FIX: Filename contains a virus and was deleted

When you’re trying to download an email attachment or other file online and you get a message saying the filename contains a virus and was deleted, the issue may be on your computer’s performance after using antivirus.

The error filename contains a virus and was deleted indicates that you had an antivirus that you tried to uninstall, but it wasn’t executed properly, and this is why you’re facing the problem.

It is important also to note the antivirus software you tried to uninstall and uninstall it properly by downloading the appropriate removal tool and removing it completely.

However, you need not worry about this issue as we have some quick fixes you can try to resolve it.

How to fix filename contains a virus and was deleted

1. Boot in Safe Mode with Networking
2. Perform a Clean Boot
3. Scan with Microsoft Safety Scanner
4. Disable your antivirus program
5. Run Internet Explorer in no add-ons mode
6. Check for the issue in another User account or create a new one
7. Reset Internet Explorer settings

Solution 1: Boot in Safe Mode with Networking

Safe Mode with Networking starts Windows in safe mode, including the network drivers and services you need to access the internet or other computers on the same network.

Follow these steps to boot into safe mode with networking:

• Restart your computer
• When the sign-in screen is displayed, hold down SHIFT key while you select Power then Restart
• After the computer restarts to Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot

• Click Advanced options

• Click Startup Settings

• Click Restart
• Once it restarts, you will see a list of options. select 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking

Once you’re in safe mode, try to perform a clean boot.

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Solution 2: Perform a Clean Boot

If you manage to boot in Safe Mode, perform a clean boot to eliminate any software conflicts that may be causing the issue.

Performing a clean boot for your computer reduces conflicts related to software that can bring up the root causes of the problem. These conflicts can be caused by applications and services that start up and run in the background whenever you start Windows normally.

How to perform a clean boot

In order to successfully perform a clean boot on Windows 10, you have to be logged on as the administrator, then follow these steps:

• Go to the search box
• Type msconfig

• Select System Configuration

• Find Services tab

• Select Hide all Microsoft services box

• Click Disable all
• Go to Startup tab
• Click Open Task Manager

• Close Task manager then click Ok
• Reboot your computer

You will have a clean boot environment after all these steps are carefully followed, after which you can try and check if the problem is gone.

Do the following to exit Safe Mode with Networking:

• Right click Start button
• Select Run

• Type msconfig
• A pop up will open
• Go to the Boot tab

• Deselect or uncheck Safe Boot option box
• Restart your computer

ALSO READ: How to clean your Windows 10, 8 or 7 PC with CCleaner [review]

Solution 3: Run Microsoft Safety Scanner

When a virus infects your computer, it makes the machine’s performance slows down greatly. Running a virus scan means any infected files may be cleaned by deleting the file completely, meaning you may experience data loss.

Microsoft Safety Scanner is a tool designed to locate and remove malware from Windows PCs. It only scans when manually triggered, then you get to use it 10 days after you download it.

This means you need to download the latest version of the tool before you perform each scan on your computer.

However, the Microsoft Safety Scanner tool doesn’t replace your antimalware program. It helps remove malicious software from your Windows 10 computer.

Here’s how to run Microsoft Safety Scanner:

• Download the tool
• Open it
• Select the type of scan you want to run
• Start the scan
• Review scan results on the screen, which lists all malware identified on your computer

To remove the Microsoft Safety Scanner tool, delete the msert.exe file by default.

Solution 4: Disable your antivirus program

Firewalls and your antivirus program software may prevent some functions on your computer and cause the filename contains a virus and was deleted error.

It isn’t recommended to permanently turn the security software off, but doing this temporarily will check if it is the actual cause of the problem. If your computer or device is connected to a network, the network’s policy settings may prevent you from turning off your firewalls and antivirus software.

If you disable your antivirus program, do not open any email attachments or click links in messages from unknown people.

Immediately after you’re done fixing connection error, re-enable your antivirus and firewall.

• ALSO READ: 6 best antivirus with antispam to get rid of all the junk emails

Solution 5: Run Internet Explorer in No Add-ons mode

You can check if the problem persists by running IE in no add-ons mode, which means you temporarily disable all add-ons and see if they’re causing the issue.

Here’s how to do this:

• Click Start
• Select All Apps

• Click Windows Accessories

• Click Internet Explorer 
• Select Tools

• Select Internet Options

• Go to Programs tab, click Manage add-ons and disable all add-ons

If it works fine in the No Add-ons mode, then an add-on could be causing the error, so you need to re-enable each one by elimination to determine which one is causing the issue.

Solution 6: Check for the issue in a different user account or create a new account

You can check if the problem exists in a different user account. If you don’t have a different one, you can create a new user account and check the status in this new account.

Here’s how to create a new user account:

• Click Start
• Select Settings

• Select Accounts then choose Family & Other Users

• Click Add someone else to this PC

• Fill in the form with the user name and password. Your new user account will be created.
• Click on Change account type
• Click the drop down arrow and choose Administrator to set the account to administrator level
• Restart your computer
• Login to the new account you just created

If the issue goes away, then it may mean your other user profile is corrupted.

You can try the following in case of a corrupted user profile:

• On your new account, use it to downgrade your usual account
• Click Apply or Ok
• Raise back your old account to its default admin level
• Rinse and repeat a few times as this will help to remove any corruption
• Leave your account on as Administrator

Check whether you still get the filename contains a virus and was deleted error when using the newly created account. If it persists, then you can either Fix the old user account or migrate to the new account.

Note: If you have different user accounts, log in to each and check if the problem persists or goes away.

• ALSO READ: Local User Account disappears after Creators Update [FIX]

Solution 7: Reset Internet Explorer

If the filename contains a virus and was deleted error persists, then you can try to reset Internet Explorer settings.

This action, however, is irreversible, and may reset security or privacy settings added to the list of Trusted Sites, including parental control settings so note the sites before you do the reset.

Here are the steps to resetting Internet Explorer settings to the factory default settings:

• Close all windows
• Select Tools

• Select Internet Options

• Select Advanced tab

• Select Reset
• Go to Reset Internet Explorer Settings

• Select Reset
• Select Close once default settings have been applied
• Click OK
• Restart your computer to apply changes

Did any of these solutions help you fix the problem? Let us know by leaving a comment in the section below.

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