My computer is having a serious problem. I would appreciate advice on how to handle it.
This afternoon, when I took my lunch break, my computer went into screen saver, and did it's virus scan as it normally does. I have Avast antivirus, which runs scans for viruses every time the computer goes into screensaver.
I wasn't looking at the computer for about an hour, and then when I returned, I got a screen from Avast saying it had found a whole host of viruses. Usually, I remove the viruses, and place them in the chest, and everything is fine. This time, the Avast instructed me to reboot the computer. When I did, the Windows XP icon that always appears when my computer comes on did not appear. Instead, I got a message that said something about "File C drive is corrupted". I'm not a computer tech, so I wasnt sure what this meant. It removed a couple of problems from the File C drive, and then started doing its normal scan. Two problems developed though.
Usually, my computer starts the scan with the antivirus screen from Avast being a blue color. Several weeks ago, I had updated the Avast to a more current version. After a certain amount of files, the screen turns orange, and then finishes its scan at about 100,000 or so files.
Today, not only did the screen from Avast not turn orange.. but.. another problem occurred. The Avast did it's scan, and then when it got to about 125,000 files, said "Testing finished", which is it's usual process. After that, it is quiet until I go online again.
Today, after I got the "testing finished" screen, the computer, or the Avast antivirus or whatever, automatically started a new scan, and began doing the process of scanning all over again, without my having even touched it. I've had Avast, as a whole, old version, and new, for 3 years. The computer has done thousands of scans in that time, every time the computer goes into screensaver, after I've used it for work, and socializing, and it NEVER started another scan after giving me the all clear from one scan, and saying "Testing finished".
I'm truly worried. I know this is an old computer, almost nine years, but I dont know what the heck is wrong with it. It seems to be working fine, as I can surf, work, send emails, visit sites, etc, but something isnt right. Why would the Windows not boot up properly, and why would the Avast automatically begin another scan, after giving me the all clear, when I hadn't even touched the computer, after it finished the first scan?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Mitch
I should also mention that my Avast software, before this incident, was up to date. I just did a long update recommended by them last night, and everything seemed to be fine until this incident today.
This afternoon, when I took my lunch break, my computer went into screen saver, and did it's virus scan as it normally does. I have Avast antivirus, which runs scans for viruses every time the computer goes into screensaver.
I wasn't looking at the computer for about an hour, and then when I returned, I got a screen from Avast saying it had found a whole host of viruses. Usually, I remove the viruses, and place them in the chest, and everything is fine. This time, the Avast instructed me to reboot the computer. When I did, the Windows XP icon that always appears when my computer comes on did not appear. Instead, I got a message that said something about "File C drive is corrupted". I'm not a computer tech, so I wasnt sure what this meant. It removed a couple of problems from the File C drive, and then started doing its normal scan. Two problems developed though.
Usually, my computer starts the scan with the antivirus screen from Avast being a blue color. Several weeks ago, I had updated the Avast to a more current version. After a certain amount of files, the screen turns orange, and then finishes its scan at about 100,000 or so files.
Today, not only did the screen from Avast not turn orange.. but.. another problem occurred. The Avast did it's scan, and then when it got to about 125,000 files, said "Testing finished", which is it's usual process. After that, it is quiet until I go online again.
Today, after I got the "testing finished" screen, the computer, or the Avast antivirus or whatever, automatically started a new scan, and began doing the process of scanning all over again, without my having even touched it. I've had Avast, as a whole, old version, and new, for 3 years. The computer has done thousands of scans in that time, every time the computer goes into screensaver, after I've used it for work, and socializing, and it NEVER started another scan after giving me the all clear from one scan, and saying "Testing finished".
I'm truly worried. I know this is an old computer, almost nine years, but I dont know what the heck is wrong with it. It seems to be working fine, as I can surf, work, send emails, visit sites, etc, but something isnt right. Why would the Windows not boot up properly, and why would the Avast automatically begin another scan, after giving me the all clear, when I hadn't even touched the computer, after it finished the first scan?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Mitch
I should also mention that my Avast software, before this incident, was up to date. I just did a long update recommended by them last night, and everything seemed to be fine until this incident today.
