External HDD question

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blue-eye-boy

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Hi all, why if I double click my external hdd, it gives me the options to select what program to use to open the "file" And then it gives all my programs, except explorer. In the beginning it opened in explorer, and still now when I click start, then run, and the drive letter.
 
Might be a virus, had a few threads about this problem previously... Have you done a full system scan with you anti-virus software?
 
You probably have or had a virus infection, only way i know how to fix it is to take your data off and then format it. My flashdrive gets infected all the time till we complete our antivirus rollout properly and I dont even bother anymore, i rightclick on it and say open...

EDIT: Antivirus scans wont pick up anything...
 
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Try it, just on the off chance that it might pick up something. Else do what supersunbird advised :)
 
Yip, 2 threads found. Some autorun.inf, another thing to. But it's still the same.
 
Problem is, its a 500gig drive, and halfway full, and no extra storage. where do one get such virus that do this? i dont browse much so where can i pick it up?
 
Do not format. I doubt it's a virus (if a virus did that it's an awfully useless practical joke).

Try right clicking it and select explore (if that doesn't work try using "DOS", run CMD form the start menu) then look for autorun.inf and delete/rename it, it should then be ok.

The autorun is being triggered when you double-click and bla bla bla, I'm to tired to remember lol.
 
Browser said:
Do not format. I doubt it's a virus (if a virus did that it's an awfully useless practical joke).

Try right clicking it and select explore (if that doesn't work try using "DOS", run CMD form the start menu) then look for autorun.inf and delete/rename it, it should then be ok.

The autorun is being triggered when you double-click and bla bla bla, I'm to tired to remember lol.
Click to expand...

Dude, I work with it everyday, I've looked into solutions online and havent been able to find any. I dont how it does it, but you can delete all the files on the drive (including hidden and hidden OS), but it still gives you a program list instead just opening. Only "fix" i have found is format or living with it and using rightclick > open.

Flashdrives are a new vector in spreading virusses...
 
Ive also had this before on my external HDD and its definitely a virus, ssb's advice will work, just find somewhere to backup your stuff.
 
feo said:
Ive also had this before on my external HDD and its definitely a virus, ssb's advice will work, just find somewhere to backup your stuff.
Click to expand...
Which virus?

I get the message on disks but it seems to happen only after the drive's content has changed.
 
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Dunno the name of the virus, might even be multiple viruses that cause it. Well its only ever affected portable drives like externals and flash disks for me. But i do think it also happened on an old PC of mine, either way, the only solution I've found (ssb) is backup and format.
 
There are so many flashdrive spreading virusses around I cant honestly say which one causes it, their Symantec names are sillyFDC, rontokbro, blackmal and there are a few others, one of them is called VB.BKK by AVG and AVG says its a worm. It a big problem at some governmental institutions.
 
I had that virus a few times and is the most annoying thing ever...

Both my hard drives, a laptop, flashes and an external had to be formatted.
I could'nt find a single solution online and all anti-viruses do to it is delete it, but it still doesnt open the flash/hard drive in the same window and just gives you an error message.
you ALWAYS have to right click then open which is hell annoying
 
Don't format! It seems like as soon as anyone sees a problem, they like to format - I know, it gives you a nice feeling, but it can also be one huge mission. Also, even if you format the drive, the virus will just find it's way back on when you plug in your hard drive. I've seen lots of viri (?) like this before. It copies itself onto any emovable/network drive it sees, as well as secondary hard drives in your pc (sometimes all of these, sometimes just one). What you need to do is run a full system virus scan, including all drives (have your eternal plugged in for this). If anything shows up on the drive where your Windows installation is, view the currently running processes, and if you see the same exe file there, end the process and then find and delete the file.

If the virus scan doesn't show up anything, then you'll just have to look at the currently running processes, and find something that you're 100% sure isn't a Windows process, or one of your own running programs. If you find one (like temp.exe or something) then end the process and find the file (probably in the system32 folder) and delete it. Then go to run, and type in msconfig, and in the startup and services tabs, untick anything with the same name as the file you deleted. The run regedit, and search for the exe that you deleted, and delete anything you're sure is directly referencing it. Then enable viewing of all hidden files, extensions and system files, and on all of your drive, delete autorun.inf and (apart from on your system drive) delete any exe files that you never specifically put there (like host.exe or copy.exe).

Now remoe the external drive, and restart your computer. If it still happens when you plug in your drive, then... then that's quite strange.

Also, it's likely that as soon as you plug the drive into someone else's PC, it's gonna get the virus on it again - you can't stop that from happening. But, you can stop it from getting back onto tour PC. When you plug the newly infected drive into your PC, DO NOT DOUBLE CLICK ON IT! Right click on it, and choose open. Then enable viewing of everything again, and delete the autorun.inf etc

Whoa. Now my hands are sore and I've got a stiff neck. I think that should do it.
 
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