 32 bit version using a 64 bit version of Windows
    NOTE!! You can download and prepare a 64 bit version using a 32bit version of Windows.

    You run the 32 bit version on a 32 bit version of Windows.
    You run the 64 bit version on a 64 bit version of Windows.

    The 32 bit download file name is: mssstool32.exe
    The 64 bit download file name is: mssstool64.exe

    For the curious, this program was originally name Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.


    INSTALLATION:
    You will need an Internet Connection.
    Insert 512 mB (Microsoft’s 256 mB is no longer accurate) or larger USB stick into a usb port.
    Run the downloaded program--mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe
    NEXT button
    Choose the option On a USB flash drive that is not password protected
    NEXT button
    NEXT button
    .
    The install program will format the usb stick using the NTFS format.
    The install program will download about 210 mB.
    The install program will name the USB stick WDO_Media32 or WDO_Media64
    The WDO_Media32 usb stick will have used space of 255 mB (268,140,544 bytes)
    The WDO_Media64 usb stick will have used space of 282 mB (296,165,376 bytes)
    You can expect the number of mB to increase as more malware appears.

    UPDATE Windows Defender Offline USB stick:
    · reinsert the usb stick
    · run the installation program, mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe, again.
    · the update will download about 66 mB (mssstool32.exe) and 68 mB (mssstool64.exe).

    Since the malware database is sometimes updated several times in a day, always update before running.

    PERFORM AN OFFLINE SCAN
    Bootup your computer from the USB stick
    Windows Defender Offline will automatically perform a quick scan.
    After the quick scan finishes, Choose Full Scan
    Select all of your drives

    The initial, full scan can easily take several hours, but
    Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.


    RESULTS OF THE SCAN
    The results will be in 4 log files in:
    \Windows\Microsoft Antimalware\Support
    Upload the four log files please.


    ================================================
    ================================================


    After, and only after, receiving those four log files then we can proceed.
      My Computer


 

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