johnatuttle

I've checked three of my four computers and only one of them has a folder named "RECYCLER". All the others have a folder named "Recycled", and there is the little recycle bin icon where there would otherwise be a folder icon.

If that's the case, you probably have two files in your root directory named "auto.exe" and "autorun.inf". These are malicious little buggers that seem impossible to get rid of, and they seem to be causing other types of problems in the operating system.

The only way I've been able to get them off of attached devices is to disconnect the host computer from any outside connection, i.e., cable modem, telephone. Then turn off the computer and unplug it for 30 seconds. Also, disconnect the attached device from the computer. Then plug in the host computer and boot it up. Make sure you do not have the above named files in the host. (They may be hidden in the Prefetch folder.)

Once you're sure they are completely out of the host, do the 'turn off', 'unplug', etc. cycle again. Reboot. (You may notice that the computer works a little differently. In my computer, the submenues started showing up when I run the cursor near any particular icon on the desktop. The submenues started working in other places too... but I digress.)

Recheck the host computer and verify that the two above named files are actually gone. If they are, your host computer is clean.

Here's the sad news. I still haven't figured out how to connect another device (mass storage) that has those files in them without re-infecting the host.

But here's something I do know. As soon as you reconnect the host to the 'outside world' via any "wire", those two files mysteriously reappear. And here's a twist... The files are not on my laptop, which is WiFi on a secure network, and they aren't in my Windows 98 computers. They're only in the Windows XP Pro computer. Today I'm going out to buy a wireless board for the host computer and see if the files can get into the computer via a wireless connection to the outside world.... Will post results here... John

johnatuttle

One other note... When I tried to download a file folder into the mass storage device on my laptop (from the host computer via the wireless router), BitDefender (anti-virus program) recognized "auto.exe" as a virus... I'm still researching that avenue...

chauffeur2

Hello John,

The "Recycled" and "Recycler" folders are one in the same.
If the 'Bin' is empty; then, it is listed as "Recycler" and if it contains deleted files, it lists as "Recycled".
Both of them are nothing to worry about.

Kind Regards,

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Dave T.

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Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

johnatuttle

Hi Dave T.,

Thank you for your response. That's interesting to note

Regarding the "auto.exe' and "autorun.inf' files, they have not come into my main PC since I installed a USB wireless connection. There's some excellent information about getting rid of the virus at http://www.quickheal.com. Also, I'm now using AVG Anti-Virus Free (Version 8) to protect my computer. So far, so good. It found a number of things that BitDefender missed (over 40 items, including "auto.exe" -which I now find has a number of other aliases.)

BTW, if I switch the external hard drive to another computer, will it automatically change the information in the 'System Volume Information' folder?

chauffeur2

Hello John,

I moved the relevant posts here in a new thread, as it was tending to 'hijack' the other member's thread.

In answer to your question....
Yes..any computer will automatically change the 'profiles' to suit its own capacities.
If you are still concerned about having anything untoward on your machine, you can run a full system scan with an on-line virus scanner; such as, The Kaspersky Online Virus Scanner. (Click the coloured link.)
Hopefully this allays any fears and answers your question adequately.

Kind Regards,

__________________
Dave T.

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Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!