deleting

[mnull27]

OK---this is brand new computer---I am used to Norton with an automatic scheduled run of the anti virus program.  So after only 3 days of using the computer I thought i would try the avasti----ran a scan and a list of files came up with the note "cannot scan" or something like that---there were about 14 or so of these.  i thought they should be deleteted but nothing happens when i select delete.  I am not very computer savvy so I don't understand how this all is working.  HELP!!!   Thanks!   mnull

[Staind]

Hi, several programs use password protected files, folders or archive files (such as .zip and .rar).  These are normal, on my computer I have roughly 600 of these files which come up, you should not be alarmed and you should not attempt to delete them.

Hope this helps,
-Staind.

[CharleyO]

*

Hi mnull27 ... welcome to the forums!      

These are most likely password protected files and may be part of the operating system, avast!, or other such programs.

But, you need to give us more information so that we can help you better ... such as OS and other programs you may have installed. Since it is only 14 files, perhaps you can list them here.

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[DavidR]

Hi, welcome to the forums.

As people have said some programs password protect some of their file and since an anti-virus program doesn't have that password, it can't check them. This doesn't mean that they are infected, just that they can't be checked.

Files that are protected by password, would/should also be protected from deletion by that same password, hense why they wern't deleted.

Checking where the files are located, should give you an idea of the program that created them and protected them. A common program that protects files in this way is Spybot Search & Destroy.

It is not good to rush to judgement and delete files until you have identified the problem/authenticity of the message. If there is another option that is less severe, I would choose that first. To me Delete is not a first choice weapon.

[inthewildteam]

mnull27, were you using any anti-virus programmes for the first 3 days before you installed avast?

[mnull27]

This computer is only a 4 days old.  So everythg on it is brand new.   I did notice however that the little "a" by my clock at the bottom of the screen is always on===does this mean anything---from whais gathered frothe Avast info it meansi am protected---correct?

How often do you run a scan--or is it always on?  and what do i do when it lists all these items in "results of scan"  I guess I am used to the Norton system.  I don't have Sppybot this time, beacuse my last computer got infected via the Spybot & Adaware.  So our computer guys installed Avast & Adaware SE.
I guess i am just thinking deleting gets rds of anything dangerous---that's why i was asking the question.   So it's Ok just to leave them alone?  They were all the same name----iI forgot the name---but I recognized it from my old Spybot list that used to come up.
You are all being very helpful but computer lingo escapes me as i am not a techie---didn't grow up with computers like a lot of you----so i am probably not asking questions correcctly.   Thanks so much---anything you contribute is very helpful!  Mnull

[RJ]

Hi Mnull27

Unless you get a warning that you have a virus, I wouldn't worry about scan results. I've never paid attention to them.  I do a scan once a week, and I also do a scan using an online virus scanner as well.

Not sure how your computer got infected from spybot, it really is one of the better ones out there, better than Adaware.  

You are asking questions just right

The little 'a' is just avast protecting your computer, don't worry about it

[bob3160]

mnull27
Are you using a Firewall???
It takes less than 20 minutes on line to infect a computer if not fully protected.
Please bear in mind, even if the computer is new, that doesn't mean its necessarily up-to-date. Please go to the windows update site and doublecheck.