Data Recovery

Data Recovery removal guide

Data Recovery is a fake computer scanner - it's a variant of previous version System Recovery. As it's predecessor this fake program tries to scare computer users into thinking that their PC has multiple hardware errors that may cause data loss. This rogue scanner is installed by  misleading websites which uses various security vulnerabilities to install Data Recovery on your computer. When installed on your computer Data Recovery will start automatically every time your operating system boots.

After this program starts it will initiate a fake computer scan. This scan will result in various critical errors found regarding the hardware of your computer. These errors will state that the rotation speed of your computer's HDD has decreased bu 20%, there are errors initializing drive C:, System is unstable, RAM temperature is critically high, C: is unreachable and many others. To further scare you into thinking that there are problems with your computer's hardware Data Recovery will hide your desktop icons and start menu items. If you click "Fix Errors" button in the main window of Data Recovery you will be redirected to a website where you will be asked to purchase a full version of this program in order to repair the found errors. You shouldn't activate the advanced module in Data Recovery, this program is a scam created to steal money from your credit card account. What this program actually does is performs a fake computer scan and the hides your files to scare you into purchasing it's fake licence. You shouldn't trust Data Recovery - it's a fake computer program, remove it from your PC as soon as you notice it.  If you have already purchased this bogus program, contact your credit card company and dispute the charges explaining that you have been tricked into purchasing a fake computer program.

Data Recovery fake scanner will display such fake pop-up messages:

"Critical Error Hard drive clusters are partly damaged. Segment load failure"

"System Error An error occurred while reading system files. Run a system diagnostic utility to check your hard disk drive for errors"

"Fix Disk Data Recovery Diagnostics will scan the system to identify performance problems. Start or Cancel"

"Data Recovery Diagnostics Windows detected a hard disk error. A problem with the hard drive sectors has been detected. It is recommended to download the following sertified software to fix the detected hard drive problems. Do you want to download recommended software?"

"Critical Error RAM memory usage is critically high. RAM memory failure"

"Critical Error Windows can't find hard disk space. Hard drive error"

"Activation Reminder Data Recovery Activation Advanced module activation required to fix detected errors and performance issues. Please purchase Advanced Module license to activate this software and enable all features"

Main window of Data Recovery:

Automatic Data Recovery spyware removal:

Before downloading, enter Data Recovery registration key in the registration window. Click on "Click here to activate full-functional version" which is located on the bottom-left of the main window and enter this key:

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Key: 1203978628012489708290478989147

When the registration key is entered, Data Recovery will think, that you've purchased it and will stop generating fake warnings. It will also enable some disabled windows features. Note, that registering this program will not remove it from your PC. It will just disable fake warnings and will let you to install spyware removers. After you entered this key, you can now download Remover (use the button below) and get rid of this fake security software.

Remover for Data Recovery

NOTE: If installation fails, you can try downloading customized installer which was built by our technicians to bypass Data Recovery spyware infection. Your browser may report that this file is unsafe. Please ignore these warnings. Download customized installer

Complete these steps if after removal of Data Recovery your Desktop icons or files are hidden: 

Step 1
This Infection Hides almost all user files. If You can't see your files don't panic. The files are not missing. They are just hidden, but still here. When downloaded spyware remover removes the infection, please download and run this tool to unhide your files (Link below). It is important to run this tool only when infection is already removed from your computer. This unhide files tool will be useless running it on infected computer.

When unhide files tool finishes, your windows desktop icons may still be gone. To fix missing desktop items after spyware infection download this .REG file. Double click when downloaded, click yes and then click ok. Reboot your computer, your desktop items now should be visible.

Step 2
Reboot your computer to check if everything is OK and Data Recovery rogue spyware is gone. Check if you can find all your files. If some files are still missing, open My Computer, Click Tools, then select Folder Options... and under View tab select radio button "Show hidden files and folders", press OK. Now you will see all hidden files and folders. To unhide them Right click on the file or folder, then select Properties and uncheck "Hidden" Check box.

That's it! You're done.

Manual Step-by-step removal instructions of Data Recovery.

If you are unable to remove Data Recovery, you can use this manual removal instruction. Use it at your own risk. If you don't have strong computer knowledge you could harm your operating system. Use it only if you are an experienced computer user. (Instructions on how to end processes, remove registry entries...)

E-mail: fake@email.com
Key: 1203978628012489708290478989147

If it works, this bogus program will be disabled and you will be able to remove it without constant interventions. Note, that this infection constantly mutates and keys may be changed. After this procedure you will be able to see your files and install legitimate spyware remover to remove this infection. If registration key doesn't work, proceed to Step 2.

Warning! Entering activation key will not remove this infection! It will only disable fake warnings. This spyware will run in background and will keep collecting your data!

Step 2
Load your computer in safe mode with networking. Click Start, click Shut down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer starting process press F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe mode with networking from the list.

Step 3
Open Internet explorer, click Tools and select Internet Options. Select "Connections".

Step 4
Click LAN settings, if a "Use a proxy server for your LAN" is checked, uncheck it and press OK.

Step 5
Download HijackThis and save it on your desktop. Some malicious programs are able to block HijackThis so when you click the download link, in the Save dialog rename HijackThis.exe to iexplorer.exe and only then click the Save button. After saving the file on your desktop, double click it. In the main HijackThis window click “Do a system scan only” button. Select these entries (place a tick at the left of the entry):

O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [.exe] %LocalAppData%\.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [] %LocalAppData%\.exe

After selecting required entries, click "Fix Checked". After this procedure you can close HijackThis and proceed to the next removal step.

Perform these actions:

End these Data Recovery processes:

[random.exe]

Remove these Data Recovery registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer "NoDesktop" = '1'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System "DisableTaskMgr" = '1'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run ".exe"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run ""
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\system "DisableTaskMgr" = '1'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download "CheckExeSignatures" = 'no'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced "Hidden" = '0'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced "ShowSuperHidden" = '0'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main "Use FormSuggest" = 'Yes'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "CertificateRevocation" = '0'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "WarnonBadCertRecving" = '0'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop "NoChangingWallPaper" = '1'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Associations "LowRiskFileTypes" = '/{hq:/s`s:/ogn:/uyu:/dyd:/c`u:/bnl:/ble:/sdf:/lrh:/iul:/iulm:/fhg:/clq:/kqf:/`wh:/lqf:/lqdf:/lnw:/lq2:/l2t:/v`w:/rbs:'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments "SaveZoneInformation" = '1'

Delete these Data Recovery files:

%Temp%\smtmp\
%Temp%\smtmp\1
%Temp%\smtmp\1
%Temp%\smtmp\2
%Temp%\smtmp\3
%Temp%\smtmp\4
%LocalAppData%\
%LocalAppData%\.exe
%LocalAppData%\~
%LocalAppData%\~
%StartMenu%\Programs\Data Recovery\
%StartMenu%\Programs\Data Recovery\Data Recovery.lnk
%StartMenu%\Programs\Data Recovery\Uninstall Data Recovery.lnk

Step 6
Download and install antispyware software to completely remove the infection. We recommend Spyware Doctor. If you can't run or installation fails, try downloading ourCustomized installer. After removal completes, perform these steps to unhide files and desktop icons

Other tools, known to remove Data Recovery:

General tips on removing Data Recovery:

*If you can't download anti-spyware software: Click on the download link, when the save dialog opens change the file name (example: when downloading mbam-setup.exe rename it to iexplore.exe).
*If you have installed anti-spyware program but you can't run it: Click Run, type %ProgramFiles% and press Enter. Open folder of your anti-spyware program, search for executable file and rename it. (example: Open Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware folder, right-click on the main executable file (mbam.exe) then click rename. Rename the mbam.exe file to iexplore.exe, winlogon.exe firefox.exe ...
*If you can't access your anti-spyware software, try creating a new user account:
Click Start -> Settings -> Control panel.
Click User Accounts and create a new account.
Reboot your computer and login using a newly created user account.
*After this procedure you should be able to access your anti-spyware programs. Update and run a full system scan.

Some malicious software modifies browser settings and disables downloads of spyware and virus removing software. If you have problems downloading anti-spyware software with Internet Explorer, try downloading with Chrome, FireFox, Opera, etc.

If you can't access Internet:

Load your computer in safe mode. Click Start, click Shut down, click Restart, click OK. During your computer starting process press F8 key on your keyboard multiple times until you see Windows Advanced Option menu, then select Safe mode with networking from the list.

Start Task manager. Press ctrl+alt+del (or ctrl+shift+esc) and end task the processes of rogue program. ( if after this procedure you can't access any programs press ctrl+alt+del, click File, select New Task, and type explorer.exe then press OK.

Open Internet explorer, click Tools and select Internet Options. Select Connections, then click LAN settings, if a Use a proxy server for your LAN is checked, uncheck it and press OK.

After this procedure you should be able to access Internet. Now you can download anti-spyware software from our "Top spyware removers" section and run a full scan. Download, install and don't forget to update your selected anti-spyware program. Then run a full system scan.

Adittional information: