Author Topic: virus scan unable to scan  (Read 5448 times)

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t0ny

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virus scan unable to scan
« on: February 08, 2008, 08:03:56 AM »
I ran a scan and the report listed hundreds of files which were unable to be scanned because they are either corrupt or password protected.  I tried moving these to the chest but got an error message. Any advice?

Offline DavidR

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Re: virus scan unable to scan
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2008, 04:37:54 PM »
Many programs (usually security based ones) password protect their files for legitimate reasons such as AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy, there are others (and avast doesn't know the password or have any way of using it even if it did know it).

When you run scans with the above programs and you delete harmful entries that they detect, a copy is kept (in quarantine/restore/backup) in case you need to reverse what you did. These are usually password protected, you should do some housekeeping and delete old backup/recovery/quarantine entries (older than two weeks or so), this will reduce the numbers of files that can't be scanned.

By examining 1) the reason given by avast! for not being able to scan the files, 2) the location of the files, you can get an idea of what program they relate to. You may need to expand the column headings to see all the text.

Files that can't be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.

As for corrupt files it may just be that avast can't extract the files from an archive, rather than the file being corrupt, but still nothing to worry about. Can you give some examples of the file names and locations, etc. ?
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t0ny

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Re: virus scan unable to scan
« Reply #2 on: February 12, 2008, 01:03:45 AM »
Thanks.  Yes indeed most of the files unable to be scanned related to Spybot which I no longer use.  Most of the others were temp internet files.

Offline DavidR

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Re: virus scan unable to scan
« Reply #3 on: February 12, 2008, 04:43:46 PM »
If you no longer use spybot uninstall it and that should remove those unable to scan files.

What reason is given for not being able to scan the temp internet files ?
The reason I ask is I can't see why avast shouldn't be able to scan files in the temp internet files folder, can you give some examples of the file names ?

You could of course just clear the temp internet files folder before scans.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.3.6108 (build 24.3.8975.762) UI 1.0.801/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

zammer

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Re: virus scan unable to scan
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2008, 11:28:21 PM »
The forum seems to indicate the reason it was unable to scan must be known. I show 492 lines each saying under Results. "Unable to scan:Ar.." There is no other information other than the name of the file. How do I approach this? Which of the "Actions" do I take?
Thank you

Offline DavidR

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Re: virus scan unable to scan
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2008, 12:14:55 AM »
There is more information as indicated by the ... indication of concatenated information to fit the window/column. You just need to expand the column width.

I expect the "Unable to scan:Ar..." is "Unable to scan:Archive is password protected, etc." the information should also give the file name and location.

Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.3.6108 (build 24.3.8975.762) UI 1.0.801/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security