Decompressing files.

[Patrick O'Callaghan]

I ran a virus scan and found two 'compressed' folders
which the computer says are infected. It
suggests 'decompressing' them and rescanning. I don't
know what decompressing means or how to go about it and
God knows I've tried.

I grovel in ignorance. Please advise.

 

[David H. Lipman]

If its virus related, the following News Groups are apropos...

microsoft.public.scripting.virus.discussion
microsoft.public.security.virus
alt.comp.virus
alt.comp.anti-virus

Compressed folders can be ZIP, TAR, RAR, CAB and other compressed files using compression
algorithms.

A "good" AV package can handle compressed folders *unless* they are password
protected/encrypted. The questions now are...

What AV software did the scan ?
What files/folders (full paths) were indicated ?
What was the name of the virus the unidentified AV scan declared it to be ?

Dave




| I ran a virus scan and found two 'compressed' folders
| which the computer says are infected. It
| suggests 'decompressing' them and rescanning. I don't
| know what decompressing means or how to go about it and
| God knows I've tried.
|
| I grovel in ignorance. Please advise.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I ran a virus scan and found two 'compressed' folders
which the computer says are infected. It
suggests 'decompressing' them and rescanning.

If those were described as in 'System Volume Information' that folder
holds the restore points, and the virus has been put in one of the
points. It can do no harm there, unless you restore to the point
concerned. So wait for a new clean one to have been made (or go to
Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore and
create one manually) then Start - All Programs - Accessories - System
Tools - Disk Cleanup and on the More Options use the button to delete
all but the more recent point - the virus will go along with the point
it is in