Can't explore drive after virus removal?

Brawler

Brawler

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Im sure most of you have seen this before. when you try explore a drive/partition that was infected and cleaned of a virus it brings up the open program window? any quick fixes?

thanks:p
 
I've also had to deal with a virus that did something similar, the only solution that worked in my case was a full reinstall I'm afraid :o
 
brawler thats fine just do a fresh install but keep existing files

also follow a rule i live by in the computer world

never store information on your windows hdd

if you work with this rule whenever something goes wrong you dont need to worry, you just reload without a problem :)

80 gig windows drives FTW

also the problem you have, if that virus is still lurking on your hdd's it will reinfect your new windows install and you will be back to square one
 
I know, but copying so much data is going to be a pain. Its not on a windows partition either, but in a 500GB external.
 
there has got to be a way...
perhaps try boot from a linux live cd, and delete all suspicious autorun.inf and other 'system' files that aren't windows related (so don't delete boot.ini, ntdetect.com, ntldr...)
 
I found this on another website, not sure if it will work

For the drive; open a cmdprompt (or Run) and type - "regsvr32 /i shell32.dll" (without the quotes)
Click to expand...
 
Look for a program called RRT or RTT Can't remember which. Apparently it can fix the registry bugger-up that is sometimes caused by so-called pc-optimizers.
 
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If you have a registry backup restore it in safe mode as admin. +restart
 
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I second the vote on possible cases of the autorun file. It's infecting flash drives like mad, but it can jump to hard drives as well I think.

Before formatting or anything, first look for that file, and look in the RECYCLER hidden system folder. The things hides there mostly, as well as in the root of the drive in some versions.
 
Does it do it for all folders? Or just when trying to explore root directory of each logical partition?

If only root directories:

Make SURE that hidden folders are shown (Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View tab -> Show hidden files and folders). Then once you've checked the option, do it again to make sure it didn't reset itself.

If this is definitely set, check the root directory of each drive for autorun.inf files, and delete them (before you do, open them and see what they are attempting to run).

Edit: Oh, and if it's for all folders, it's probably a registry issue -> registry hack needed (don't ask me :p )
 
I have fixed it more than once before.
What you need to do is go into a folder then tools - folder options - view
Make sure hide protected system files is unchecked and select show hidden or system files.
You need to edit your autoexec.bat file becuase thats 99% of the time where they hide it.
Normally its a reference that points open events on your drives to a rootkit that reinstalls the virus everytime you remove it.
You should see some random stuff in the autoexec.bat but it will normally mention path = *****.exe or something like that, just change it to the path for your normal drive.
 
There's also a registry entry for the enabling/disabling the show hidden files and folders junk... Google or ask if it comes to that (quite long
 
Does this happen when you double click on the ext HDD shortcut?

If so, my work around to this is either right click on the drive icon thats giving you the problem and select open. If that doesnt work, then use windows explorer to access your HDD. As for solving the problem, i have no idea how to:confused:
 
Just click on the OK button everytime it shows up...lol
 
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