Tutor Tips from ... the Computer Tutor

10 January 2005

Norton AntiVirus: How to Properly Scan for Viruses

Protecting your computer from viruses, worms, and things that go bump in the night is relatively easy using Norton AntiVirus (NAV). Unfortunately, many of you are not scanning your system completely. By doing so, you leave your computer open to attack and reinfection. Follow these easy steps to scan your computer properly:

Update the Program and Virus Definitions

  1. If you are using a version earlier than 2003, you will not be able to renew your virus definition subscription. Purchase a copy of Norton AntiVirus 2005 (or any Symantec product that includes NAV) and install it. You can buy it from Santa Rosa Computers or online at Symantec's Web Store.
  2. If you are using a current version of NAV, run LiveUpdate from the main screen and then follow the on-screen instructions. You may need to run this more than once and reboot the computer to complete the updates.
  3. If you need to renew your subscription, do it while you are updating the program. (For detailed instructions, click here.) If you cannot renew through LiveUpdate, you can order a subscription renewal from the online Subscription Renewal Center.

Turn off System Restore (Windows XP)

  1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
  2. Click the System Restore tab.
  3. Select the Turn off System Restore check box (or the Turn off System Restore on all drives check box), and then click OK.
  4. Click Yes when you receive the prompt to the turn off System Restore.

Shut Down the Computer

  1. Don’t click Restart.
  2. Click Shut Down. (It will be easier to complete the next step.)

Boot in Safe Mode

  1. Start the computer. The computer begins processing a set of instructions known as the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS). What is displayed depends on the BIOS manufacturer. Some computers display a progress bar that refers to the word BIOS, while others may not display any indication that this process is happening.
  2. As soon as the BIOS has finished loading, begin tapping the F8 key on your keyboard. Continue to do so until the Windows Advanced Options menu (Windows XP) or the Startup menu (Windows 98) appears. If you see the Windows splash screen, you’ve proceeded too far. Press the reset button or power off the computer and try again.
  3. Using the arrow keys on the keyboard, scroll to and select the Safe mode menu item, and then press Enter.
  4. As the system boots into Safe Mode you may see some unusual lines of text appear (Windows XP). Ignore them.
  5. At the Windows XP or 2000 start screen, log in as yourself or as Administrator.
  6. When Windows warns you that you are running in Safe mode, acknowledge it.

Scan for Viruses

  1. Open Norton AntiVirus. (The little icon by the clock won’t be there, so you’ll have to open it from the Start menu.)
  2. Ignore the big red Xs telling you that Auto-Protect, e-mail scanning, and script blocking are disabled. This is normal in Safe Mode.
  3. Click Full System Scan on the Status screen and then click Scan Now.
  4. If the scan detects a virus or Trojan, follow Norton’s default choice of repairing the file. If it cannot be repaired, delete it. If it cannot be deleted, you’ll have to delete the file manually. Write down the name of the infected file and do a search for it. When you find the file, delete it.
  5. If you have infected files, Norton will list them and their infectious agents. Write this information down. You will need to go to Symantec’s Security Response page to see if there is a removal tool for each infectious agent. It would be best to obtain the tool by using another computer. This will keep you from reloading the infection when you go online to retrieve the removal tool.
  6. If the scan came up dirty, i.e., you have at least one infected file, you must run the scan again. This is very important. Your system is not clean until Norton says it is.
  7. Repeat the scanning until the system is virus free.

Start the Computer Normally

  1. Shut down the computer and allow it to restart
  2. By default, it will start in Normal Mode

Turn on System Restore

  1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
  2. Click the System Restore tab.
  3. Clear the Turn off System Restore check box (or the Turn off System Restore on all drives check box), and then click OK.