ARCHIVED: Using Symantec/Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition, how do I immediately scan a file, folder, or drive for viruses?

Note: The University Information Security Office (UISO) recommends that you run the latest version of Symantec virus protection software (available to IU students, faculty, and staff free of charge via IUware) for your operating system; See In Windows, how do I safely upgrade to the latest Symantec Endpoint or AntiVirus software? Be sure to upgrade safely, update your virus definitions daily, and scan your computer weekly. Check the software help for instructions.

The links above tell you how to set your Symantec/Norton AntiVirus software to automatically scan your computer for viruses. However, you can run a scan at any time by following the instructions below. Be sure to update your virus definitions first (see ARCHIVED: For Symantec virus protection software, what are my options for updating the virus definitions?), so your computer will be protected from the latest known viruses.

Windows

Note: For best results, run security software scans in Safe Mode. If you don't scan in Safe Mode, the software may not be able to detect or remove each security threat it finds.

For help, see Microsoft Support.

To scan a specific file, right-click the file and select Scan for viruses... .

To scan a folder, drive, or mapped network drive on your computer, follow the appropriate instructions below:

Symantec Endpoint

Note: This will only scan local drives. To scan a mapped network drive, you must navigate to that drive, right-click it, and then select Scan for Viruses... .

1. Open Endpoint by double-clicking the Endpoint icon located in the Windows notification area.
   
   
2. Click Scan for threats and select the type of scan you wish to perform. An Active Scan will scan only the most commonly infected areas and will take only a few minutes. A Full Scan will scan the entire computer and will take anywhere from 30 to 120 minutes.
   
   
3. When the scan is complete, close the program. If you ran Endpoint in Safe Mode, restart your computer to return to normal startup mode.

Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus

1. From the Start menu, select Programs or All Programs, then Symantec Client Security or Symantec/Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition, and then Symantec AntiVirus Client or Symantec/Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition.

   Alternatively, in the notification area of the Taskbar (typically on the lower right of your screen), right-click the Symantec/Norton AntiVirus icon (a shield) and select Open Symantec/Norton AntiVirus... .

2. In the resulting window, in the left panel, expand the Scan menu and select the scan you wish to perform. If you choose Custom Scan, on the right you will see further options for your selection. From this panel, you can:
   
   
   • Select the drive letters you want to scan (e.g., C:).
   • Check the open box next to My Computer to scan all drives at once.
   • Click the + (plus sign) next to an item to expand its contents.
   • Click Options... to further customize a scan.
   
   
3. Once you've made your selections and configured any options, click Scan.
   
   
4. When the scan is complete, close the program. If you ran Symantec/Norton AntiVirus in Safe Mode, restart your computer to return to normal startup mode.

Mac OS X

Symantec Endpoint for Mac

1. Open the Applications folder, then the Symantec Solutions folder, and then Symantec Endpoint Protection.
   
   
2. In the Symantec application window, click Scan... .
   
   
3. Navigate to the file, folder, or volume you want to scan and click Select.

The scan results will be displayed when the scan is finished. If a virus is found, click Repair to attempt a repair of the file, or Delete to delete the file. Click Close when finished.