Problems with virus's

[jfall]

I was playing around in DOS the other day and I noticed that my Total Memory was 636k rather then 640k.. so I assum that I have some type of a virus. I have downloaded mcafee's virus scanner and it didn't find anything.. so I downloaded the latest virus dat files which were released only a few days ago, and still nothing. Any suggestions?

 

[Adul]

It doesn't sounds like avirus to me. Remember that some things need to load into dos such has tsr, and memory managment. You will never ever have all 640k. So don't worry to much aobut it.

 

[Adul]

What version of dos you are using? What type of system?

 

[jfall]

Adul.. I think you have it a bit mixed up.. the total memory is always suppose to be 640k isn't it? the free memory is what is affected by things being loaded into it.

I am running:

Tbird 950 w/ KT-7 Raid
Windows ME

also, I was in windows DOS mode when I did the mem command.

 

[medic]

Try running a mem /c as well to see what's running in DOS

One way to check would be to update your Anti-Virus boot disk on a NEW floppy, shutdown and unplug your computer, cycle the switch a few times, turn back on after 10 minutes, boot with your anti-virus disk and run your scanner.
Running a fdisk /mbr will also clear out certain virus's.

Edit:
Total memory should be 655,360, however some times the bios or shadow ram will take up 1-2K
Use the chkdsk command.

 

[jfall]

If you fdisk the master boot record, do you have to reinstall the OS?.. I really don't want to go through a reinstall, I just got everything setup the way I want it

 

[medic]

I have used it a few times on clients computers without trouble/reinstall but I would definately backup first.

Edit:
Just to reinforce the advice to backup first, if you actually have a virus that has infected the MBR, there is a chance that to remove it there seems to be a 50/50 chance that it will also toast the MBR

So BACKUP regardless:

PowerQuest

 

[jfall]

cool, I will try it.. thanks for your help guys