Solve : I have a USB Virus (I think) that prevents me from seeing my f

1.	Solve : I have a USB Virus (I think) that prevents me from seeing my files...?
Answer» I have a 5 GB USB Drive. When I try to get my files on it there isn't anything there... Yet, I check the properties and it says that I am using 4.1GB -- so I know my files are still on there. I've clicked the hidden files option to show them and there's none there. When I plug the drive into my PS3 it doesn't show any files either. That's why I think it's a virus on my USB drive. -- To summarize -- - USB drive doesn't show files, but file properties say I am using 4.1 GB (I only have one folder and TXT document on there.. the folder is supposed to have the video files in there) - My PS3 doesn't recognize the files either, which leads me to believe that it has to do with the USB drive. Preferably, I'd like to get my files back. I'd like to leave format as a last resort. Thanks in advance, -dan What is the "make", "model number", and advertised size of the USB drive? I've seen 1, 2, 4, and 8 GB USB drives (flash/thumb), but never a 5 GB drive. What is the operating system and service pack level of the computer you're trying to read it from? Have you successfully accessed those files from this computer before? Do you know if the USB drive contains more than one logical volume (two or more drive letters assigned)? Do you know which file system it uses (FAT, FAT32, NTFS, something else)? What operating system was the last one to successfully access those (missing) files?Quote from: dahlarbear on April 25, 2008, 02:15:12 AM What is the "make", "model number", and advertised size of the USB drive? I've seen 1, 2, 4, and 8 GB USB drives (flash/thumb), but never a 5 GB drive. What is the operating system and service pack level of the computer you're trying to read it from? Have you successfully accessed those files from this computer before? Do you know if the USB drive contains more than one logical volume (two or more drive letters assigned)? Do you know which file system it uses (FAT, FAT32, NTFS, something else)? What operating system was the last one to successfully access those (missing) files? Make: Seagate Model Number: ST650211USB Advertised Size: 5GB -- It's actually 4.65GB, but advertised as 5. -- Operating System: Windows XP SP2 Have I accessed the files before? Yes. I checked them on my computer and then my brother watched one of the files on my Playstation 3. When I came in today I pulled the USB out of my PS3 and put it in my computer (wanted to add something to it) and it wasn't showing anything. -- Does it CONTAIN more than one logical drive? No, I don't think so. File System: FAT32 Last Accessed: I used it on my computer (WINXP SP2) and at school (MAC OS10 -- I think. It's the newer Mac's) -- An update: Since I posted I downloaded a program called GetDataBack. I did a scan of the drive and it found the files for. I still can't see them on my drive, though. I had to find a full version of the program to copy the files. After I copy them over, I'll just format the drive and see if that works or not. Thanks for the response and help. -dan -- Some flash drives have a micro-switch on them for security...is it one of those ? ? Also how is the drive being reported in Disk Management ? ? Iy may have been unplugged prematurely in this case it will say RAW.Quote from: imthedan on April 25, 2008, 02:40:00 AM An update: Since I posted I downloaded a program called GetDataBack. I did a scan of the drive and it found the files for. I still can't see them on my drive, though. I had to find a full version of the program to copy the files. After I copy them over, I'll just format the drive and see if that works or not. I understand you want to copy the files from the USB drive by using some kind of recovery program (GetDataBack). A sound decision. After you're done with the recovery effort and before you re-format the USB drive could you see if Windows XP can fix the file system on that drive. From My_Computer or Windows_Explorer right click on the drive letter assigned to the USB disk and select "Properties". Select the "Tools" tab, then "Check Now" in the "Errorchecking" subsection. Check the first option "Automatically fix file system errors" to check/fix the integrity of the FAT32 file system. The second option "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" will check the integrity of the disk surface (and will take longer). Select start. Can you see and access the files now? Were you writing files to the USB drive from the MAC OS or just reading them?I did the ERROR Checking thing and it didn't find any problems. I put the files on the drive at school (on the Mac) -- I checked them there and they worked. I brought it home and watched a file on the drive itself on my playstation. When I stuck it into my PC it stopped working. Anyway, I got the files off and formatted the drive. I put some files back on and it seems to be working now. Might have hit a glitch or something, I don't know. Thanks for the help guys.MAC files will not be read by Windows and visa versa without additional software... Keep this in mind when transferring files around in future.Yeah, but it was mostly avi files. I've MADE photoshop files and stuff like that on the mac photoshop and brought it home on my pc and they worked fine. this was the first time it's ever done this to me.Quote from: imthedan on April 26, 2008, 12:24:54 PM Yeah, but it was mostly avi files. I've made photoshop files and stuff like that on the mac photoshop and brought it home on my pc and they worked fine. this was the first time it's ever done this to me. So Photoshop files created on a MAC can be seen on a Windows machine ? ? Interesting i wasn't aware of this.Yeah. I think it may not WORK for older Photoshop. It works for CS3.Quote from: PATIO on April 27, 2008, 08:51:55 AM Quote from: imthedan on April 26, 2008, 12:24:54 PM Yeah, but it was mostly avi files. I've made photoshop files and stuff like that on the mac photoshop and brought it home on my pc and they worked fine. this was the first time it's ever done this to me. So Photoshop files created on a MAC can be seen on a Windows machine ? ? Interesting i wasn't aware of this. Yeah, this is generally true as long as you're using a file system both computers can read on the device.Regarding your original problem, I'm curious as to whether you added "MAC" files to an existing Windows file system on the USB drive; or erased and reformatted on a MAC operating system before adding "MAC" files. Apparently if the USB drive is formatted on MAC prior to transferring files to Windows operating system, the "MS-DOS File System" format should be used. My source for this is Setting up and using an external USB Flash Drive on your MAC. Yes, I realize you weren't using a "Flash Drive"; but I believe the information still applies. Mac OS X can read from a FAT file system, which is what you should format that drive as either from a Mac (as dahlarbear explained) or from a Windows system.

Solve : I have a USB Virus (I think) that prevents me from seeing my files...?

Answer»

I have a 5 GB USB Drive. When I try to get my files on it there isn't anything there... Yet, I check the properties and it says that I am using 4.1GB -- so I know my files are still on there. I've clicked the hidden files option to show them and there's none there.

When I plug the drive into my PS3 it doesn't show any files either. That's why I think it's a virus on my USB drive.

-- To summarize --

- USB drive doesn't show files, but file properties say I am using 4.1 GB (I only have one folder and TXT document on there.. the folder is supposed to have the video files in there)

- My PS3 doesn't recognize the files either, which leads me to believe that it has to do with the USB drive.

Preferably, I'd like to get my files back. I'd like to leave format as a last resort.

Thanks in advance,

-dan What is the "make", "model number", and advertised size of the USB drive? I've seen 1, 2, 4, and 8 GB USB drives (flash/thumb), but never a 5 GB drive.

What is the operating system and service pack level of the computer you're trying to read it from? Have you successfully accessed those files from this computer before?

Do you know if the USB drive contains more than one logical volume (two or more drive letters assigned)?

Do you know which file system it uses (FAT, FAT32, NTFS, something else)? What operating system was the last one to successfully access those (missing) files?Quote from: dahlarbear on April 25, 2008, 02:15:12 AM

What is the "make", "model number", and advertised size of the USB drive? I've seen 1, 2, 4, and 8 GB USB drives (flash/thumb), but never a 5 GB drive.

What is the operating system and service pack level of the computer you're trying to read it from? Have you successfully accessed those files from this computer before?

Do you know if the USB drive contains more than one logical volume (two or more drive letters assigned)?

Do you know which file system it uses (FAT, FAT32, NTFS, something else)? What operating system was the last one to successfully access those (missing) files?

Make: Seagate
Model Number: ST650211USB
Advertised Size: 5GB -- It's actually 4.65GB, but advertised as 5.
--
Operating System: Windows XP SP2
Have I accessed the files before?
Yes. I checked them on my computer and then my brother watched one of the files on my Playstation 3. When I came in today I pulled the USB out of my PS3 and put it in my computer (wanted to add something to it) and it wasn't showing anything.
--
Does it CONTAIN more than one logical drive? No, I don't think so.
File System: FAT32
Last Accessed: I used it on my computer (WINXP SP2) and at school (MAC OS10 -- I think. It's the newer Mac's)
--

An update: Since I posted I downloaded a program called GetDataBack. I did a scan of the drive and it found the files for. I still can't see them on my drive, though. I had to find a full version of the program to copy the files. After I copy them over, I'll just format the drive and see if that works or not.

Thanks for the response and help.

-dan
--
Some flash drives have a micro-switch on them for security...is it one of those ? ?
Also how is the drive being reported in Disk Management ? ?
Iy may have been unplugged prematurely in this case it will say RAW.Quote from: imthedan on April 25, 2008, 02:40:00 AM

An update: Since I posted I downloaded a program called GetDataBack. I did a scan of the drive and it found the files for. I still can't see them on my drive, though. I had to find a full version of the program to copy the files. After I copy them over, I'll just format the drive and see if that works or not.

I understand you want to copy the files from the USB drive by using some kind of recovery program (GetDataBack). A sound decision.

After you're done with the recovery effort and before you re-format the USB drive could you see if Windows XP can fix the file system on that drive. From My_Computer or Windows_Explorer right click on the drive letter assigned to the USB disk and select "Properties". Select the "Tools" tab, then "Check Now" in the "Errorchecking" subsection. Check the first option "Automatically fix file system errors" to check/fix the integrity of the FAT32 file system. The second option "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" will check the integrity of the disk surface (and will take longer). Select start. Can you see and access the files now?

Were you writing files to the USB drive from the MAC OS or just reading them?I did the ERROR Checking thing and it didn't find any problems.

I put the files on the drive at school (on the Mac) -- I checked them there and they worked. I brought it home and watched a file on the drive itself on my playstation. When I stuck it into my PC it stopped working.

Anyway, I got the files off and formatted the drive. I put some files back on and it seems to be working now. Might have hit a glitch or something, I don't know.

Thanks for the help guys.MAC files will not be read by Windows and visa versa without additional software...
Keep this in mind when transferring files around in future.Yeah, but it was mostly avi files. I've MADE photoshop files and stuff like that on the mac photoshop and brought it home on my pc and they worked fine. this was the first time it's ever done this to me.Quote from: imthedan on April 26, 2008, 12:24:54 PM

Yeah, but it was mostly avi files. I've made photoshop files and stuff like that on the mac photoshop and brought it home on my pc and they worked fine. this was the first time it's ever done this to me.

So Photoshop files created on a MAC can be seen on a Windows machine ? ?
Interesting i wasn't aware of this.Yeah. I think it may not WORK for older Photoshop. It works for CS3.Quote from: PATIO on April 27, 2008, 08:51:55 AM

Quote from: imthedan on April 26, 2008, 12:24:54 PM
Yeah, but it was mostly avi files. I've made photoshop files and stuff like that on the mac photoshop and brought it home on my pc and they worked fine. this was the first time it's ever done this to me.
So Photoshop files created on a MAC can be seen on a Windows machine ? ?
Interesting i wasn't aware of this.

Yeah, this is generally true as long as you're using a file system both computers can read on the device.Regarding your original problem, I'm curious as to whether you added "MAC" files to an existing Windows file system on the USB drive; or erased and reformatted on a MAC operating system before adding "MAC" files.

Apparently if the USB drive is formatted on MAC prior to transferring files to Windows operating system, the "MS-DOS File System" format should be used. My source for this is Setting up and using an external USB Flash Drive on your MAC.

Yes, I realize you weren't using a "Flash Drive"; but I believe the information still applies.
Mac OS X can read from a FAT file system, which is what you should format that drive as either from a Mac (as dahlarbear explained) or from a Windows system.

Solve : I have a USB Virus (I think) that prevents me from seeing my files...?

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