Have the files in your pen drive or USB flash drive turned into shortcuts? This isn’t something to be worried about as you can fix it relatively easily. In this guide, we are about to show you how you can fix your USB drive files when they automatically transform into shortcuts.
A USB flash drive is an exceptionally useful tool to transfer and store essential files securely. It is far better in terms of performance when compared with other data transfer methods, including DVD, CD, and cloud.
Within a few minutes, you can exchange a couple of gigabytes effortlessly. USB drives are also extremely durable and can easily last for decades if managed properly.
However, they also have a few vulnerabilities, such as they are highly susceptible to viruses, Malware, Trojans, etc.
One of the common issues that many flash drive users face is that the files in flash storage become shortcuts as soon as they are transferred. If a file turns into a shortcut in your USB drive, you will notice the allocated storage space remains the same for the flash drive. This means the files are still in the drive but hidden. In most cases, this happens due to a virus or Malware.
So, we first need to spot the Malware, remove it, and then unhide the files to fix this issue.
Therefore, without wasting any further time, let’s get started.
Recovering Lost or Hidden Files from Your USB Drive
As we have told you before, it happens because of an active virus, so we first have to remove it and then recover the files.
To find the virus and remove it, you need an effective antivirus program on your device. You can use any third-party security program to remove the viruses from your computer as well as from the flash drive.
The built-in security program on your Mac or Windows computer won’t work. So, please first install a highly-ranked antivirus. Then, scan your whole computer and USB drive. After that, you should completely remove the infected files and viruses from your computer.
Now, you are all set to get your files back. Just follow the instructions given here:
- Navigate to the File Explorer.
- Click on the View option on the top of the window.
- Find and select the Options button.
- Go to the View tab from the upper portion.
- Click on the option that says Show Hidden Files, Folders, and Drives.
- Now uncheck the option that says “Hide Protected Operating System Files”.
- Hit the Apply and OK button on the bottom.
- Insert the USB drive into your Mac or PC.
- Now navigate to the flash drive you have connected, and you should be able to see your files.
- Scan the drive with the antivirus and make sure to copy all essential data to your device.
Congratulations, you have successfully removed the virus that was causing the files in your USB flash drive to hide and turn into shortcuts. Along with that, you have also recovered your lost files successfully.
Hi, I’m Kinsley. I’m a web developer living in Pontiac, USA. I am a fan of web development, programming, and entrepreneurship. I’m also interested in innovation. You can read my blog with a click on the button above. yellpilot.com
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