How to clean computer for viruses

When you see the Sign-in screen, press the "Shift" key and don't release, and click the Power icon at the bottom-right and choose "Restart". Windows 10 restarts and asks you to select an option. If your computer is infected by some specific virus, such as write-protection or shortcut virus. You may need other solutions. As the above-provided methods are provided for removing viruses from your PC. Here are some relative tutorials that may help you remove some specific viruses from your PC and storage devices:.

After removing the virus from your Windows computer, you can then check and continue using your device and files again. If some files are missing on your computer due to a virus infection, don't worry. Go back to follow Part 1 to remove the virus from your computer first. Then you can follow provided data recovery methods here in this part to fully bring lost or missing files back immediately.

No matter how you end up killing the computer virus, you should always check your storage device for data loss afterward. Except for the virus itself may delete or hide files, the removal of virus files can also inadvertently delete non-virus files.

Reliable data recovery software such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard can scan your entire storage device for any lost files due to false operation or virus removal. Select the disk drive where you have lost files after using an anti-virus program and click "Scan". After the scan process finishes, all the lost and deleted files on the selected drive should appear. You can try to locate the antivirus deleted items from the tree-view pane on the left, or use the "Filter" function to specify particular file formats, such as pictures, videos, emails, documents and so on.

If you know the file name clearly, directly search the file in the Search box. Double-click a file will let you preview. After that, select the file s at one time and click "Recover". We suggest you select a different drive to save the recovered files to avoid data overwriting.

Sometimes, viruses will not only take over your computer, blackmailing money for decrypting your devices. Some may also hide your files, making you believe that all files were removed. Actually, these files were not lost but hidden on your PC. Therefore, you can also try to run the following CMD command to unhide files that were hidden by the virus:. Replace "F" with the drive letter of your virus-infected hard disk or USB.

Type del autorun. In addition to offering reliable solutions to remove viruses from your computer and restoring lost files, you may also have some other concerns about virus prevention and data protection.

There are many symptoms and signs that may show your computer or laptop is infected by a virus. For example, the computer suddenly stops working, hard drive gets encrypted or files turn into shortcuts.

How to check a virus? Next, you can save a copy of all your valuable files to an external hard drive as a backup. By doing so, you can always survive whenever your computer gets infected by a virus or malware. Here, you may use reliable file backup software to selectively back up all desired files to an external hard drive at one time:. Click the " Select backup contents " button to start backup.

Both local and network files will be listed on the left. You can expand the directory to select the files to be backed up. Follow the on-screen guide, select the destination where you want to save the backup. Click " Options " to encrypt the backup with password in " Backup Options ", set the backup schedule and choose to start back up at certain event in " Backup Scheme ". But before you do that, delete your temporary files.

Doing so may speed up the virus scanning, free up disk space, and even get rid of some malware. To use the Disk Cleanup utility included with Windows 10 just type Disk Cleanup in the search bar or after pressing the Start button and select the tool that appears named Disk Cleanup.

When you move your mouse over the icon, it should say "PC Status: Protected. If these steps do not return any significant problems, then the system is probably ok to use. Clicking it opens the Windows Defender program, which is the Windows built-in antivirus software.

Windows Defender is the recommended antivirus software for Windows computers. Using any other software in conjunction with Defender may cause problems such as an inability to shut down.

It's in the top-left corner of the Windows Defender window. A pop-out menu will appear. You'll see this in the pop-out menu. Click Advanced scan. It's a link just below the Quick scan button. Check the Full scan option. This is at the top of the window. If you're encountering malware issues and this scan doesn't solve them, you can try using the Offline scan option on this page to perform a deeper, file-based scan.

Click Scan now. It's in the middle of the page. Windows Defender will begin scanning your computer for infected files.

Wait for results. Windows Defender will alert you if it comes across viruses or other instances of Malware, at which point you'll be able to indicate that you want Defender to remove the malware in question. A malware scan can take several hours to complete. Method 2. Download Malwarebytes.

Macs don't come with a built-in antivirus program, so Malwarebytes is your best bet. Although Malwarebytes offers a paid premium version with real-time protection, you can use the free version to scan your computer and remove viruses or malware at any time. Find and double-click the Malwarebytes DMG file.

You'll most likely find it in the Downloads folder that's on the left side of the Finder window. The DMG file will either open or result in an error message. Verify the software installation. You'll need to do this if you receive an error message when attempting to open Malwarebytes. If Malwarebytes is recognized as a signed developer on your Mac, you won't have this step.

Double-click the "Malwarebytes 3" file. This file resembles a white box with a dark-blue Malwarebytes logo on it. Doing so will open the setup window. Set up Malware bytes.

Click Install Software Click Close when prompted. Open Malwarebytes. Click the Dashboard tab. It's in the upper-left corner of the Malwarebytes window. Click Scan Now. This button is at the bottom of the window. Doing so will prompt Malwarebytes to begin scanning your Mac for malicious software.

Click the Scan tab. You'll find it on the left side of the window. Click Confirm when prompted. It's at the bottom of the Malwarebytes window. If any malicious programs are found, Malwarebytes will immediately quarantine those files on your Mac so they will no longer harm your computer.

Method 3. Back up any files that you want to save. Since you'll be erasing your computer's hard drive and then reinstalling Windows onto it, make sure that any files which you want to save are backed up onto an external hard drive or cloud storage. Keep in mind that malware often attaches itself to files or programs.

If you suspect that a program that you downloaded is the reason for an infection, do not back that file up to your external hard drive. Click the Recovery tab. You'll find this tab on the left side of the window. Click Get started.