Article URL: http://www.bc.edu/helpdocs/RX-vscanscan001.shtml

Summary:  Learn how to scan your computer, external hard drive, or a disk (floppy or Zip) for viruses using McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i on your Windows Vista, XP, or 2000 computer.

Note: The initial scan of your computer may take a long time to complete.

On-Demand Scan

To scan your computer for viruses using McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.5i:

1. In your system tray (bottom-right corner of your screen), right-click the VirusScan icon , then click On-Demand Scan from the pop-up menu.
   
   -OR-
   
   Click Start, point to All Programs, point to McAfee, then click On-Demand Scan.
   
   
2. In the On-Demand window, do the following (see Figure 1):
   • Click All Local Drives to select it.
   • Click Start.

   
   Figure 1.
   
   

3. McAfee VirusScan will then scan all your files for any viruses (see Figure 2).
   
   Figure 2.
   
   
4. If no virus is found (see Figure 3) then close all McAfee VirusScan windows.
   
   Figure 3.
   
   
5. If a virus, spyware, or adware is found, VirusScan attempts to delete it. Depending upon the results of this, one of the following happens:
   • The infected file gets deleted, so you do not need to do anything else. Your computer is no longer infected.
   • The infected file cannot be deleted, so the file is moved to the C:/Quarantine folder (see Figure 4). Delete the file from the Quarantine folder: Within the VirusScan window, right-click the file name and click Delete.
     
     Figure 4.
   • The infected file cannot be deleted and it cannot be moved to the C:/Quarantine folder
     (see Figure 5). To get rid of it:
     - Faculty & Staff: Contact your Technology Consultant (TC).  Who is my TC?
     - Students: Contact the Help Center at 552-HELP (2-HELP from on-campus), help.center@bc.edu, or visit the walk-in Help Center in O'Neill 248 next to the Campus Technology Resource Center ( CTRC).
     
     
     Figure 5.
   
   
   Important: Some viruses can damage files so that they are unusable. In this instance, your file is already beyond repair. VirusScan cleans the file, but may not be able to save it. This is where back-ups come in handy. Learn more about the options for storing your documents and files at Boston College.
   
   Do not use periods when naming your files! Outlook moves messages with attachments that have 2 or more periods in the name (For example: notes.04.01.20.doc) to the Junk E-mail folder. To prevent this, do not use periods when naming your files, and also remind people that send you attachments not to use periods. 
   
   
6. If necessary, repeat steps 1-2 for other drives or disks. Make sure to scan all your computer's drives, files, and memory.
7. When necessary scanning is done, close all McAfee VirusScan windows.