Cleaning, Protecting and Fixing a Windows PC

Whether you want to protect your PC from viruses and spyware or cleanup and fixup your PC after viruses and spyware have taken over, or troubleshooting an unknown problem, the first step is going through these steps to clean and protect your PC (if possible and not already completed). Many problems act like hardware problems when in reality they are related to spyware or viruses. 

Dialup Users:  Go to the ITS Helpdesk and borrow an ITS Utility CD. Use the instructions provided to install Deep Scan, Windows Defender anti-spyware and Sophos anti-virus. Use the instructions in step 3 below to update Windows.

Step 1: Doing an anti-virus Deep Scan.

This step should remove any existing viruses on your Windows PC and verify that your PC is clean. Proceed as follows:

  1. Download the anti-virus Deep Scan installer to your desktop from: http://www.goshen.edu/its/files/Deep Scan for Win XP-2K.exe
  2. Boot your PC in "Safe Mode". This can be done by repeatedly pressing the F8 key right after turning on your PC. It should bring up a menu. Choose "Safe Mode".
  3. Log in if necessary.
  4. Click OK if warned about safe mode.
  5. Double-click the Deep Scan icon on your desktop.
  6. Depending on the speed of your computer and the amount of files on your hard disk, this step could take from 10 minutes to over an hour.

Step 2: Installing and Using Windows Defender

Windows Defender is Microsoft's free anti-spyware software.

Installing Windows Defender

  1. Right-click the following link and choose "Open in New Window". That way these instructions and the pages to download Windows Defender are both viewable. http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
  2. Click the "Download it Here" button.
  3. If prompted, with a "Continue" button beside "Validation Required" do the following steps. Otherwise go on to step 4 below.
    Internet Explorer Users
    1. Click the "Continue" button beside "Validation Required".
    2. Click the "Install" button.
    Firefox, Mozilla, Netscape Users
    1. Click the "Continue" button beside "Validation Required".
    2. Click the "Download plug-in " button.
    3. Save this plug-in to your desktop.
    4. Double-Click the "WGAPluginInstall.exe" icon on your desktop.
    5. Click "Next"
    6. Click "Finish"
    7. Go back to your web browser and click "Continue".
  4. Click the "Download" button.
  5. Save it to your desktop.
  6. Double-Click the "WindowsDefender.msi" icon on your desktop.
  7. Click "Next"
  8. Click "Validate"
  9. Click "I Accept the Terms..." then click "Next".
  10. Click "Use Recommended Settings".
  11. Click "Next"
  12. Click "Complete"
  13. Click "Next" then "Install"
  14. Make sure there is a check in the checkbox by "Check for Updated Definitions and run a quick scan now."
  15. Click "Finish".
  16. Windows Defender will download updates and start an anti-spyware scan.
  17. If it finds spyware follow the on-screen directions to remove the spyware.
  18. If you are using CAT, go back and run the CAT scan again when the spyware scan has completed successfully.

Updating Spyware Definitions

Normally Windows Defender updates itself in the background. If you need to do a manual update proceed as follows:

  1. Go to Start / All Programs and click Windows Defender.
  2. You should be prompted to check for new definitions. Click "Check Now".
  3. When it has completed the version of definition updates will be displayed on the bottom line.

Step 3: Updating Windows

  1. Click the Start button and then click Windows Update.
  2. Click the Express button.
  3. If asked to do a Genuine Windows Validation click the Continue button.
    a. If it says you have an invalid Product ID you will need to contact the company that sold you the computer and ask them to provide you with a genuine copy of Windows. You will not be able to update Windows on your PC until this is resolved. Contact the ITS Help Desk for more information.
    b. Otherwise click Install Updates and then click I Accept.
  4. Click the Download and Install Now button.
  5. Click the Continue button
  6. If requested reboot your PC.
  7. Repeat steps 1 through 6 until no high-priority updates are available.
  8. If you are using a dialup modem and need to install Windows Service Pack 2, you can borrow a Windows Service Pack 2 CD from ITS.  This will greatly speed up the process.

Step 4: Installing Sophos Anti-Virus 6 on Windows 2000/XP

The Sophos Anti-Virus installer can both do new installs and can upgrade previous versions of Sophos Anti-Virus. Sophos Anti-Virus v6 is now required on all Windows 2000/XP PCs on campus. To install or upgrade Sophos Anti-Virus proceed as follows:

  1. You will need a password to run the Sophos anti-virus installer. Go to https://gconline.goshen.edu and log in with your GC username and password. Pick the Sophos Anti-Virus option. Make a note of the password for your installer.
  2. If you have any non-Sophos anti-virus software on your PC you MUST uninstall it before installing Sophos. Running two anti-virus programs on your PC at the same time can make your PC unusable!

    Other anti-virus programs include:     Norton, Symantec, McAfee, FSecure, ETrust InoculateIT, AVG, Panda, Trend, FProt, FProt Macro, NOD32, Kaspersky, BitDefender, BullGuard, AntiVir, Command, AVast, etc.

    To uninstall one of these go to Start / Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs. Select your current anti-virus software from the list and click the "Remove" button. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the uninstall. You may be asked to reboot your PC before continuing.
  3. Close all programs running on your PC.
  4. Make sure you are connected to the Internet or campus network.
  5. If you are using an ITS Utility CD insert (or re-insert) the CD, click OK at the logo screen, click "Install Sophos Anti-Virus for Student Use" or "Install Sophos Anti-Virus for Employee Home Use" and click OK.
  6. If you are not using the CD, download the Sophos Anti-Virus installer to your desktop. Student users should click install-resnet-sav.exe to begin the download. Employees should click install-home-sav.exe to begin the download. When the download finishes double-click the "install-resnet-sav.exe" or "install-home-sav.exe"icon on your desktop.
  7. Click RUN if prompted.
  8. Enter the password.
  9. If you are using Sophos Anti-Virus v4 it will be uninstalled. You will then be asked to reboot the PC. After the reboot go back to step 3.
  10. While Sophos is updating you will see a blue shield with flashing green bars in your system tray at the bottom right of your screen. When the installation is finished you should see a solid blue shield icon
  11. Sophos will update itself regularly but all you will see is flashing green bars on the blue shield in the system tray. If the update fails for some reason the blue shield icon will have a small red x on it .  You can force an update by double-clicking on the blue shield icon.  You can launch the Sophos AV program to run an anti-virus scan by right-clicking on the blue shield icon and choosing Open Sophos Anti-Virus.