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

darussiaman · 02-17-2008, 11:27 PM

Hi, I wasn't sure which category to put this under.

My flash drive got a virus on it. The attached image 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 screenshot. 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.

voyagerfan99 · 02-18-2008, 05:07 AM

The only reason I wouldn't format a flashdrive is if it has U3 software on it. I know the U3 is kinda on another partition, but I wouldn't format it anyway. Otherwise, go for it and reformat.

If that doesn't work, return it for a new one.

darussiaman · 02-18-2008, 06:55 AM

Can I reformat to NTFS? It originally comes in FAT. It will still work the same won't it? But NTFS = better, right?

patrickv · 02-18-2008, 06:59 AM

Flash drives cannot be formatted to NTFS, always FAT
Correct me if i'm wrong
got this link for ya

guess i was wrong then

dznutz · 02-18-2008, 07:04 AM

you can. you may not be given a choice in format but you can use a program or the run command

unless it's 4+gigs there's no point. people also tell me that it wears it down more faster but mine's been going strong for 3+ years now

GameMaster · 02-18-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darussiaman

Hi, I wasn't sure which category to put this under.

My flash drive got a virus on it. The attached image 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 screenshot. 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.

Why would you reformat?
Did you post your problem in the Security Section?
Because, the Recycler is the part of Windows where all the trash you delete goes after you empty the recycle bin. If you've cleaned many viruses, especially AdWare, they then go to REcycler. That's a folder with 6-7-8 such folders which you can't open, and when one of them infects the way that is already described, you have to go to safe mode, enable the view of hidden files and folders and delete the recycler. Reboot and amen.

02-17-2008, 11:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
darussiaman New Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 20	Flash drive (kind of) can't be accessed due to virus... help? Hi, I wasn't sure which category to put this under. My flash drive got a virus on it. The attached image 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 screenshot. 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. Attached Images

02-18-2008, 06:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
patrickv Diamond Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Soul Chamber Posts: 5,247	Flash drives cannot be formatted to NTFS, always FAT Correct me if i'm wrong got this link for ya guess i was wrong then __________________ Laptop: Thinkpad X60: Core2Duo T7200 @ 2Ghz,1GB DDR2,110GB SATA -winXP ProSP2 Work Desktop: Core Duo E2180 @ 2Ghz,1GB DDR2,240GB HD - XP PRO SP2 Home: Core Duo E2180 2Ghz,1.5GB DDR2,Nvidia GForce 6200TB,320 GB (2x160GB) -Dual boot - XP / OSX 10.5.2

02-18-2008, 07:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
dznutz Platinum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: california Age: 27 Posts: 511	you can. you may not be given a choice in format but you can use a program or the run command unless it's 4+gigs there's no point. people also tell me that it wears it down more faster but mine's been going strong for 3+ years now __________________ ANTEC 900 COOLERMASTER EXTREME 500w MSI NEO-F p35 INTEL E4500 EVGA geforce 7300gs 2gb CORSAIR XMS2 SAMSUNG SH-203N SATA SEAGATE BARRACUDA 1Tb SATA AIRLINK 101 300n pci XP PRO 32 bit, VISTA ULTIMATE 64 bit

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02-18-2008, 05:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
voyagerfan99 Diamond Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,670	The only reason I wouldn't format a flashdrive is if it has U3 software on it. I know the U3 is kinda on another partition, but I wouldn't format it anyway. Otherwise, go for it and reformat. If that doesn't work, return it for a new one.

02-18-2008, 06:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
darussiaman New Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 20	Can I reformat to NTFS? It originally comes in FAT. It will still work the same won't it? But NTFS = better, right?