Question:
Why is my USB port messing with my files?
Rice
2013-10-08 21:41:04 UTC
Basically what's happening is that anything I connect to my desktop (USBs, external hard drives, MP3 players, cameras) have issues afterwards. Upon connection, normally in My Computer you can access a drive just fine right? (for example let's use Removable Disk(F:)) And when you do, you can just access the files right away in that same window right? What happens for me is upon opening Removable Disk (F:) it shows me a mostly empty window with a shortcut in it to "Removable Disk" (this is where all the files are). Clicking it opens a separate window (since it's a shortcut, of course). This isn't too bad since I can still access files, but sometimes when I connect the USB to a laptop or a different PC, I can't access the files. It's also problematic for cameras because after connecting a camera to my PC, I can't directly view the images on the camera anymore even if they're technically still in the memory stick (camera claims there are no images)

If this helps here's what I get when I try clicking Properties of the 'shortcut' that's made:
Target type: Application
Target type: System 32
Target: %homedrive%\WINDOWS\System32\rundll32.exe 4#ZLHZQEOPJQGXKOETY.ini, rundll32
*not sure if I should mention, but under comment it has: uivanbfsgkylpdquivanbyery
Four answers:
tumbleweed_biff
2013-10-08 21:46:35 UTC
I am not sure what to say about your problem, seems kind of strange. In case the previous poster is correct, I offer you my guide to virus removal:



Consumer Reports has the following ratings:

Best 4 Free:

Avast

Avira

AVG

Microsoft Security Essentials



Best Paid:

G Data Internet Security

ESet Smart Security 6

F-Secure International Security

Kaspersky Internet Securityu

Avira Internet Security



There are always other opinions and tests:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp

http://www.consumersearch.com/antivirus-software

http://www.pcworld.com/category/antivirus-software/



How to remove a virus -

I) The best solution is to back up your data and perform a factory restore. Install a reputable AV program after the restore and download the latest updates before restoring your data.



II) That not being practical for many, try either of the next two methods:

(Please note that it is important to use one of these two methods as you need to boot and scan knowing that no viruses are already in memory. If you try and install an AV product on a machine already infected then there is a decent chance that the virus will be able to hide/relocate from the scanner.)



A)

1) On a clean computer, download 1 or more free bootable AV products. Five I know of are Avira, AVG, Avast, Kaspersky, and G Data.



(There is a handy product called sardu (www.sarducd.it) which will create a flash drive/Cd capable of having multiple AV products built into it. It isn't perfect yet, but it does do the job pretty well. I keep a copy on a flash drive for whenever I go to someone's house to help with computer problems and I have a number of other diagnostic tools included as well.)



2) Create the bootable media and include the latest virus definitions

3) Boot the infected/suspect computer by using the bootable media and run a full/complete/deep scan of the computer using preferably at least two different ones. No AV product gets them all, but 2 different products should find and remove just about anything.



B) second alternative method:

1) remove the hard drive from the infected computer

2) slave the drive to a clean computer which already has at least one AV product already installed with the most current definitions. You can do this by installing it into the case (for a desktop) or by putting the drive in an external drive case which you can get for the low teens $. These can be USB (get at least USB 2.0) or eSata - if the 2nd computer has an eSata connection.



3) From the clean machine, run a full/complete scan of the slaved hdd. The computer should already be booted when you connect the external drive, with the AV product already in residential memory(It will have an icon down next to the clock). Then open the AV and run it on the drive. In an ideal world, you should really use two different AV products.



III) If you are unable to do the above, then download and install an AV product and then run it at its deepest level scan. This is not the ideal method as many viruses can hide from AV products if they are already in memory and running before the AV sofware is executed. There are numerous free ones. I strongly recommend two different AV products and one Adware/Spyware product. For free AV, I would typically recommend Avira, AVG, or Avast as the installed resident (always running) AV solution and Malwarebytes as a secondary, on demand AV product which I run on a weekly basis. For Spyware and Adware, the two top performers there are AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy (adaware is a product of lavasoft and safer-networking.org produces Spybot Search and Destroy) Both offer a free and paid version. The free version is good, the paid version offers more bells and whistles, just like with the AV products.



Once the virus(es) is/are removed, change any and all passwords having to do with anything important like e-mail, financial-banking logins, etc. as those have probably Guide to virus removal:



Consumer Reports has the following ratings:

Best 4 Free:

Avast

Avira

AVG

Microsoft Security Essentials



Best Paid:

G Data Internet Security

ESet Smart Security 6

F-Secure International Security

Kaspersky Internet Securityu

Avira Internet Security



There are always other opinions and tests:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372364,00.asp

http://www.consumersearch.com/antivirus-software

http://www.pcworld.com/category/antivirus-software/



How to remove a virus -

I) The best solution is to back up your data and perform a factory restore. Install a reputable AV program after the restore and download the latest updates before restoring your data.



II) That not being practical for many, try either of the next two methods:

(Please note that it is important to use one of these two methods as you need to boot and scan knowing that no viruses are already in memory. If you try and install an AV product on a machine already infected then there is a decent chance that the virus will be able to hide/relocate from the scanner.)



A)

1) On a clean computer, download 1 or more free bootable AV products. Five I know of are Avira, AVG, Avast, Kaspersky, and G Data.



(There is a handy product called sardu (www.sarducd.it) which will create a flash drive/Cd capable of having multiple AV products built into it. It isn't perfect yet, but it does do the job pretty well. I keep a copy on a flash drive for whenever I go to someone's house to help with computer problems and I have a number of other diagnostic tools included as well.)



2) Create the bootable media and include the latest virus definitions

3) Boot the infected/suspect computer by using the bootable media and run a full/complete/deep scan of the computer using preferably at least two different ones. No AV product gets them all, but 2 different products should find and remove just about anything.



B) second alternative method:

1) remove the hard drive from the infected computer

2) slave the drive to a clean computer which already has at least one AV product already installed with the most current definitions. You can do this by installing it into the case (for a desktop) or by putting the drive in an external drive case which you can get for the low teens $. These can be USB (get at least USB 2.0) or eSata - if the 2nd computer has an eSata connection.



3) From the clean machine, run a full/complete scan of the slaved hdd. The computer should already be booted when you connect the external drive, with the AV product already in residential memory(It will have an icon down next to the clock). Then open the AV and run it on the drive. In an ideal world, you should really use two different AV products.



III) If you are unable to do the above, then download and install an AV product and then run it at its deepest level scan. This is not the ideal method as many viruses can hide from AV products if they are already in memory and running before the AV sofware is executed. There are numerous free ones. I strongly recommend two different AV products and one Adware/Spyware product. For free AV, I would typically recommend Avira, AVG, or Avast as the installed resident (always running) AV solution and Malwarebytes as a secondary, on demand AV product which I run on a weekly basis. For Spyware and Adware, the two top performers there are AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy (adaware is a product of lavasoft and safer-networking.org produces Spybot Search and Destroy) Both offer a free and paid version. The free version is good, the paid version offers more bells and whistles, just like with the AV products.



Once the virus(es) is/are removed, change any and all passwords having to do with anything important like e-mail, financial-banking logins, etc. as those have probably been captured and sent to the author of the virus.



been captured and sent to the author of the virus.
?
2013-10-08 21:51:26 UTC
yes - definately. And the files doing the damage are hidden. next time u plug one in- instead of double clicking, rather right click on it and see if the "Autoplay" feature is bold (this means the default actin for a double click). Viruses do this - better download a great AV tool, boot into safe mode and run the scan. If your xp doesnt crash u are very lucky (viruses infect core OS files, and hen the virus programs find these files infected, they "jail" or quarantine them and your windows usually doesnt work thereafter). A full re install is then required. In future be veryu careful what u plug in to and from what pc. And watch out for that double click flaw - its how viruses spread (Esp on xp) - from users just double clicking flash drives not knowing they have just secretly installed viruses on their machine.
Gordon
2013-10-08 21:42:47 UTC
Sounds like you have a virus.
David
2013-10-08 21:47:00 UTC
The obvious answer is... that its ******* with you.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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