Can't open any Word docs on my D: drive

I keep all my documents, photos, and MP3 files on my D: drive, but I am absolutely reeling from what happened today. I’m in total shock. I can’t open a single Word document—instead, it just displays these bizarre, nonsensical Greek and Chinese characters. My photos won't load, my music won't play, nothing works! To make matters worse, I noticed that every single folder and subfolder is now cluttered with three specific files named:
DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.URL
DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.HTML
DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.TXT

I realize some people might reply with English links explaining how to handle this, and frankly, I’m a bit overwhelmed and might struggle to follow technical instructions in a foreign language. If anyone would be kind enough to explain the situation in plain American English, I would be incredibly grateful.

Please, if anyone knows how I might be able to rescue my documents and MP3s, I am desperate for help.

Probably some kind of virus. Run a scan on your PC using this and your own antivirus, then let me know what you find

Well, it looks like my Malwarebytes scan turned up about ten different issues. Here is the breakdown of what it found:

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
www.malwarebytes.org

Scan Date: 8/17/2014
Scan Time: 22:59:49 Logfile
Logfile: malware.txt
Administrator: Yes

Version: 2.00.2.1012
Malware Database: v2014.05.28.05
Rootkit Database: v2014.05.21.01
License: Free
Antivirus Protection: Disabled
Web Protection: Disabled
Self-protection: Disabled

OS: Windows 7
CPU: x86 file system
File System: NTFS
User: PAPE

Scan Type: Threat Scan
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 227973
Time Elapsed: 5 min, 19 sec

Memory: Enabled
Enabled startup: Enabled
Enabled Filesystem: Enabled
Enabled Archives: Enabled
Enabled Rootkits: Enabled
Deep Rootkit Scan: Enabled
Enabled Heuristics: Enabled
Enabled PUA: Warn
PUM: Warn

Processes: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Modules: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folders: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Files: 1
PUP.Optional.Web Searches.A, C:\Users\PAPE\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\user data\Default\Preferences, Good: (), Bad: ( "startup_urls": [ "https://isearch.avg.com/?cid={9DA53BAF-6579-4798-8412-6C9D779B03A9}&mid=4a787702072a47d0ac24d153354807e5-21f0121011a1faf2dbd4c7d9a8f0a61df9a8be6b&lang=en&d s=bm012&pr=sa&d=2012-10-08%2009:17:28&v=12.2.5.34&sap=hp", "http://www.mysearchresults.com/?c=3507&t=07", "http://search.conduit.com/?ctid=CT3225826&SearchSource=48", "http://feed.snap.do/?publisher=DownloadX&dpid=DownloadX&co=US&userid=7 a23e65f-d51a-40ff-bb52-e652370b5e2b&searchtype=hp", "http://tuvaro.com/ws/?source=4c3f95e5&tbp=homepage&toolbarid=base&u=104 0fd65000000000000001a73acee16", "http://www.google.com/", "http://www.msn.com/?pc=UP93&ocid=UP93DHP&dt=041013", "http://websearch.helpmefindyour.info/?pid=821&r=2013/04/15&hid=4178208008&lg=EN&cc=US", "http://us.yahoo.com/?fr=fpc-comodo", "http://websearch.homesearch-hub.info/?pid=964&r=2013/06/18&hid=4178208008&lg=EN&cc=US&unqvl=20", "http://websearch.searchdwebs.info/?pid=500&r=2013/06/22&hid=4178208008&lg=EN&cc=US&unqvl=22", "http://websearch.searchboxes.info/?pid=924&r=2013/07/17&hid=203906117&lg=EN&cc=US&unqvl=28", "http://www1.delta-search.com/?babsrc=HP_ss&mntrId=781D001E3702E891&affID=121564 &tsp=4947", "", "http://websearch.simplesearches.info/?pid=500&r=2013/08/23&hid=2234966653&lg=EN&cc=US&unqvl=31", "http://www.delta-search.com/?babsrc=HP_ss&mntrId=E063001A73ACEE16&affID=120698 &tsp=5039", "http://www.msn.com/?pc=BDT1&ocid=BDT1DHP&dt=121413", "http://www.google.com/", "http://www.search.ask.com/?tpid=OVO2V7C&o=APN11137&pf=V7&trgb=CR&p2=,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]EBD6,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]EYYYYYY,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]EYY,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]EHR&gct=hp&apn_ptnrs=,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]EBD6&apn_dtid=,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]EYYYYYY,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]EYY,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]EHR&apn_dbr=cr_32.0.1700.107&apn_uid=C1B5CF41-0D84-435A-9DC0-365266B9C8AC&itbv=12.10.0.3729&doi=2014-02-08&psv=", "http://www.search.ask.com/?o=APN10640A&gct=hp&d=473-107&v=n11551-262&t=4", "http://www.buenosearch.com/?babsrc=HP_ss&mntrId=80E5001A73ACEE16&affID=128403 &tsp=5188", "http://websearch.exitingsearch.info/?pid=1182&r=2014/03/17&hid=8152084885853768692&lg=EN&cc=US&unqvl=50", "http://websearch.amaizingsearches.info/?pid=725&r=2014/05/05&hid=780482451046187295&lg=EN&cc=US&unqvl=51", "http://www.buenosearch.com/?babsrc=HP_ss&mntrId=58D8001A73ACEE16&affID=128403 &tsp=5224", "http://istart.webssearches.com/?type=hp&ts=1407356823&from=wpc&uid=HitachiXHTS545 032B9A300_110121PBPC03CD077KZLX", "http://websearch.wonderfulsearches.info/?pid=1909&r=2014/08/06&hid=6699362537208269756&lg=EN&cc=US&unqvl=60", "http://search.gboxapp.com/" ],), ,[c946da7a9be021154aad2264fe06d22e]

Physical Sectors: 9
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1192 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1195 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1455 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1511 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1551 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1663 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1943 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],
Forged physical sector, Physical Sector #1975 on Drive #0, , [fcf915fe6cae0af18e09fb418074461c],

(end)

Carl Fowler said:DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.URL
DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.HTML
DECRYPT_INSTRUCTION.TXT

Just my initial take, but this whole thing smells like Ransomware.

Yep, Ransomware.

Carol Harris9, you really stepped in it this time. 🙂 It’s pretty much a binary choice at this point—either you pay whatever ridiculous amount they're demanding (you might want to take a look at what those decryption docs actually say) or you just say goodbye to all your files.

Good grief, I must say, I haven't encountered a situation quite like this in my fifty years on this planet.
Well, there's no sense crying over spilled milk, I suppose; if only I had shaved my head completely bald, perhaps I wouldn't be tearing my hair out right now.

As the old saying goes, "this is quite the learning experience."

Now, all that's left is deciding whether you want to settle up using Bitcoin or stick with another currency...

There is absolutely no way in hell I am paying anyone a single cent. Honestly, if everything falls apart, then so be it—we’ll just wipe the slate clean and start from scratch.