virus Removal

[Drop-Top]

I am trying to get an operating system free of virus for a friend of mine because I do not want to have to reformat. If I put his drive in my comp with updated norton, can I remove the viruses that way?

[loks]

yes but why dont you download the spysweeper that should get them off

[Drop-Top]

I have never used spy sweeper, but i notice it is only a trial version. This is not going to be a permanent solution to the problem, not that I had on previously though.

[UlicBelouve]

No no no. He's talking Viruses. Not Spyware. SpySweeper will do a good job with the spyware, but not with viruses.

You can use McAfee Stinger, that is a good free prog to get about the top 25 viruses off of a comp. Then go to sarc.com and select "check for security risks". This will allow an online scan that can pick off additional items. Or at least let you know of additional things. Get it here:

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

McAfee Singer will pick off the major baddies. I know you can take the hard drive and set it up in anoher computer, but it requires some set up on that other comp (I did this when I fixed comps, we had a macahine that would automatically make the other drives a slave, so you didn't need to mess with jumper or anything, just plug it in, and scan the second drive.) Stinger is still your best bet there. Just runs as a stand-alone to get the big baddies. Fits on a thumbdrive, very handy.

[Mr.Guvernment]

And after all of that - Yes you can put the drive on your computer and scan it with everything - virus scanners / spyware all that -.

It doesnt take much set up - you take the HD out and put it into yours - set the pins and off you go. - if anyting plug it in on your 2nd IDE channel alone. - done deal.


Norton also has an online scan - personally - i hate McAfee due to the numerous people i know who have had McAfee corrupt their boot files and screw the O/S.

[UlicBelouve]

Agreed. McAfee as an AV prog isn't too good. But I do like the stinger. It's free, and hasn't given me the same breakdowns as the regular McAfee program. It's good at eliminating the forerunners of viruses, very nice in cleaning a comp of some of the major viruses. Else, after that, use something besides McAfee as normal protection or for a deeper scan. It's just that you might not want to hook the hard drive up to another comp or to the internet if it has some of the major viruses. Stinger would take care of the major ones so that THEN you can hook it up to the internet for an online scan or to another comp for a scan there. LAst thing you want is a virus getting to your hard drive when you hook it up to scan. Not too likely, but it's better to remove the virus in an isolated environment rather than when it is connected to your comp or to the internet. Eliminates more possibilities for things to go wrong.