When AVG (free version) finds a virus (as soon as access is made
to a virus-laden file), you're told to run AVG and run the
"complete test".
This takes a LOOOONG time, since it's scanning every file on the
drive(s).
Other AV programs let you specifically deal with the virus file
that was detected ... fix it, quarantine it, or kill it. This
completes in a matter of seconds.
I don't see any way to do that with AVG free version. Is there a
way?
It's been my experience with AVG Free that when she finds a virus and
alerts the user with the dialog that you have described, she isolates
the suspect [confirmed or otherwise] file to a hidden folder [that
either exists or she'll create the first time the sequence is invoked]
on your root or C:\ drive called $VAULT$.AVG . To access this folder,
should you need to take a peek: goto and open your C:\ directory > Menu
bar > Tools > Folder Options > View tab and toward the bottom of the
"Advanced settings" field check the radio button to show hidden files >
Apply button. [WinXP will make the changes omnibus, but you can change
it back easily enough from any Windows Explorer window > per above path
if you should choose to click the OK button and exit that dialog for
now.]
On AVG: a source of some confusion for some new users seems to be the
bifurcation of accessing the AVG settings by either double-clicking the
SysTray icon, or right-clicking the SysTray icon and choosing the
highlighted "Run AVG Control Center" ~or~ right-clicking on the SysTray
icon and choosing "Run AVG Anti-Virus" which renders the actual
operating settings to the program.
Then: once you get there, the scanning settings are under the "Sevice"
button in the menu bar. "Complete Test Settings" is probably the one
that is of most interest in the OP's described situation.
Clicking the "Select" button will render a dialog showing a Directory
tree. Expanding "My Computer" [by clicking the |+| ] will reveal all
your drives. Clicking/selecting/expanding one of the drives will reveal
all the Directories within; etc., until you get the smallest directory
you would care to scan. Then OK out of there when you've focused on
exactly which folder you'd care to specifically scan this time -- BUT
DON'T FORGET to go back and select your key drives before you exit the
settings all together.
On my Complete Test Settings dialog, I have 2 drives which I constantly
use that remain selected in AVG's Complete Test Settings [although,
from time to time I'll focus on just one directory, or even one folder
temporarily - but then return to my permanent settings] and I
select/tick/check EVERYTHING for all the other options.
Specific to your question: in my experience with AVG Free, sometimes
she will do different things in response to a file she has identified,
probably based on her latest database: I've had her kick this machine
into a "Safe Mode" dialog, actually zapping me into that 16 bit
graphics display and throw out a dialog asking if I want her to delete
the file and reboot - to which I have ALWAYS responded not just "yes"
but "just ohh heck yes and thank you very much" - and upon reboot,
dialogs an option to do a complete scan [undoubtably relying upon the
settings discussed and preset above] to which I've always responded
yes. Also, I've had her notify me that she's identified a file, and in
order to access it, I've had to navigate to the hidden Vault file
described above and choose to manually delete it - it happens so
rarely, but to the best of my recollection I think she renames it
before putting it in the Vault. In any case, I delete with wiping
[some folks simply shift+delete to avoid the Restore bin or SR files],
then I turn off System Restore, then I use the Windows "Disk Cleanup"
tool, then I reboot, then I run a complete AVG scan again - and if all
comes up well, I turn back on System Restore, and run over to:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
and run a complete scan for a sanity double-check.
Those are basically the options with AVG Free. To the OP's question I
would also respond that while it's probably usually somewhat reliable
to depend on AVG [or ANY OTHER AV PROGRAM - PREMIUM OR NOT] to be
conducting their resident scanning operations, "since it's scanning
every file on the drive(s)," a characteristic of viruses and other
related malware is their capability to transmute and/or surreptitiously
create and/or change other existing files or even to mask themselves as
legitimate files. Therefore, an AV program is NOT going to identify a
malware outside of a complete scanning procedure unless the system
accesses that file - and badda bing: sometimes that could be too late.
Therefore, I have a tendency to simply consider the time expended with
the above removal procedures as time well invested.
And on top of all that, a really thourough and diligent backup stategy
also insures that losses are kept to a minimum should the AV defenses
fail. All this takes time - but NOT NEARLY as much time as would be
lost if a drive were destroyed and no backups available.
Best of luck to all, and happy USA Mother's Day to you and your mammas!
