Data Error Reading Drive C:\ can be a warning about some serious trouble with your PC’s inner part, but in many cases this is nothing but the fake notice sent by virus. In fact, nowadays there are several rogue hard drive defragmenters that show various misleading and untrue notifications about unreal troubles with your PC. Among such malicious programs we may name Smart HDD and Data Recovery (latest known examples). Apart from the fake notice about “Data Error Reading Drive C:\” there are many other similar warnings. All of them tell of problems with your system, memory and hard drive, but nothing reported should be considered as a real trouble.

Apart from the fake warning like “Data Error Reading Drive C:\” and other samples, these fake HDDs substantially amend your personalized settings by hiding the majority of your files, folders, desktop icons, shortcuts, etc. Even the list of programs in the start menu is also hidden, whereas many files are relocated by the scareware into other specifically designated location (the folder named “smtmp”). They are also often removed (deleted) from their initial location, whereas the backup copy is still available. If such type of malware entered your machine, please consider installing one of recommended anti-spyware programs listed in the right panel of this blog, to clear your system from malware bondage. Finally, take the necessary steps to restore your hidden data as reviewed below.

Fake HDD error screenshot:

Guidelines to restore your system after fake HDD (rogue) program:

1. Guide to remove malicious (virus) application that causes such fake notice to appear – http://www.deletevirus.net/remove-smart-hdd-virus/
2. Guide to restore your missing (hidden) files and folders manually – http://www.deletevirus.net/how-to-restore-files-missing-because-of-virus/

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