PC Training & Consulting Weblog

Can't Remove a Virus

January 19, 2004

Q: I'm having problems with 2 worms on an office computer: Alavir.exe w32 opaserv.worm and Scrsvr.exe w32 opa serv. worm. Norton didn't help and am unable to get on the internet. Have suggestions?

If Norton won't remove the virus and you can't get online with that machine, there are a few things to try:

1) Start in Safe Mode. When you first turn the machine on, you have a few seconds between the moment any text appears and before the Windows logo appears (then, it's too late) to press F8. If a menu appears, try Safe Mode. Then, you may be able to run Norton.

2) Boot from another disk. Best is to boot from the Norton CD. If you can't, then boot with a Windows floppy and try to run Norton from its CD.

3) Norton has free virus removal programs that you could download on another machine, copy to floppy, and run from the floppy (even if you can't boot from the floppy).

4) Scan the drive from another machine on the Network. A lot will depend on network access and privileges. mjh