folders showing as shortcuts. files contained within are inaccessible

Anonymous
2010-07-10T17:00:20+00:00

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?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-07-21T06:27:20+00:00

·        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.

  1. 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
  2. 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.
  3. 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!
  4. 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)
  5. 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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  1. Anonymous
    2010-08-03T17:04:44+00:00

    tq for ur reply james...

    i think the viruses already clean.... all the max CPU usage process were identified..and when i use external hard disk or pen drive, there were no shortcuts anymore..

    my housematez also having the same problem...i tought them to do the same step...but when opened task manager,the process with the same name with the virus appeared,,but when i click the right click,there was no open location file,only end process ad end process tree...why this is happen? i already search the virus name in the search file n folder,but the result is zero..

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-08-07T12:25:14+00:00

    akular

    if your roomates are still having the problem and you cant find the file using the description above, your best bet is to search manually. This will be more time consuming but it may save your data in the long run. just add another step between step 3 and step 4, call it 3A if you will.

    3A. if you are unable to access the file destination folder you will have to manually search for and delete the virus. Once you have completed step 2, follow the intsructions for step three-- except you will not be able to open the destination folder, so you will have to write down the name of the suspected file causing problem to your computer. When you have the information needed you will do the following.

    go to "my computer" (computer shortcut, Computer etc...)---c:\ drive (may be renamed depending on what your preferences are, as well as what OS you are running)---- at this point you will have to go through every folder individually and search for the program causing you problems.... I recommend you start with the USERs folder if you are running Vista. this will be more time consuming but it should fix your problem. If you have multiple hard drives or partitions you may have to search them as well.

    after this is completed continue following the other steps above and reset your setting to what they originaly were.... you dont want to end up deleting important programs later on.

    Remember: before you delete anything.... CHECK the file name online... you do not want to delete anything you may need later.... Google works great for this, but make sure you read more then just on paragraph when possible.... there are viruses that have the same name or similar ones as legitimate operating system programs.

    Good luck with your problem, and hopefully this works for you. Any questions let me know

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-08-07T14:50:27+00:00

    many thanks for your help, mine was also a worm

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-08-12T10:22:42+00:00

    Thanks james,

    It helped me alot..  Thanks once again..

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