folders showing as shortcuts. files contained within are inaccessible

Anonymous

Original title: All my folders have turned into shortcuts and I cannot access files within

Hi there. I wonder if someone can help me with a problem.

An my computer every folder has now turned into a shortcut and I cannot access the files that are located within. Once I click the folder I jts get a message saying 'The item 266986688.vbs that this shortcut refers to has been changed or moved...' and then it asks if I want to delete. On right-clicking the drives I can see that the files are still there and they also show up being scanned with Kaspersky Antivirus, but I cannot access them in any other way. I have scanned it with several virus programs and it didnt find much, even tried the scan in safe mode. I also have an external hard drive connected and that is also affected in this way.

I really dont know what happened, I didnt download anything today and didnt alter any settings, it was just fine one min and then went all strange. Can anyone offer any ideas at all?

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Anonymous

· I had the a variation of this problem, which was caused by the program CIEUHU.EXE. it sucked.... basically what it did was change all folders on my flashdrive to shortcuts, but the drive still showed that it had data. The fix for this is was relatively easy for me and I hope it works for you.

Go to control Panel, Folder Options -- select VIEW--- select Show hidden files and folders and uncheck Hide protected operating system files (recommended) now click APPLY
go to your folders and it should show you all your folders hidden including the virus----- delete the virus and all the shortcut folders that have no data in them. create new folders and copy the data from YOUR hidden folders into them. once that is done delete the old hidden folders.
enter task manager--- find the program that is still running which will have the same name as the one you just deleted off the hard drive---- right click it and select open file location---- this should show you the virus location---- delete it!
return back to control panel, Folder options select view----- select DO NOT show hidden files and folders and recheck Hide protected operating system files (recommended)
Restart computer---- open task manager and ensure that the program is no longer running

This worked for me and I hope it works for you. As I said mine affected external media. Good Luck

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Anonymous

2010-07-31T10:44:40+00:00

CLICKED THE WRONG BUTTON SORRY.... didn't mean to propose your question as an answer

when you open the task manager what program is running using up the most of your CPU usage? if it is an unknown program it may be your virus, but to be sure write down the names of the programs and Google them, don't jump to conclusions but read in detail what those programs do...... some programs have virus's with similar names so be sure, and before you delete anything ask someone else

also the virus should have a similar name to the folders or virus that you deleted in step 2

I am in transit right now but I will check the board in a couple of days again

good luck
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Anonymous

2010-07-30T15:22:02+00:00

thanks James, it worked!
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Anonymous

2010-07-30T03:57:15+00:00

ihave already done from step 1 to 2 but...in the step 3 i cannot find the program that is still running in the task manager what s the virus name?..can you show me how to find the virus location...
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Anonymous

2010-07-27T04:28:06+00:00

Thanx alot dude ,really helped save my HDD
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