- Step1: Go to start or in your keyboard, press WINDOWS+R and type cmd then press ok button. Step2: Type attrib –h –r –s /s /d G:. G is your pen drive location. and press Enter. Step3: Replace G with your pen drive letter. Step4: Then, press the Enter button. When you have completed all these steps you refresh your pen drive and you can check for your files in on the pen drive.
- Drive.bat shortcut virus. Now, back to the point – the drive.bat virus transforms all the contents of an infested memory medium into shortcuts, usually 1 KB in size, which open up blank or cannot be opened at all. At the first blush, this predicament looks like a complete loss of data stored on the drive.
Today everyone is using computers to work online, entertainment, shopping and for other purposes. These tasks require the internet to connect with the outer world and using the internet sometimes can infect our computers with Trojans and other dangerous viruses. And then, when users plug their pen drive to virus-infected PC, the virus infects the pen drive also. Once the USB Key gets infected by the virus, it automatically starts creating shortcuts that make its data inaccessible and unreadable.
If you are one among those users who are facing shortcut virus issues with your pen drive or USB flash drive then, this article is just meant to you. Here, we are going to introduce you some simply amazing techniques to remove shortcut virus from pen drive without losing data. So, let’s begin with a brief introduction to the shortcut virus.
We Will Know About Shortcut Virus: What’s That?
A shortcut virus is something like worm and Trojans’ combination that makes your files/ folders inaccessible and replace them with shortcuts that seems exactly like the original file. When users attempt to open these shortcuts, the malware launches in their system and starts infecting the computer. Moreover, sometimes it may end up users with theft of personal information and worse system performance. These shortcut files affect the physical data transfer devices such as Pen Drives, USB flash drive, Memory card or SD Cards, External Hard Drives etc. Also, through these physical devices virus gets transferred to other computers and starts infecting them.
How To Remove Virus From USB Without Deleting Files
By using Command prompt Option. If you want to remove all Shortcut virus applications without.
Here we will tell you a few simple methods to remove shortcut virus from USB flash drive without deleting files. Just follow these methods.
Method 1: Prevent Shortcut Virus in Pendrive by Using CMD
In order to remove shortcut virus from USB, Command Prompt is the best option. Below is how to remove the virus from pen drive using cmd:
- First of all, plug your Pen Drive into your Windows PC
- Click on Start and open Run. Here, type ‘cmd’ and hit the Enter button
- After this, execute the below command in Command Prompt and press Enter
ATTRIB H:*.* /D /S -H -R -S
Note: Here, replace letter H with your drive letter
ATTRIB stands for the attributes of the selected drive
-H: displays all the hidden files of pen drive
-R: helps to recreate the files on the storage device
-S: broke all the link of files from the system
Method 2: Generate BAT File to Prevent Shortcut Virus from Pen Drive Without Losing Data
BAT file is another eminent way to remove shortcut virus from my USB flash drive. To use this you do not need to install any extra software as a bat file can be generated in notepad. Below are instructions to create and use the bat file:
- Launch Notepad in your system
- Now, copy and paste the following code in notepad
@echo off
attrib -h -s -r -a /s /d H:*.*
attrib -h -s -r -a /s /d H:*.*
attrib -h -s -r -a /s /d H:*.*
@echo complete
Note: Replace H with your drive letter.
- Next, save this file with an appropriate name and end the file text with ‘.bat’ (removeshortcut.bat) and save it
- Close notepad and hit a double click on BAT file that you have created and save it on desktop
- Doing this will remove all the shortcut viruses from your USB Drive and bring your original files back
Method 3. Tweak Registry Files to Remove Shortcut Files from Pendrive Without Losing Data
Note: This is a handy way to prevent shortcut virus from your system however, this method can bring your computer in big trouble so, use this method at your own risk.
- Launch Task Manager in your system and click the Processes tab
- Now, scroll down until you get wscript.exe. Click on End Processes
- Press Windows + R keys simultaneously to open Run and type regedit. Press Enter
- Doing this will open Registry Editor
- Click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER and choose Software
- Highlight Microsoft >> Windows >> CurrentVersion >> Run
- Search for odwcamszas key and hit a right click on it
- Eventually, delete it
Method 4. Remove Shortcut Virus from Pen Drive without Losing Data using Anti-Virus Program
If you are not so tech savvy or do not want to waste your time on manual commands then, you can take help from a reliable Anti-Virus program. Using this, the shortcut virus will be eliminated automatically from your USB drive or any other drive. It is one of the quickest ways to delete shortcut viruses that are infecting the files stored in the USB drive.
How Users Can Safe Their USB Flash Drive
Now we will the how users can safe their pen drive. If users follow these things they can keep their data safely from pen drive. We mention these things below:
![My pen drive shows only shortcuts keys My pen drive shows only shortcuts keys](/uploads/1/1/9/8/119860401/552109743.jpg)
- Set write permissions
- Control virus running
- Be Careful while using Public Cafes
- Keep a Routine Scanning of Devices
- Go offline while Transferring Data
- Using Encrypted Drives
Above All
My Pen Drive Shows Only Shortcuts Keys
How to remove shortcut virus from pen drive without losing data has become a common internet search now. Considering this issue in mind we have come up with this article. Here, we have demonstrated some actual working ways to make pen drive shortcut virus-free. However, if you already have lost your crucial files from pen drive due to these shortcut viruses then, use SysTools Pen Drive Recovery Tool It is one of the safest and powerful utility to recover lost data items from any brands’ pen drive regardless of their size.
First of all, I am going to share my personal experience with you. Today I have inserted my USB drive in a Public computer and what I have seen that the computer is infected with Shortcut Virus . I did not know that the Computer has shortcut virus. The more strange thing is that there is an Anti-Virus software is installed on that computer. But the anti-virus software is not doing its job. Then I have come to know that all files stored on my pendrive is now looking like a Shortcut and I can only access these files from the infected computer only. I can’t see any file from my Desktop.I was so much terrified because I had many valuable data and photos in that particular Pendrive. If you have the same problem, you can read this post.
Remove Shortcut Virus method One :
Insert the pendrive in a Linux based computer. You will be able to see those viruses in a Linux based computer. Now delete those files. If you or friends don’t have any Linux based computer then follow method two.
Remove Shortcut Virus method Two :
After the virus attack I was so much worried because I did not have any backup copies of those files . Then I have used this simple method and It has made me relieved. So what I have done to fix this problem ? I am sharing my tip so that you can follow the same thing and fix this unwanted problem. The method I am going to share is very easy. You don’t need to use any complex CMD command . You just need to use a software named 7-ZIP file manager. This software is used to extract zipped files but we will use its file management feature so that those virus can’t execute their process as we all know that Explorer.exe will treat those shortcut things as legitimate.
First download 7-zip file manager from here.
![Add Add](/uploads/1/1/9/8/119860401/469879205.png)
Now check the screenshot below:
Delete those files marked as Red color and Orange color. Please be sure that there is not any virus files in the pendrive. There can be some problem if your files are hidden , then you have to change your setting from your control panel> Folder options > Select View tab > Enable Show hidden file and folders. Now you will be able to see your files in an empty folder. Now Press CTRL+A to Mark your files and folders and press copy on top of 7-zip.
Now save them on anywhere in your Hardisk. After doing all of this Format your pendrive.
You can also follow this method if your own computer is infected i.e. your harddisk is infected and delete all viruses by following this method.
Show Me My Shortcuts
Congratulations! you have just defeated shortcut viruses
Prevent shortcut type Virus from entering to your Pendrive and computer:
So, now mine and your computer is free from those shortcut viruses , now the question is , can we use any prevention measure so that no virus can attack our pendrive in future?
Because you know that
Prevention is better than cure
Prevent shortcut virus attack
TownScape USB Antivirus that was created primarily for Memory Sticks/Memory Cards (But not limited to) is a lightweight background antivirus software and it does not need to be updated everyday. It has its unique system of identifying Virus.
This Antivirus has its own unique algorithm that is far better than the Traditional antivirus need-to-update method, which when not followed gives the user a false sense of security and makes his/her computer more vulnerable and thus spreads viruses even more. Since most viruses infect your computer through Memory Sticks/Cards, TownScape using their general modes of operation uses a blanket algorithm and probability to find viruses . This is not a virus scanner rather TownSpece USB Antivirus is a virus hunter.