When you say you're backing up your files, are you using the inbuilt "back up and restore" wizard, or are you backing up manually?? The reason that I ask is that back-ups (either partial or full disk images) are inaccessible to anything BUT Windows... the user cannot open those folders up.

The reason for this is to make it is as unlikely as possible for those back-up images to be corrupted or tampered with in any way.

In the early months that I was using the external hard drive, I was able to access the files stored there, even copied some of them. But now, I lost the route or the correct procedure or the drive (G) for the external hard drive wont open to reveal the files that i need to copy or read.

Please ask me more clarificatory questions as i am really newbie and the computer technology is a necessary skill I have to learn, no matter how dense or difficult or confusing. I am determined to solve this problem. I must be able to retrieve or open the files i stored in my external hard drive.

abchua7

OK - just to try something out of the box, have you tried connecting the HDD through a different USB port. It may be something more serious, but this is always the first thing to try. Would have suggested this earlier, but it sounded like it was actual files on the HDD you couldn't access, not the entire HDD

Dear kaninelupus:
It is the entire external hard drive's stored files I could not navigate or access. Somewhere a block occurred I surmise.
I used a different usb port this time, but it still did not work. I access the folder options of external hard drive, and in the view tab, there is an item there marked Hidden files and folders with two options: one is do not show hidden files and folders, the other is show hidden files and folders. Currently, it goes always to the do not show hidden files and folders option. I click on the show hidden files and folders, but it doesn't work, assuming the files got hidden. If there is a way I can make the files folders appear that would be the gateway to the files, isn't it?
Have I described my difficulty clearly?
Please be patient.
abchua7

P. S. Technical jarjon: HDD means hard drive, why the extra D?

You'll also need to deselect the "hide protected operating system files", as it sounds like the OS has at some stage locked the folders down. This should at least make the files/folders visible so we can see what we are working with and if those file/folders still actually exist.

Dear kaninelupus:
Good day. Since I dropped by the computer shop this afternoon, I also made consultations regarding my problem with the external hard drive. It turned out in their monitor and their unit, they are able to open the external hard drive and my files are there displayed in their monitor. From the looks of it, they opined I have a virus or two in my computer or an error exists. They also opined that the virus control program I have is a weak program. Gave the name of another virus program. If i can only mention products name here I would, but I am not very sure if that is allowed. Hence I shall try to change virus program. See if that solves my hidden files.
But i failed to mention to you, that even in my computer, I am able to use search mode and get a file or two out from the external hard drive appear in my monitor, but not the entire files documents folders displayed with their corresponding titles, summing up all the files stored. It's just like in the library, you want the entire bibliographical listing displayed, but one can't seem to access that listing, but one title at a time is possible.
Any more opinion before i change my anti-virus program?
abchua7

well if you fell that the system you have has some problems that causes the problems, try putting up a LINUX live CD and see if you can access the External hard disk files from there

OK - I have heard of malware playing this game with core sys files, but not with personal files manually tucked aside. Is feasible you've transferred across an infected file across, but wouldn't have thought would have cloaked your external drive... but anything is possible. If this IS the case, DO NOT TRANSFER ANYTHING OUT OF THE DRIVE JUST YET!!

(Oh, and yes discussing various software apps is A-OK, so long as not going into illegally obtaining or cracking BTW )

First, download BOTH Ad-Aware and MalwareBytes - the two apps I'd trust to strip out any malware. Install (don't run a scan yet if given the option) then continue reading.

Now both these apps are at their best when OS has been loaded up in safe mode. Can either reboot and tap away at the F8 key before the Windows boot-logo arives. Simpler yet - hit WinKey+R and enter msconfig. Go to the boot tab and select "Safe Boot".

Taking this second option means that if after running one scan and needs to reboot so you can run other utility, will bring you straight back to safe mode without beating the F8 key. Just remember that when you are ready to boot as normal, go back into msconfig and rest your boot option. Both utilities should be run as Admin for extra gusto.

Now that everything has been scanned and stripped, first open up Folder Options from Control Panel (or if XP, go to the View option on the menu bar and open Folder Options from there). Make sure Hidden files and System files are both visible. Next, open up the HDD in My Computer. Right-click on each of the ROOT folders, and make sure each is neither set as Hidden or System. If running Vista, go to Advanced options and allow indexing.

HOPEFULLY this should sort things out. As I said earlier, don't try and copy anything off till you know all files are clean.

As to AV/Security apps?? I really like Symantec Endpoint Protection, but that's corporate ware. DECENT free options - Avira, Nod32 or Comodo all good. Paid for - G Data has had blazing reviews the last year or so, Panda, or Avast. Personally I steer to either Endpoint or Comodo (as Endpoint not yet 100% on Win7 yet) as they are by far the two most light weight suites with bundled firewall and system protection, but then everyone will have their own opinions.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stay the hell away from either AVG or McAfee - They are the two BIGGEST heaps of crap on the market. Trend Micro isn't much better either. Have a look here for a few options to check out. Also check here for another independent comparison.

Hope this all helps

it seems like attribute ur files are changed... this is done by a virus... now ur files have the attribute +s (system files)..

take "RUN" from start menu and type attrib -s -h D:/filename

where D is the drive letter for hard driv, filename is the name of ur file...