Many things, including viruses and other malware can interfere with an AV scan, but from your limited info it's impossible to say. Please answer the following:
1)Why do you think your PC might have a virus? Did PC-Cillin detect something recently?
2) Do you currently have any other security scanners installed, partucularly other AntiVirus scanners? Did you ever have a different AV on your PC?
3) Which operating system do you have (XP, Vista, Windows 7)?
4) Do you have Automatic Updates enabled, and is your PC up to date with all security patches from Microsoft?
A good idea to help rule out a virus is to run an online AntiVirus scan. I can recommend Eset NOD32 Online Scanner http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/ which not only scans but also removes infections. temporarily disable your PC-Cillin AV before attempting ths.
It's not particularly important in this case, but you should also mention which specific model system/laptop you're using anyway?
In addition to the (excellent) advice already offered, it might be worth trying to run a scan (using PC-Cillin) after booting into Safe Mode, just to see of it can complete a scan?
If it can, that would suggest it's conflicting with some other program you have installed?
If ESET online found nothing, it makes it far less likely your PC is infected (but not impossible). Particularly if you are up to date with MS security patches.
I'm not familiar with PC-Cillin, but there is a possibility it detected a false positive file, (a file which is not in fact infected) the removal of which accounts for your problems. All AVs have occasional false positive detections. If your PC was behaving well before the AV scan, it makes it more likely you had a false positive.
Can you get into your PC-Cillin's log files to determine which file(s) were detected, and either deleted or quarantined? If you could tell us that, it would help.
joe53
2 Intern
•
5.8K Posts
0
November 29th, 2009 20:00
Hi bttrflygirl29, and welcome.
Many things, including viruses and other malware can interfere with an AV scan, but from your limited info it's impossible to say. Please answer the following:
1)Why do you think your PC might have a virus? Did PC-Cillin detect something recently?
2) Do you currently have any other security scanners installed, partucularly other AntiVirus scanners? Did you ever have a different AV on your PC?
3) Which operating system do you have (XP, Vista, Windows 7)?
4) Do you have Automatic Updates enabled, and is your PC up to date with all security patches from Microsoft?
A good idea to help rule out a virus is to run an online AntiVirus scan. I can recommend Eset NOD32 Online Scanner http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/ which not only scans but also removes infections. temporarily disable your PC-Cillin AV before attempting ths.
You could also try online chat with Dell's Pc-Cillin support site
http://us.trendmicro.com/us/support/pc-cillin-internet-security-support-for-dell-users/
Good luck, and let us know how it goes.
TheRealFireblad
3 Apprentice
•
4.6K Posts
0
November 30th, 2009 10:00
Welcome to the forums :emotion-21:
It's not particularly important in this case, but you should also mention which specific model system/laptop you're using anyway?
In addition to the (excellent) advice already offered, it might be worth trying to run a scan (using PC-Cillin) after booting into Safe Mode, just to see of it can complete a scan?
If it can, that would suggest it's conflicting with some other program you have installed?
bttrflygirl29
2 Posts
0
November 30th, 2009 19:00
1. PC cillin did detect viruses on my computer on Saturday. Tried to run scan but it would stall and not complete even after several hours.
2. This is the only AV I have had on my Dimension E 521 since I purchased. Did have IE 8 for a while but it conflicted so I took off IE 8.
3. I have an XP.
4. Yes, I have completed the updates minus the IE 8 update.
I tried the www.eset.com scan and it completed without incident.
How do I get into safe mode?
Thank you for all your help! ;)
joe53
2 Intern
•
5.8K Posts
0
November 30th, 2009 20:00
Good work! Thanks for the reply.
If ESET online found nothing, it makes it far less likely your PC is infected (but not impossible). Particularly if you are up to date with MS security patches.
I'm not familiar with PC-Cillin, but there is a possibility it detected a false positive file, (a file which is not in fact infected) the removal of which accounts for your problems. All AVs have occasional false positive detections. If your PC was behaving well before the AV scan, it makes it more likely you had a false positive.
Can you get into your PC-Cillin's log files to determine which file(s) were detected, and either deleted or quarantined? If you could tell us that, it would help.
Meanwhile, trying your AV in Safe Mode is a good idea. Re-boot your PC, and continuously tap the F8 key:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true