Avast! Deleted files without sending to Chest or prompting me

Viruses and worms
1

I downloaded the latest Avast! free edition onto my computer. I plugged my external hard drive into the computer and Avast! just deleted my files without sending it to the chest. Is there any way I can retrieve my files? Do you need any additional information? please let me know.
Thank you

2

Did you remove your previous av before installing avast ?
If not:

If the files are not in the chest or the trash bin, you will need to use a tool like PhotoRec to see if you can retrieve them or hire a specialized company.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec

3
Do you need any additional information? please let me know.
what malware name did avast give the file(s) it deleted? where was those file(s) located ... full file path did it delete all files on that drive?

you may have a infected external drive. see instructions here https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0
scroll down to SPECIFIC INFECTIONS LOGS follow instructions for MCShield and post log here

4

Eddy, Thank you for your suggestion, I will follow it and report back. As far as I remember, I removed the old veraion, but will redo and follow the steps you recommend.

5

Pondus, It seemed all files on the external hard drive was infected with autorun? Yes, there is nothing left on the external hard drive! I am devistated, because I saved all my work and photos on the external hard drive as my pc’s hard drive was full. I am in the process of finding a suitable new pc and thus everything was on the ext HD Sigh!

6

Eddy, I tried to download the avast from the link you suggested, but I got an error
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2898334?p=ui_download_errors&hl=en&rd=1

7

here is a screenshot of the attempts to download both the uninstall and the fee avast from the links provided

8

Run MCShield on your external drive and let me know the result

Download MCShield to your desktop and install
It will initially run a scan and show the result as a toaster by the system clock
Then in the control centre select scanner and tick unhide items on flash drives

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/mcshield%20unhide.JPG

Plug in the drive and McShield will start a scan

Then get the log which will be located under the logs tab on the main page

And post that

9

Thanks essexboy, I will try that tomorrow night. . . . past 1am here and time to lay this grey head of mine down to try and get a good night’s sleep :wink:

10

I used the link provided by Eddy - http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec - and did a test on one of my small memory sticks and it seems though it worked Happy ME for the moment. I have to buy a new ext hdd tomorrow as I do not have sufficient space on my pc’s hard drive neither on the ext hard drive to retrieve the deleted files. I will also try and get professional help as it is almost a terabyte data that has to be retrieved and I am not clued-up at all and neither have the experience to take that task on all on my own. My files are way too important to mess up by myself :wink:

I thank you all for your kind help thus far. I will get back to you should I need further assistance.

Blessed be!

11

you have to clean your USB devices with MCShield …

12

If the files are hidden then MCShield will unhide them for you

13

Thank you Pondus and Essexboy, I will tell the professional guy to help me with that.