possible USB virus?

berts_pmn2n · 11-05-2006, 08:52 PM

I think there's a USB virus in my PC that render my flash drives useless.
Here's what usually happens:
1. Plug it in my PC, an icon shows up in the task bar,
Autoplays and works fine for a bit
2. Unplug it
3. Plug it in my PC, or any other computer
4. An icon shows up in the task bar showing that a flash drive has been detected
5. but when i try to access it in windows explorer, it says that there's no flash drive detected.

i tried to remove the virus by re formatting the flash drive but when i right click on the drive, nothing happens!
this happens to all flash drives that i use in my pc.
i tried AVG, but nothing was detected. HELP please. thank you in advance.

**PanamaGal** · 11-05-2006, 08:58 PM

I'm sorry that I don't have an immediate answer or solution, but I don't think it's a virus. Before going further though, try using an online virus scanner just to doublecheck your AVG. BitDefender and Trend Micro have good online scanners that also clean. Panda has one that detects, but I don't think it cleans.

berts_pmn2n · 11-05-2006, 09:07 PM

thanks. using panda at the moment, will post updates.

berts_pmn2n · 11-05-2006, 09:18 PM

.....

berts_pmn2n · 11-05-2006, 10:54 PM

AVG and Trend Micro found no virus regarding my problem. Man.. this sucks.. Could it be a hardware problem? This is so weird.

datko · 11-06-2006, 04:34 AM

Exactly the same thing has happend to me this weekend all my USB ports are now useless for printing and USB flash drives??

dai · 11-06-2006, 11:57 AM

click on view at the top of the device manager and show hidden devices
uninstall all instances of usb
turn the compter off
remove all usb plugs
reboot the computer twice
replug in the usb

berts_pmn2n · 11-06-2006, 07:35 PM

still have to try that.. but a problem is also that the flash drive (imation) itself has been rendered useless. it can't be detected by any other pc, even by a mac.

dai · 11-07-2006, 01:31 AM

it sounds like you have lost it,f it cannot be detected also by other computers as well

11-05-2006, 08:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
berts_pmn2n Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 16 OS: Win XP	possible USB virus? I think there's a USB virus in my PC that render my flash drives useless. Here's what usually happens: 1. Plug it in my PC, an icon shows up in the task bar, Autoplays and works fine for a bit 2. Unplug it 3. Plug it in my PC, or any other computer 4. An icon shows up in the task bar showing that a flash drive has been detected 5. but when i try to access it in windows explorer, it says that there's no flash drive detected. i tried to remove the virus by re formatting the flash drive but when i right click on the drive, nothing happens! this happens to all flash drives that i use in my pc. i tried AVG, but nothing was detected. HELP please. thank you in advance.

11-05-2006, 08:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
PanamaGal Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Panama Posts: 1,240 OS: WinXP Pro SP2; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista Ultimate; Vista Business	I'm sorry that I don't have an immediate answer or solution, but I don't think it's a virus. Before going further though, try using an online virus scanner just to doublecheck your AVG. BitDefender and Trend Micro have good online scanners that also clean. Panda has one that detects, but I don't think it cleans. __________________ It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.

11-06-2006, 11:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,569 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	click on view at the top of the device manager and show hidden devices uninstall all instances of usb turn the compter off remove all usb plugs reboot the computer twice replug in the usb __________________

11-07-2006, 01:31 AM	#9 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,569 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	it sounds like you have lost it,f it cannot be detected also by other computers as well __________________

11-05-2006, 09:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
berts_pmn2n Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 16 OS: Win XP	thanks. using panda at the moment, will post updates.

11-05-2006, 09:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
berts_pmn2n Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 16 OS: Win XP	.....

11-05-2006, 10:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
berts_pmn2n Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 16 OS: Win XP	AVG and Trend Micro found no virus regarding my problem. Man.. this sucks.. Could it be a hardware problem? This is so weird.

11-06-2006, 04:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
datko Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3 OS: XP home	Exactly the same thing has happend to me this weekend all my USB ports are now useless for printing and USB flash drives??

11-06-2006, 07:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
berts_pmn2n Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 16 OS: Win XP	still have to try that.. but a problem is also that the flash drive (imation) itself has been rendered useless. it can't be detected by any other pc, even by a mac.