Flash drive (kind of) can't be accessed due to virus... help?

DaRuSsIaMaN · 16-02-2008, 04:57 AM

My flash drive got a virus on it. The thumbnail shows the avast! message I got. Apparently on my flash drive there's a hidden folder called "Recycler". I have no idea why it's there, I didn't see it before, when I plugged it in for the first time (I only bought it last weekend). So this virus file was in that folder, and I did the "move to chest" option. Now, my flash drive can't be accessed properly! When I go to My Computer, and double click it, here's the error that I get. Look at the other thumbnail. However, it still works if i autoplay it. I can right click on the drive and select AutoPlay and then select the "Open folder to view files in windows explorer" option. Weird, isn't it??

Soo.. what should I do to fix it again? Can I just format it? This may sound like a dumb question (probably is), but for some reason I'm not certain if it's okay to format a flash drive...

Also, anyone have any explanation why this condition occurred? I deleted a virus file and now I can't access the drive?? That just seems to defy logic.

Thanks for any help.

Off Topic:

Well, this thread might belong to at least 2 other categories (storage devices, or networking and security), so I just put it here in General Hardware since I'm not sure where it fits best.

edijs · 16-02-2008, 07:24 AM

Change to AVG; at least temporary - so that you can format the flash drive. Later, reinstall Avast! if you want to.

Note: Avast! recognised Doom3.exe to be a virus and didn't let me play the game...

thomas234 · 17-02-2008, 09:13 PM

Take any data off the memory stick you need and back it up to some other safe location. Format the memory stick and copy the data back on (hopefully the virus will be in a hidden folder that isn't copied when you backup the data). It's likely that all the PCs you have been on and plugged the memory stick in have the virus on, so you will have to run virus scans on all of them! AVG should do the job as edijs said. If not, try AntiVir, which is also free.

Tech · 17-02-2008, 10:28 PM

I got a cheap MP3 player that I sometimes use for storage which has some inbuilt folders needed for accessibility. It seems a real possibility (to me at least) that the folder has something in it which contains a virus signature but may not actually be a virus. If I were you I'd do a little research and maybe phone the manufacturer to check on this possibility before doing anything else (although backing up data is always a good idea

).

16-02-2008, 04:57 AM	#1 (permalink) Top
DaRuSsIaMaN Geek Comrade Join Date: Nov 2003 Age: 22 Male Posts: 749 Times Helpful: 12 Status: Offline My Computer	Flash drive (kind of) can't be accessed due to virus... help? My flash drive got a virus on it. The thumbnail shows the avast! message I got. Apparently on my flash drive there's a hidden folder called "Recycler". I have no idea why it's there, I didn't see it before, when I plugged it in for the first time (I only bought it last weekend). So this virus file was in that folder, and I did the "move to chest" option. Now, my flash drive can't be accessed properly! When I go to My Computer, and double click it, here's the error that I get. Look at the other thumbnail. However, it still works if i autoplay it. I can right click on the drive and select AutoPlay and then select the "Open folder to view files in windows explorer" option. Weird, isn't it?? Soo.. what should I do to fix it again? Can I just format it? This may sound like a dumb question (probably is), but for some reason I'm not certain if it's okay to format a flash drive... Also, anyone have any explanation why this condition occurred? I deleted a virus file and now I can't access the drive?? That just seems to defy logic. Thanks for any help. Off Topic: Well, this thread might belong to at least 2 other categories (storage devices, or networking and security), so I just put it here in General Hardware since I'm not sure where it fits best. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Ignorance is bliss. Oedipus ruined a great sex life by asking too many questions... "So, got any kids?" - Stephen Colbert My computer is not much to brag about, but I shall do so anyway. AMD 1800+ Athlon XP..............SoundBlaster PCI 512 ASUS A7N8X..........................WD 80GB ATI Radeon 8500....................WinXP Pro

16-02-2008, 07:24 AM	#2 (permalink) Top
edijs Programmer Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 22 Male Posts: 519 Times Helpful: 16 My Mood: Busy Status: Offline My Computer	Change to AVG; at least temporary - so that you can format the flash drive. Later, reinstall Avast! if you want to. Note: Avast! recognised Doom3.exe to be a virus and didn't let me play the game... __________________ Come to Latvia \| Crossfade, Element Eighty, Nickelback \| The Best Series Ever \| Love the classics: PlayStationOne \| Works well for me \| Opera rocks \| My Ride

17-02-2008, 10:28 PM	#4 (permalink) Top
Tech Padawan Join Date: Jul 2007 Age: 26 Male Posts: 247 Times Helpful: 20 My Mood: Cynical Status: Offline	I got a cheap MP3 player that I sometimes use for storage which has some inbuilt folders needed for accessibility. It seems a real possibility (to me at least) that the folder has something in it which contains a virus signature but may not actually be a virus. If I were you I'd do a little research and maybe phone the manufacturer to check on this possibility before doing anything else (although backing up data is always a good idea ). __________________ " I'm a politician which means I'm a liar and a cheat. It means when I'm not kissing babies, I'm stealing their lollipops." some guy

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17-02-2008, 09:13 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
thomas234 Big Geek Join Date: Feb 2006 Age: 16 Male Posts: 753 Times Helpful: 33 My Mood: Bored Status: Offline My Computer	Take any data off the memory stick you need and back it up to some other safe location. Format the memory stick and copy the data back on (hopefully the virus will be in a hidden folder that isn't copied when you backup the data). It's likely that all the PCs you have been on and plugged the memory stick in have the virus on, so you will have to run virus scans on all of them! AVG should do the job as edijs said. If not, try AntiVir, which is also free.

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