How to Remove Virus from Laptop Using CMD?

While Command Prompt (CMD) can help in identifying and removing some types of malicious files, it's important to note that CMD is not a complete antivirus solution and is not capable of removing all types of viruses. It's most effective at dealing with specific, less complex malware or hidden files, and should be used with caution. Here's a breakdown of the process:

Steps to Remove Suspicious Files Using CMD

The following steps provide an approach on how to try to remove suspicious files from your laptop using command prompt:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

   • Type cmd in the Windows search bar.
   • Right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as administrator."

2. Display Hidden Files:

   • Use the following command to show hidden files, remove read-only, system, and hidden attributes. This is sometimes necessary to see potential virus files:

     attrib -s -h -r /s /d *.*

   • Explanation:
     • attrib is the command to change file attributes.
     • -s removes the "system" attribute.
     • -h removes the "hidden" attribute.
     • -r removes the "read-only" attribute.
     • /s processes files in the current directory and all subdirectories.
     • /d processes directories as well.
     • *.* specifies all files and directories.

3. List Files in the Current Directory:

• Use the following command to see the files and folders in your current directory.

```
  dir
```

4. Identify Potential Viruses:

   • Carefully examine the file list and look for files that:
     • Have suspicious or unusual names.
     • Have unusual file extensions (like .vbs, .exe, .bat, or double extensions like .txt.exe).
     • Appear out of place.
   • Caution: Be very careful when identifying files, because deleting essential system files could damage your computer. If you are unsure of a file, do not delete it.

5. Delete Suspicious Files:

   • Use the del command to remove identified malicious files.
   • Example: If you identify a file named virus.exe, you would use:

      del virus.exe

   • To delete several files at once, you can use wildcards. For instance, to delete all files with the .vbs extension, you could use:

      del *.vbs

   • Warning: This permanently deletes files from the current directory. Double check the files name and extension before deleting it.

6. Restart Your Computer:

   • After deleting files, restart your laptop to finalize changes.

Important Considerations

• Limited Effectiveness: CMD is not a substitute for a dedicated antivirus program. It can only remove some basic malicious files, not advanced viruses, rootkits, or other complex threats.
• Expertise Required: You need a good understanding of file systems, extensions, and potential malware indicators to avoid accidentally deleting important system files.
• Not Comprehensive: CMD can’t detect and remove active malware. It only targets static files.

Recommendation

It is best to use a proper antivirus program for thorough virus detection and removal. The method outlined above can be used as a secondary step or for specific situations, but should not be solely relied upon for full protection. Always back up your data before attempting any malware removal procedures.