This tutorial will help users with infected computers remove malware and adware such as PC Defender, run Malewarebytes, Combofix and simple registry repairs in safe mode, to fix a computer running Windows .  We have mentioned Malewarebytes and Combofix as great Freeware tools that can help remove adware and malware from your computer. However, there are some cases where multiple malware and adware infections have occurred and Combofix and Malewarebytes will not run even in safe mode! For simple removals, please read our Remove Malware With Combofix post. For situations where these programs will not run, keep reading.

PC Defender is one of the worst infestations so what are you to do! DTI Data Recovery has two hassle free solutions, either Recover It Now remote data recovery, or you can call Call Toll Free: 1-866-438-6932 to send us the hard drive for data recovery. For the more daring users we offer this tutorial that will help you clean your registry of the infected PC Defender files in conjunction with Malwarebytes and Combofix. We chose PC Defender because it is running rampant across the Internet. These techniques will work with multiple types of adware and malware just the same.

Removing PC Defender With Freeware

Well you can try to hunt and peck through the registry and remove any references to PC Defender infection. Here is a quick example what you would need to do to remove Pc Defender by hand  using the registry editor.

First there are multiple files and folders that need to be removed or deleted from your system. (If your system is infected with malware other than PC Defender, use Google to find the file names and simply replace the Total PC Defender references below.)

Including: C:Program FilesTotal PC Defender delete the folder and all files in the folder. Under the users profile infected aplplication Data
MicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchTotal PC Defender.lnk
User profileDesktopTotal PC Defender.lnk
User profileStart MenuTotal PC Defender folder and all files in folder.
Program FilesTotal PC Defender 2010 folder and all files in folder.
MicrosoftInternet ExplorerQuick LaunchTotal PC Defender 2010.lnk
User profileDesktopTotal PC Defender 2010.lnk
User profileStart MenuTotal PC Defender2010 folder and all files in folder.

Another way to do this is to use the “Search” function in Windows to search the phrase “total pc defender” and delete all offending references.

Similarly, this would be done in the registry as well. To edit the registry wich is where a list of all programs and entries of the installation is stored we would use the regedit program to remove PC Defender. To completely remove these varmits we are going to have to make sure that all references to them are gone.

Simply go to the Start Menu and in the run or blank search box type “regedit” this will auto start the registry editor program. We then simply want to search the registry for “total pc defender” and remove all references. When a reference is found we simply want to delete it as illustrated below. You will find a folder and simple entries in other folders, simply highlight any reference of the name then righ click and choose delete from the dialog box.

Conversely,
Another option is available and is suggested if you have the means and is a big time saver. Remove the infected hard drive from the computer and install it in another Windows system as a non boot drive. Scan the infected drive with any up to date anti-virus software: AVG, Avast or Avira had good free versions. Below are videos on how to slave hard drives.

When the scan has completed choose the option to remove all possible infections. Remove the drive from the host PC and place it back in the original system and boot to Safe Mode with networking ( this will enable Malewarebytes and Combofix to retrieve the latest updates via the web.)

Run Malewarebytes first followed by Comobofix, this process should remove multiple infections of even the most nasty virus.

How To Slave a Desktop Hard Drive For Data Recovery Software

This video from Jacqui Best shows how to slave a desktop hard drive prior to using data recovery software. We also have a full tutorial along with the video on our How To Slave A Hard Drive page. You will need the latest Flash player if you use Firefox, it works without anything extra in all versions of IE.
[flv:hard-drive-recovery-slave-disk.flv 320 240]

Hard Drive Recovery Tutorial How To Slave a Laptop Hard Disk To USB Enclosure

This tutorial by Steve Richards one of our Data Recovery Technicians, shows how to use a USB enclosure to slave a laptop hard drive. We also have a full tutorial on our Hard Drive Recovery Tutorial – How to Slave A Laptop Hard Drive To USB Enclosure page.

How To Slave a SATA Hard Drive

So a few years a ago I wrote a post on how to slave an IDE hard drive internally into a tower. While this is still very useful information, with so many people not having access to the internal tower or with people trying to use their laptops or even worse someone else’s laptop/desktop computer USB has become a more viable option. So here is a new revised How To Slave A Hard Drive blog.

First just like before we are going to need to remove the affected (nice word for broken) drive from what ever machine is holding it hostage. If it is a tower then the original How To slave a Hard Drive post will work just fine to get the drive out. If it is a laptop then please see the How To Slave a Laptop Hard Drive post.

Ok so now that we have the hard drive out of the machine lets move on to turning it into external USB storage, like your own personal My Book.

Above you will see what I consider just your standard run of the mill USB enclosure. You can usually pick these up for 25-45 bucks depending on where you go to get one. Walmart, Bestbuy, and CompUSA all sell them.

Now there is going to be some way to open the box up depending on which brand you bought.

One piece is the case and the other is what we need to hook the hard drive to. Lets grab the hard drive hook up piece or the GUTS if you like.

Now you can see here that I have an IDE cable but NOT SATA which now-a-days could be a real problem with out the proper adapter to go with it. Generally when they sell these chassis they are going to come with everything you need in order to be able to plug in any hard drive type i.ex. IDE, SATA, LAPTOP IDE, LAPTOP SATA. Make sure when you buy the enclosure that your drive is supported or that you get the adapter you will need in order to make it work.  Below see a picture of my adapter.

This is the side that plugs into the enclosure.

This side plugs into the SATA hard drive.

Here we see that I have connected the IDE to SATA connector to the internal power and IDE cable on the enclosure.

This is the underside of the SATA hard driveand where we will need to connect the IDE to SATA adapter.

Now, i take the end of the adapter that will fit in to the hard drive and connect the drive to the enclosure.

When you are done it should look something like this. Now if this is for Hard Drive recovery purposes then I would advise not stuffing it back into the case part of the enclosure. If this is for you to use as an external hard drive there are a few things I would like to say.

1. Make sure it has a good size fan in it.
2. It should be made of aluminum
3. The chassis with the mesh covers are awesome, excellent for airflow!

Ok so taking the idea that I am using this to recover my data I now need to connect the USB cable and the power. Buying one with its own external power is a good idea because then you are not dependant on the port to power the drive.

Once you plug it in you should hear the oh so familiar USB device connected BONG sound. If this is just an issue that the drive tried to boot and can not then it is likely you will have full access to the data on the drive. If not then you will more then likely need some kind of data recovery software or maybe even to have me Remote in and fix the drive for you. Either way I hope this helps, and post a comment if you need clarification on anything.