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How to recover IE favorites after "System error. Hard disk failure detected" attack?

Discussion in 'Windows OS' started by atechdummy, Sep 5, 2012.

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  1. atechdummy Newcomer, in training

    Hello, New here and hope I am posting at the right place.

    We were attacked by the fake "System Error. Hard disk failure detected" virus as detailed here:

    http://www.deletevirus.net/system-error-hard-disk-failure-detected-fake-alert/

    I removed the virus using MBAM and followed instructions here:

    http://www.deletevirus.net/how-to-restore-files-missing-because-of-virus/

    to recover some shortcuts on the desktop and the Start menu.

    Now the IE favorite is still empty. Is it possible to recover and if so how? Thanks!

    OS is Win 7 64 bit.
  2. atechdummy Newcomer, in training

    OK got the favorites back. It turned out that what the virus did was to make the favorites files hidden. Unhiding the files did the trick. There are many many other files got hidden as well, making other applications not working. Is it OK to unhide everything (including system files/folders that are normally hidden)?
  3. Cobalt006 TechSpot Booster Posts: 811   +43

    Yes and I would just unhide system files. As far as the ones hidden you might want to leave them hidden.
  4. atechdummy Newcomer, in training

    Not sure I understand this. I was going to do a global unhiding of everything as opposed to going file by file that would take forever besides I have no idea which files/folders are normally hidden.
  5. Cobalt006 TechSpot Booster Posts: 811   +43

    I see what you are saying. That would be the best route.
  6. atechdummy Newcomer, in training

     
  7. jobeard TS Ambassador Posts: 12,210   +118

    HIDING is a poor mans way (ie Microsoft) of keeping the innocent from seeing and therefore playing with
    non-user files. There's no risk whatsoever unhiding them.

    There are several hidden folders in every users profile - - I usually unhide them so I can access things like
    Outlook PST and Thunderbird emails.
    atechdummy likes this.