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If you plug your USB or SD card into your computer and find that there is no data left or only shortcuts, it is likely that your storage device has been infected with a virus. Fortunately, your file is still there, just hidden. With just a few commands and free tools, you will be able to recover data and remove viruses on your drive and computer.
Steps
Fix disk errors
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Plug the faulty USB into the computer. When the data on the USB is turned into a shortcut, the actual file remains in a hidden location. This process will help you recover and see your files again.
- Do not open any USB shortcuts as it may spread viruses.
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Specify 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 a virus. The fastest way is to open the “Computer”/”This PC” window. The USB drive’s letter name will appear next to the drive label.
- Press ⊞ Win + E to open a window on any version of Windows.
- Click the folder-shaped button in the taskbar to open the window.
- Click “Computer” in the Start menu if you have Windows 7 or Vista.
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Open Command Prompt. You will perform a few quick commands on the Command Prompt to fix the failed drive. The process of opening Command Prompt depends on the version of Windows you are using:
- On all versions – Press ⊞ Win + R and type “cmd” to run Command Prompt.
- Windows 8 and later – Right-click the Windows button and select “Command Prompt.”
- Windows 7 earlier – Open the Start menu and select “Command Prompt.”
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Type . attrib -h -r -s /s /d X :*.* and press ↵ Enter . Replace X with the letter of the USB drive name. For example, if the USB is on drive E, type attrib -h -r -s /s /d E:*.* and press ↵ Enter . [1] X Research Source
- The command will unhide the file, remove the read-only attribute, and remove the shortcuts.
- This process takes a while, depending on the amount of data on the USB.
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Open the newly created unnamed folder on the USB. This folder contains all the data previously hidden by the virus.
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Copy the recovered data to a safe location on the computer. This is a temporary location while you clean the drive, you can create a folder on the desktop to keep the files. Just drag the file from the USB and drop it into the folder of your choice.
- It will take a while if the data size is large.
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Right-click 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 you’ve copied all the data on the USB.
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Uncheck “Quick Format” and click “Start.” When unchecking “Quick Format”, the computer will scan and remove the intrusion on the USB. This process will take a while. [2] X Research Source
Computer scan
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Download some UsbFix launchers. This is a free program that can scan and remove most common intrusions. You can download it for free at fosshub.com/UsbFix.html . [3] X Research Sources
- Click the “Research” button after running UsbFix. The USB drive will begin to be scanned.
- Click the “Clean” button after the scan is complete. Any problems that UsbFix detects will be fixed.
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Make sure your anti-virus program is up to date. If the drive is compromised while connected to the computer, the computer may also be infected with a virus. First you need to check that your anti-virus program is up to date. You can do this by right-clicking the antivirus icon and selecting “Check for Updates”.
- If you don’t already have an anti-virus program, you need to install it now. Well-known freeware includes Avast!, Bit Defender, and Windows Defender.
- If the USB is infected with a virus after plugging it into another computer, you should let the user of that computer know that your drive has been compromised.
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Run a scan with an anti-virus program. After updating or installing an anti-virus program, run a scan cycle on the computer. This is especially important if you do not periodically scan your computer.
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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 malwarebytes.org .
- Choose a free certificate during the installation process.
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Run Anti-Malware and install updates (if available). You will be prompted to check for updates when Anti-Malware runs for the first time. Download and install any available updates before starting the scan.
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Start scanning with Anti-Malware. The process takes 20-30 minutes.
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Click “Quarantine All” when the scan is complete. Infected files that the software finds will be deleted.
X
This article is co-authored by a team of editors and trained researchers who confirm the accuracy and completeness of the article.
The wikiHow Content Management team carefully monitors the work of editors to ensure that every article is up to a high standard of quality.
This article has been viewed 3,629 times.
If you plug your USB or SD card into your computer and find that there is no data left or only shortcuts, it is likely that your storage device has been infected with a virus. Fortunately, your file is still there, just hidden. With just a few commands and free tools, you will be able to recover data and remove viruses on your drive and computer.
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