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AVG "SOS" RESCUE DISKS
A few readers have reported a problem making the first AVG Boot Disk. We think this
may be due to the version of Windows that you have. We are conducting a deeper diagnostic
investigation into this and will publish a cure in the next Clinic. In the meanwhile, please
continue using your AVG in the usual way and don't forget to update it.
DR. MAC'S COMPUTER CLINIC
NO. 11
VIRAL ATTACK - PLAN OF ACTION
Greetings and welcome to another Computer Clinic. Last week I received yet another virus
in my e-mail. Fortunately, my AVG program zapped it before it could do any harm.
For those of you who have not downloaded an installed this excellent, FREE
anti-viral program, full details are in Clinic 9 and 10
The majority of viruses will arrive in your e-mail, so our Clinic will
concentrate on this. But, I will also tell you other ways you can use
your AVG program, including using your SOS Rescue Disks (We told you
the correct way to make these Rescue Disks in Clinic 10)
MEDICINE FOR E-MAIL VIRUS ATTACK
If you get an e-mail virus, it will download in the usual way and will be placed in the folder
where your e-mails usually go. In this example, I have sent myself a "test" virus file and
the e-mail has gone into my "doctormac" folder :
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An e-mail has been downloaded and
is in my "doctormac" folder.
At this stage, I don't know it has
a virus attachment.
When I click on the folder to see
what e-mails are inside, AVG
immediately springs into action.
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The split second AVG recognises that there is a virus, the following box pops onto your
screen :
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AVG says a virus
has been found and
it will be moved to
the Virus Vault.
Click on "O.K."
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Once you click on O.K. AVG confirms that the virus has been moved to the Virus Vault :
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Click on "O.K."
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NOW ... go to your desktop and DOUBLE-CLICK the main AVG 6.0 shortcut
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Remember, this is the LARGE icon on your desktop -
NOT the little icon in your Systray (next to the clock)
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When the main AVG screen appears, click on "Program"and then on
"AVG Virus Vault"
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On the MAIN AVG screen, click on
PROGRAM. A little drop-down
box appears.
Click on AVG VIRUS VAULT
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The Virus Vault appears - and there is the nasty virus! LEFT click ONCE
on the name of
the virus to highlight it, and then click on the first button which looks like a
waste-paper bin.
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LEFT click
ONCE on
the virus to
highlight it.
Now, click
on the
first button.
This deletes
the virus
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And that's the end of the virus!
CHECKING SINGLE FILES
You can also check any single file anywhere on your computer. All you need to do is
RIGHT-click ONCE on the file you want to check. A menu will pop up.
Select "Scan with AVG" ... like this
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Left-click once on Scan with AVG
AVG scans that single file and tells you
if it is infected. If it IS, you can ask
AVG do do a full scan and disinfect.
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If you do not want AVG to do a full scan, then you can simply DELETE
the file if it is infected.
N.B. If you manually delete an infected file, it will still be in your computer -
in the Recycle bin. So, it is critically important to go to the Recycle bin and delete
it from there as well !
USING YOUR AVG "SOS" RESCUE DISKS
I hope the following never happens to you ... but ... sometimes a virus does get into
your PC. Some of them are so destructive that they prevent you from booting into Windows.
This means you cannot use any anti-viral program in Windows. The only way to scan
and disinfect the virus is in DOS. This stands for the Disk Operating System.
This is where your AVG Rescue disk set can literally save your computers life!
(We gave you full instructions on how to make your Rescue Disks in Clinic 10
WARNING : You will not be able to connect to the internet and review this Clinic in DOS.
You will not be able to read these instructions even if you have saved this whole Clinic
as a single web-page (We advised you to save ALL your Computer Clinics - full instructions
are in Clinic 2 ) You are strongly advised to PRINT ALL THESE INSTRUCTIONS and keep them
safely with your two AVG Rescue Disks
TO USE YOUR SOS RESCUE DISKS IF YOU CAN'T GET INTO WINDOWS-
Switch your computer completely OFF. That means, reach down and turn your computer off using the main On/Off button.
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Put your first No.1 AVG BOOT DISK into your floppy drive.
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Switch your computer ON using the main On/Off button.
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In Clinic 10 we showed you how to make this first disk correctly. If you transferred your system files onto this first floppy, your computer will start to boot up.
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A black, DOS screen will appear. When your computer is fully into DOS, AVG will ask you to take out the first floppy and put in the second one - No 2 AVG Rescue Disk.
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Put the second floppy into the "A" (floppy) drive and then press your ENTER key. This is the large key on your keyboard - it is also called the "return carriage" key.
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The AVG program will now load. When it has completed, the following screen will appear :
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N.B. You cannot use
your mouse in DOS !
You can only use your
"up/down" arrows and
the big "Enter" key on
your keyboard.
Some programs also
allow you to press
a letter on your keyboard.
With AVG, you will see that
the letter "C" - in the
"Test and Clean" section -
is in a different colour.
Press the letter "C" on
your keyboard
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When you press the letter "C" AVG will start a complete scan and disinfect ("heal")
all infected files. When it has finished, take the floppy out, and switch your computer off.
Hopefully, you will now be able to boot into Windows in the normal way again.
IF YOU STILL CAN'T BOOT INTO WINDOWS, IT IS LIKELY THAT THE VIRUS HAS DESTROYED SOME
OF YOUR CRITICAL START-UP FILES AND YOUR MASTER BOOT RECORD.
Right - now we have to apply the "heavy medicine"
Follow the exact procedure as detailed above, but this second time, when you get
the AVG DOS screen, press the letter "R" on your keyboard. AVG will now Restore
your System Area with a set of clean files.
Only use this option if the "Test and Clean" medicine isn't strong enough!
We repeat - you are STRONGLY advised to PRINT ALL THESE INSTRUCTIONS OUT. If you don't have
a printer, then refer to my tip on how to get a print-out if you haven't got a printer
in Clinic 8
P.S.
AVG released an update a few days ago. Refer to Clinic 10 on how to get it!
P.P.S. Another week has passed - SO ... time to close down all running programs using End
It All and give your PC its weekly MOT using Scandisk. Refer to Clinics 5, 6 and 7 for full
details.
Best wishes and Happy and SAFE computing!
Dr. Mac
Dr. Mac's Computer Clinic
LIBRARY
All the
Computer Clinics that have appeared on the idf50 web-site
are HERE
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HEALTH WARNING
Outdated programmes and lack of "know-how" can seriously affect the health of your PC including your internet and e-mail enjoyment
CLICK HERE
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