How To Scan A Pendrive In Windows 7

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This wikiHow teaches you how to browse for and remove a flash bulldoze virus using a Windows PC. Y'all'll also larn how to employ your desired MacOS antivirus software to scan your Mac for threats (although USB flash drive viruses are extremely rare, if not extinct, on Macs). If your wink bulldoze is infected by a shortcut virus, which is when your files are hidden and replaced with identical shortcuts, you can remove it by running a few commands. Other viruses tin exist removed past reliable antivirus software such as Windows Security (free with Windows 10), Norton, Kaspersky, AVG AntiVirus, or McAfee. If yous don't have antivirus software, you can download a quick tool from Microsoft that volition scan for (and remove) viruses.

1. 1

   Plug the USB wink drive into your Windows PC. If yous're prompted to view the files on the drive or change your USB settings, merely shut the window for at present.

   • Back in 2011, Microsoft changed Windows so that files on USB drives cannot run unless y'all actually open up the drive's contents and click the file proper name.^[1] This is why you more often than not won't find "autorun" viruses on wink drives anymore.
   • If you're using 3rd-party virus protection like Norton, McAfee, or Kaspersky, you can use that awarding to remove viruses from your wink drive instead. Sometimes the virus software will launch automatically equally presently equally you connect the drive and give you the option to scan.^[ii]

2. 2

   Open your Windows Settings . You'll find this gear-shaped icon near the bottom of the Windows Start menu.

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3. 3

   Click Update & Security . Information technology's the choice with ii curved arrows.

4. 4

   Click Windows Security . Information technology'southward the option with a shield icon in the left panel.

5. 5

   Click Open Windows Security . It's at the summit of the right panel.

6. half-dozen

   Click Virus & threat protection . It'southward the shield icon at the top-left corner of the right panel.

7. 7

   Click Check for updates . It's the blueish link under "Virus & threat protection settings." This checks for changes to Microsoft'southward virus database and downloads any necessary updates.

8. 8

   Click Browse options . Information technology's under the "Current threats" header at the elevation of the right console.

   • If you're using a different antivirus solution than Windows Security, you lot may see the selection to launch that application instead. Open your antivirus plan and run a scan on the flash drive.

9. nine

   Select "Custom scan" and click Scan at present . It'south the button at the bottom of the right panel.

10. 10

    Select your flash drive in the left panel. Information technology should exist under "This PC" or "Computer" toward the lesser. Y'all may accept to click the small arrow adjacent to ane of those options to display the connected drives.

11. xi

    Click Select Folder . Information technology's the push button most the bottom-right edge of the dialog window. Windows will now scan your flash bulldoze for viruses.

    • This can take a while if you have a lot of files on your flash bulldoze.

12. 12

    Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the virus(es). In one case the scan is complete, you'll see a window that tells you whether any viruses were detected. Windows Security will guide you through the virus removal process if whatsoever viruses are institute.

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1. one

   Plug the USB flash drive into your Windows PC. If yous're prompted to view the files on the drive or alter your USB settings, just close the window for at present.

2. 2

   Go to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-u.s./windows/security/threat-protection/intelligence/safety-scanner-download. This is the website for Microsoft Prophylactic Scanner, a free upwards-to-date antivirus and anti-malware removal tool for Windows. If you're using Windows 8.ane or earlier and don't have antivirus software, this will be the fastest way to discover and remove viruses on your flash drive.

   • Microsoft Safety Scanner is a portable application, which means information technology doesn't have to be installed or removed.^[three]
   • If y'all're using tertiary-party virus protection like Norton, McAfee, or Kaspersky, y'all tin use that application to remove viruses from your flash drive instead. Sometimes the antivirus software volition launch automatically as soon as you plug in the drive and requite you the pick to scan. If nix pops up automatically only employ 3rd-party antivirus protection, launch your antivirus software and run a browse on your flash drive.

3. 3

   Click the Download Microsoft Safety Scanner link. At that place are two versions of the link: i for 32-bit systems, and one for 64-flake systems. Click the version that matches your PC, and follow the on-screen instructions to download.

   • If you're using Windows 8, open up the Control Panel, and select Organization.
   • On Windows 7, open up the Start bill of fare, right-click Figurer, and select Properties.

4. iv

   Run Microsoft Safety Scanner. To do this, double-click the file you just downloaded, which will exist called something like MSERT.exe. You'll find it in your default download location, which is normally the Downloads folder.

   • After launching the app, you lot'll typically have to click Yes to run it and/or enter your password.

5. 5

   Accept the license agreement and click Next . After reading the understanding, click the box to add a checkmark. This confirms that you sympathize Microsoft's terms.

6. 6

   Click Next on the welcome screen.

7. 7

   Select Customized browse . It's the third choice.

8. viii

   Click the Choose Folder push. This opens your PC's file browser.

9. 9

   Select your flash drive and click OK . It's likely at the bottom of the list.

10. ten

    Click Next to scan your bulldoze for viruses. The tool volition now search for viruses on your flash drive. It'll as well do a quick scan of your hard drive to bank check for viruses there equally well. Once the scan is consummate, the results will announced.

    • This can take a while if you accept a lot of files on your flash drive.

11. 11

    Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the virus(es). In one case the scan is complete, y'all'll see a window that tells yous whether any viruses were detected. Microsoft Safety Scanner volition guide you through the virus removal process if any viruses are found.

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1. 1

   Sympathise the shortcut virus. This type of virus places all files on your USB into a hidden binder and replaces them with shortcuts of their original names. You can usually tell you take a shortcut virus if you run into pocket-sized arrows over the file or binder icons. If you double-click any of these shortcuts, the virus will activate and spread to your PC.^[iv] .

   • If you're using Windows 10, attempt using the Using Windows Security (Windows x) method first. If you lot're using Windows 8.1 or earlier, try the Using Microsoft Safety Scanner (Windows 8.1 and Before) method first. It's possible that Windows' own built-in antivirus software can fix the trouble for you.

2. 2

   Plug the USB flash bulldoze into your Windows PC. If you're prompted to view the files on the bulldoze or change your USB settings, just close the window for at present.

   • You'll need to know the drive letter of your USB drive (e.chiliad., F: or D:) to remove the files. If y'all're not sure what it is, press the Windows key and the E cardinal on the keyboard to open File Explorer, then ringlet down on the left panel to notice your flash drive and corresponding drive letter. Yous may accept to click an pointer or plus symbol next to "This PC" or "Computer" to encounter the drive.

3. 3

   Press ⊞ Win+S to open the Search bar.

4. four

   Blazon command prompt. A listing of results will appear.

5. 5

   Correct-click Command prompt in the search results. A menu will aggrandize.

6. six

   Click Run as administrator . This opens an administrator-level command prompt.

   • You may exist prompted to verify your password to open up up the window.

7. seven

   Blazon your USB drive alphabetic character and press ↵ Enter . Exist certain to include the colon (:) after the letter.

   • For case, if your USB drive is the F bulldoze, type F: and press the Enter central.

8. 8

   Run the command to delete all shortcuts. To exercise this, type del *.lnk and hit the Enter fundamental.

9. 9

   Run the command to restore your hidden files. To do this, blazon attrib -s -r -h /southward /d *.* and press the Enter key. If your drive was infected by a shortcut virus, this should restore your files to their original locations safely.

   • To see a list of files on the drive, type dir /southward and press the Enter cardinal.

10. 10

    Back up your files and reformat the wink drive. At present that the virus is removed, information technology'south a good idea to format the bulldoze and start from scratch. If you lot don't desire to lose your files, copy them to another location on your estimator. Browse through the items on your USB bulldoze and delete whatsoever unfamiliar files and folders kickoff.^[5] Then, encounter How to Format a Flash Drive to learn how to erase and format the drive.

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1. ane

   Insert your USB flash drive into your Mac. It'due south non possible to install malicious software from a USB drive on your Mac, so you generally won't need to scan your USB drives for viruses.^[half-dozen] If you'd similar to check for viruses anyway, also as other types of malware, you can apply your antivirus software to scan external drives.

2. 2

   Install antivirus software if you haven't already. If you already have antivirus software, y'all can use it to browse your USB drive for viruses. If non, one free option is AVG AntiVirus—although there is a paid subscription pick that protects your Mac over time, the free version works great for this purpose.^[7] To install AVG:

   • Go to https://www.avg.com/en-u.s./avg-antivirus-for-mac.
   • Click the green Free Download button in the top-right area of the page. If the download doesn't start automatically, click click here near the center of the page to get-go it.
   • One time the installer is finished downloading, you'll run into a floating arrow on the AVG page that says "OPEN your downloaded file." Click the location indicated by the pointer to launch the installer.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to install AVG.

3. 3

   Open your antivirus software. Yous tin practise this past double-clicking your antivirus software'due south proper name on the Launchpad or in the Applications folder in Finder.

   • If yous're using AVG AntiVirus, you can likewise click the shield icon in the carte du jour bar near the top-right corner of the screen and select Open AVG AntiVirus.^[8]

4. four

   Update the virus definition files. These files must exist downloaded from the internet on a regular basis to go along your software up-to-engagement. The option will usually exist clearly marked as Update virus definitions or something like. In AVG, click the two curved arrows near the bottom-correct corner to run the update.^[ix]

5. 5

   Ready the antivirus software to scan external drives. The location to practise this will vary, but you'll usually find such an option in the Preferences menu of the app. Here'due south how yous'll do this in AVG AntiVirus:

   • Click the AVG AntiVirus menu most the acme-left corner of the screen and select Preferences.
   • Click the Scanning tab.
   • Check the box next to "Scan external drives and shared folders."
   • Click the red circumvolve at the top-left corner of the window to close information technology.

6. 6

   Click the Scan selection to start the scan. Depending on the software, you may accept some options similar Deep scan and Quick Scan. A Deep browse is more than thorough but takes a lot longer. Try a Quick or Basic browse get-go, and then do a deeper scan if desired. Once the scan is complete, you'll run across a listing of any threats, if any, that accept been found by the software.

7. 7

   Follow the on-screen instructions to remove problematic files. For instance, if you're using AVG AntiVirus, click Resolve next to whatsoever viruses or malware on the list to movement them to Quarantine. Quarantined viruses can no longer damage your estimator or flash drive.

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Add New Question

• Question

  If I already have antivirus software, how do I remove a virus?

  

  Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in full general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is likewise the host of the Computer Man Evidence! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.

  

  Computer & Tech Specialist

  Expert Answer

  

  Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

  Plug the flashdrive into the computer. If you already have antivirus software, you lot should be able to correct-click on the USB's icon when it loads and run the software. This should have intendance of removing the virus.

• Question

  How tin I know the drive's letter?

  

  It actually is simply beside the bulldoze's name; for instance wikiHow (G:), then G: is the drive's letter of the alphabet.

• Question

  How do I set runDLL errors?

  

  In that location are multiple causes for runDLL errors, such every bit the specific module couldn't be found. If the error is happening because some files weren't removed during uninstallation of the programme, which would lead to a corrupted registry (i.e. some files are missing from the local folder), you can prepare the issue by opening upward the RegEdit, finding the specific module that's not found, and deleting information technology. You tin can also open up Task Scheduler, delete the entries in the Task Scheduler Library, and reboot. If some specific DLL file is missing, search the Cyberspace for the required DLL file, and install it using the given instructions (i.eastward copy and paste the DLL files in C:/System32 in the binder as shown in the install instructions for the DLL file). You can find the instructions at the site y'all download the DLL from. Yous may have to reboot afterwards. Otherwise, simply search for the fault online.

• Question

  Is it safe to put the wink bulldoze in my PC?

  

  In order to remove the virus from your flash drive, you must plug information technology into the PC. Do non open up any files that are infected with a shortcut virus.

• Question

  If I did open the infected files, how do I remove the virus from my laptop?

• Question

  Tin formatting remove viruses from a USB?

  

  Yes, just exist careful, because Formatting will remove EVERYTHING off the flash drive.

• Question

  What should I practice if I get an "admission denied" message?

  

  Open the start menu and type in "command prompt." Right click on the command prompt icon, then click "run as ambassador." And then it should let yous.

• Question

  How do I get a shortcut virus out of an external hard drive?

  

  Yous'll need to format information technology in order to use it. If y'all have important documents in your drive, you lot'll need to delete all .exe, .com, etc. files using CMD.

• Question

  What tin I do if files on my USB are missing? Is there whatsoever way to restore them?

  

  Try using winrar to admission hidden files. If this doesn't work, then they probably cannot be restored.

• Question

  Tin can music be infected with the shortcut virus also?

  

  Yes, it is very probable that the music files tin exist infected as well.

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• Ever scan your computer after this procedure as the virus could migrate from the external USB storage device to your main drive.

• Update your PC frequently to improve protection against security vulnerabilities, including viruses.

• Try scanning all the files you would like to copy to your computer to see if they're prophylactic and not infected. If it'due south a motion-picture show you love and it's infected, impress it out earlier deleting it, and then scan it back to your computer. You'll thank yourself.

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• Every file you copy could be infected, if y'all can't afford to lose an infected document or flick, print it out and scan it back to the computer from paper.

• If yous discover a flash bulldoze on the basis or in another public space, don't endeavor to access its files on your computer. Hackers oft found infected flash drives in populated locations, hoping that people similar you volition endeavor plugging information technology in.^[10]

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Nearly This Article

Commodity Summary 10

1. Insert your USB flash drive.
2. Scan the entire computer with your antivirus software.
3. Open up the Command Prompt as an administrator.
4. Enter your estimator'southward drive letter and press Enter.
5. Type "del *.lnk" and printing Enter.
6. Type attrib -s -r -h *.* /s.d/l/ and press Enter.
7. Type "format /q /x DRIVELETTER: and press Enter.

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Virus-From-a-Flash-Drive

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