How Do I Manually Remove a Computer Virus?

How Do I Manually Remove a Computer Virus? thumbnail
Removing a virus from your computer requires time and patience.

A computer virus can come in many forms. Some of the names you may be familiar with are trojan, spyware and malware. According to Microsoft, a computer virus can corrupt data on your computer or delete your programs. It's important to get rid of viruses because they often can spread to other areas of the system or other computers. It's not incredibly difficult to remove a computer virus, but it will take a good deal of patience and a fair amount of time.

Instructions

    • 1

      Start Windows in safe mode. This allows you to run basic programs and fix problems without unnecessary programs interfering. Press the "F8" key during start-up to place computer in safe mode.

    • 2

      Reveal hidden computer folders. Open up the Start menu, and select "Control Panel." Select the "Folder options," and click on the "view" tab. Check the box to show hidden files and folders, and uncheck the box next to it to hide protected system files.

    • 3

      Open up the Control Panel and try to remove the virus. Select the "Add/Remove Programs" option, and scroll through your list of programs. Remove programs that you don't recognize because they may be spyware programs causing damage to your system.

    • 4

      Empty your Internet cache. Open up your Internet Explorer. On the right hand side, select the Tools menu, and click on "Internet Options." Under the General Options tab, click on "delete files." This will get rid of cookies and Internet files that may be affiliated with a computer virus.

    • 5

      Restore your computer to a backup location, or reinstall the operating system if needed. Windows System Restore can help you restore your computer. This program can be found with a simple Windows search.

Tips & Warnings

  • Double-check your system before removing programs.

  • Always create a backup before making changes to your computer.

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References

  • Photo Credit computer image by blaine stiger from Fotolia.com

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