To get rid of it you either need to remove the shortcut virus manually or prevent the virus from getting access to that system program. Follow this step to remove shortcut virus from pen drive, USB drive. Insert the USB thumb drive on the PC and scan for any virus. Open windows explorer (open my computer) and note down the USB drive letter.
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?
- 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.
- It's a common problem for removable drive such as external hard disk, USB flash drive, memory stick, pen drive and memory card turns into shortcut and files on the drive are not accessiable. So why this happens and how we can fix it?
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
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: You control for mac os. 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:
- 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
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.
September 19, 2017
You have opened your computer to access some file, but to your surprise instead of files, you encountered file shortcuts. Wondering, what wrong with your file/folder? Well! It is due to shortcut virus. Shortcut virus is a malicious program when it infects, your files turn into shortcut icon. It hides the original file and sometimes, it makes whole storage device like pen drive, USB, etc., inaccessible.
Autorun.inf is very common shortcut virus. It creates shortcuts of files and folders by multiplying itself. If you are one among them who is struggling with this shortcut virus, then read further. Here, I have listed all possible methods to get rid of the shortcut virus from your PC, pen drive, and USB.
- Removing shortcut virus using command prompt
- Eliminating shortcut virus from registry
- Remove Shortcut Virus using Bat file
- Eliminate shortcut virus using Shortcut Virus Remover
Method #1: Removing shortcut virus using command prompt
- Open Run window by pressing Windows + R key at a time
- Then type “cmd” and hit OK to open command prompt
- Type attrib -h -r -s /s /d D:*. * command (Where D is the drive letter) and press Enter.
Note- If you want to remove shortcut virus from an external drive, then connect it to the computer. And specify removable drive letter instead of D in 3rd step.
Method #2: Eliminating shortcut virus from registry
- Open Run window and type “regedit” and click Ok to enter the Windows registry
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER ->Software -> Microsoft ->Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Run.
- Check whether any unusual key such as WXCKYz, OUzzckky and any other attribute ends with VBS, INI, LNK and EXE extension are present or not. If there delete them.
- Then open Run window once again and type “msconfig”
- Hit “OK” and go to “Startup” tab to uncheck everything except Antivirus
- Click Ok followed by Restart Now button
Use this technique at your own risk because any mistake on Windows Registry may put you in greater risk.
Method #3: Remove Shortcut Virus using Bat file
- Open Notepad on your computer
- Next type following command on it
@echo off
Show Me My Shortcuts
attrib -h -s -r -a /s /d Drive-Name:*.* attrib -h -s -r -a /s /d Drive-Name:*.* attrib -h -s -r -a /s /d Drive- Name:*.*
@echo complete
Note- Replace Drive-Name with drive letter of device, which is affected by shortcut virus
- Save your notepad as bat on your desktop and run this file
- It eliminates shortcut virus from the affected drive
Method #4: Eliminate shortcut virus using Shortcut Virus Remover
If above methods fail to remove shortcut virus from your PC, pen drive and USB, use Shortcut Virus Remover. There are many software’s available for removing shortcut virus.
If nothing works, format the shortcut virus infected pen drive, USB or PC. Even though it erases all your data, at least you can reuse your device for storing new files as well as it removes shortcut virus from your drive. Later, you can use Remo Recover software for recovering erased files from pen drive, USB, and PC. The software can also be used to restore deleted files from pen drive, memory card and any other device.
Precautions to be taken to avoid Shortcut Virus:
Map My Drives Shortcut
My Pen Drive Shows Only Shortcuts Keys
- Install Antivirus and regularly scan your PC and external drives
- Disable Autorun feature