Hi, I've been researching online for help in regard of the missing folder I had in my external drive. The folder disappeared from my external drive, but the space is still being used. I tried many things(show hidden folder, edit regedit, searching the missing folder, typing in the path of the missing folder), nothing works. I heard that the missing folder is due to viruses, so I scanned my external drive, there were 3 viruses. I deleted all 3. So the problem now is, is there anyways to retrieve the missing folder I once had? I was told that chances are, that folder is long gone, and the reason the space is still being used is because of the "i-node"? So does that mean I have no chance of retrieving that folder? Please help, it contains all my important files.



Thank you in advance

Thank you Hengis for the reply. Does the Treesize program allow me to retrieve those lost files or it just tells me what is occupying the disk space? If the Treesize program says that those spaces are being used by the lost folder, what step should I take to retrieve it? currently, I'm running a file recovery program, assuming that those files were deleted. Again, thank you for helping

Alright, I'll give those programs a try. Thank you for the repson

If this is caused by malware, then this would be due to a rootkit, which is based on the main drive. Scanning your external drive isn't going to help you. Malware hiding random folders is not typical behavior though, especially not on external devices. Go to Start > Run > devmgmt.msc > Disk Drives | Finally uninstall the external hd, then reconnect it. You can use the following command to find any hidden folders on the volume:
dir /a:dhs /s D:\
Replace the drive letter

Well, I'll give you the full details on what happened. I had a program that had a crack, not knowing that it had a trojan. One day, I messed up my video driver, so I reformatted my computer. After reformatting it, I scanned my external drive just for the heck of it, and it found 3 trojans coming from that crack. The thing is that I scanned my computer (excluding the external drive) atleast once a week, but nothing came up, not until I scanned the external drive that it tells me my external drive has a trojan. I ran my anti virus and it deleted those trojan, I then reformatted my computer again just to be on the safe side. Back to what you were saying that scanning external drive ins't going to help, it was because I scanned the external that I found those trojan, not my main HD. So, doesn't that mean the trojan is only in my external drive though? After I reformatted my computer, I didn't run that crack program, so it shouldnt affect my main HD right? There are 2 things that might have caused the missing folder, 1) the trojan, and 2) because I unplugged the power plug without ejecting the external drive first, so it caused might have caused it to malfunction?

Anyways, I will try both your and Hengis's idea and see. Hoping it works. Thank you to both

I don't think this is caused by a trojan, and I'm certain that taking away the power source doesn't cause this problem. Did you enter the command? You can do so in the command processor: Windows key + R > cmd

hey SecuPro, i tried your method, it did not work

Ok Hengis, I ran the Treesize program and I found it, it's in the $RECYCLIN.BIN. How do I go about to retrieve it. I used the program Pandora, but it didn't show up with that program, i checked all the possible options.

I'm running Recuva right now, crossing my fingers. Out of curiousity, if Recuva doesn't work, is there another way/program that will let me recover it?

Ran Recuva completely with deep scan, nothing shows up. But if I use Treesize Free, it says that those files are in the $RECYCLIN.BIN. Should I format my external to delete those files and then run Recuva again?