Since Malware, Cannot See Contents of External HDs

Hello, I've run into a very distressing problem. Can anyone please help?


SYNOPSIS OF PROBLEM:

1 - After contracting some sort of malware that I have removed with Malwarebytes, I have lost access to the contents of two external USB hard drives, each of them being 1 Terabyte in size and one of them is partitioned into several smaller drives.

2 - The drives show up in windows explorer, but they say "this folder is empty".

3 - Each drive still shows up as part-way full when you right click and go to properties, but none of the files accounting for that space show in windows explorer.

4 - It's not particular to this machine, I unplugged them and tried them on my other computer. Same thing: the HDs show as partially full in properties, but none of the files show in explorer.

5 - I have not tested or done anything to either drive since loosing contents except plug them into another computer. I have not tried defragging or anything just in case someone here tells me that was the wrong thing to do.

If you would like details on how this situation arose, they are below. Just in case that would help anyone figure this out. If anyone does, I will buy them a beer. Thanks.


BACKGROUND STORY (how it happened):

I was saving a word document and installing a printer driver when an AVG warning came up. I thought it was related to the software the printer was installing so I chose to click on ignore.

Then I got a screen saying "Windows Recovery" or something like that, I don't remember, but I was fully duped and thought it was windows sending the message. I did the scan and it found several things (which I might have just installed by "scanning" I suppose) that were threats. It got rid of some but said I had to buy the upgraded module for $80 if I wanted to fix them. Luckily, I didn't do that, although I fully believed it was a windows message.

Anyway, I got several windows popping up saying that an IDE drive connected was unreadable or had bad sectors (don't remember, I'm going from memory) and recommending a restart. I did this several times. When I found out this was malware (spoke to someone on the phone), I used Malwarebytes to get rid of the messages, but the drives were still unreadable.

When I happened to look for a file I had saved, I discovered that My Docs had lost all it's content. Then I discovered that another folder had too. Then saw the whole drive had lost its contents. Then discovered that my other external had lost its contents. And I suspect my third external (which I disconnected by accident since then so I didn't test) will probably appear the same.

I am almost certain it's related to this malware, and I'm almost certain that all my data is still on the HDs, so if anyone can help me gain access to it, I'd be real appreciative.

Thanks,

I would delete this post if I could. I've posted everything under

"HELP: Files are intact, but Windows Explorer can't see them!"

Thanks,