FIX: Filename contains a virus and was deleted

Deputy Editor

December 14, 2017

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

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

ALSO READ: 7 best free antivirus for one year: Grab any of these in 2018

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.

RELATED STORIES TO CHECK OUT: