external hard disk has data but does not show when opened

Vacky,

Please click on the Windows 7 Start button and then on Control Panel
In Control Panel, select the Folder Options link.
Click on the View tab in the Folder Options window.

In the Advanced Settings area, locate the Hidden files and folders category.
Check: Show hidden files, folders, and drives
Uncheck: Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
Click Apply and OK at the bottom of the Folder Options window.


Disconnect the problem USB drive for now.


Next, download UsbFix:
http://www.usbfix.net/
Press the green Download button
Save to the Desktop.

In the next step, a window requesting the connection of removable drives appears. Please connect the problem USB drive when requested!
Right-click the downloaded USBFix file and select: Run as Administrator
Press: Research
This option scans the connected drives, and reports its infected Files and Folders
When done, the program closes on its own, and a report appears.
(The report file is also found at C:\UsbFix.txt)
Please post the UsbFix.txt (Research) report in your reply.

Once again, run USBFix as Administrator, but, this time, press: Listing
It creates a report of all the Folders and Files found at the root of every hard drive, partition, or removable drive connected.
Also post the UsbFix.txt (Listing) report in your reply.


Note 1: If USBFix does not run in normal Windows, please run in Safe Mode:
Restart your computer.
When the computer starts, tap the F8 key on the keyboard repeatedly until presented with the Advanced Boot Options menu
Using the arrow keys, select: Safe Mode
Press the Enter key on your keyboard to boot into the selected mode.

Note 2: If your AntiVirus program detects USB as malware, either let the AV program allow USBFix to run, or, temporarily disable your AntiVirus program:
Info - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/114351/how-to-temporarily-disable-your-anti-virus-firewall-and-anti-malware-programs/
When done with USBFix, re-enable your AV!


Last, please download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool
Download: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/
Select the version that applies to your system.
Save it to your Desktop.

Double-click the downloaded file to run it.
When the tool opens click Yes to the disclaimer.
Press the Scan button.

The tool makes a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory from which the tool is run (Desktop).
Please provide the FRST.txt in your reply.

The first time the tool is run, it also makes another log: Addition.txt
Also post the Addition.txt in your reply.

Hmmmmm, it worked fo me....

Download UsbFix from here:
http://www.infospyware.com/utiles/usbfix/
It is a Spanish language website, but the program is in English.
To download. press the button that says: Descagar (It means: Download)

Did you download FRST 32-bit, or 64-bit?

On the external HD, are you able to see anything there now?
If yes, please capture an image.


@jumanji,

It is a safe website, on a well known forum in France, SOSVirus.net.
Have used it many times.

Also provided the link for InfoSpyware. It is also safe.

Have no clue as to why the message appeared. Have never gotten any warning.


Need to be out for a while.

Hang in there, Vacky!!

Please delete the FRST download, and download it once again. If not, download it to a different computer, and use a USB pendrive to move it to the computer where the external drive V:\ is located.

See if that works.

We need to look at FRST to see what else might be in the system.

Vacky,

For now, although the no name icon on the external HD (shown in Post #6 capture) contains your files, please do not open that icon/folder.

We need to get rid of the malware's loading points and any files associated with it!!

Any luck with FRST?

Another option is to run FRST in Safe Mode.


On a different subject, are you located outside of the USA?
Just want to know for time zone differences.