boot scan

The boot scan will help you fight viruses that have embedded themselves on your computer prior to installation of the antivirus software and that may prevent the G Data software from being installed. That is why there is a special version of the software that can be run before Windows is launched.

What is meant by booting up? When you switch on your computer, the Windows operating system will normally start up automatically. This process is called booting. However, it is also possible to run other programs automatically instead of your Windows operating system. To scan your computer for viruses before Windows starts up, G Data has provided you with a special "bootable" version in addition to the Windows version.

How do I cancel a boot scan? If you restart your computer and a special G Data software interface appears instead of the usual Windows environment, there is no cause for alarm. If you have not planned a boot scan, just use the arrows to select the Microsoft Windows entry and click on Return. Windows will now start normally, without first carrying out a boot scan.

If you want to run a boot scan, proceed as follows:

1a	Boot scan using the program CD: Insert the G Data CD into the drive. In the start window that opens, click Cancel and turn off the computer.

Boot scan with G Data software that you have downloaded from the Internet: You can burn your own boot CD via the Create G Data boot CD option in the G Data program group. Insert the boot CD you have burnt into the drive. In the start window that opens, click Cancel and turn off the computer.

If you are using Windows XP, when you try to create a boot CD, you may get a message saying that IMAPI 2.x has not been installed. This concerns a Microsoft update for older operating systems that is required for burning data media. You can download and install the necessary update directly from the Microsoft homepage.

After this first step the boot scan will proceed identically in all scenarios:

2	Restart the computer. The G Data boot scan start menu will appear.

Use the arrow keys to choose the G Data boot CD option and and confirm your choice with Enter. A Linux operating system is now started from the CD and a G Data special version for boot scans appears.

If you are having problems with the program interface display, restart your computer and choose the G Data boot CD – alternative option.

4	The program now suggest updating the virus signatures. If you are using a G Data software version that supports backup functions, you have the additional option here of directly launching restores of your backed-up data.

Click Yes here. To enable the update to run, you must enter either the access data you have already received or your registration number. You can then run the update. As soon as the data has been updated via the Internet, you see the message Update complete. Now exit the update screen by clicking the Close button.

The automatic Internet update is available if you are using a router that assigns IP addresses automatically (DHCP). If the Internet update is not available, you can still perform the boot scan using old virus signatures. However, in that case, you should perform a new boot scan with updated data as soon after installing the G Data software as possible.

6	You will now see the program interface. Click the Check computer entry to check your computer for viruses and malware. Depending on the type of computer and size of the hard drive, the boot scan can take an hour or more.

7	If the G Data software finds any viruses, please use the option provided in the program to remove them. Once the virus has been removed successfully, the original file is available again.

8	After the virus check has completed, exit the system by clicking on the small x (top right in the window).

9	Remove the G Data software CD from the drive as soon as your drive tray opens.

10	Switch off your computer again and restart it. Your computer will now start with your standard Windows operating system again, and you can be certain of being able to install the regular G Data software on a virus-free system.

If your computer will not boot from the CD/DVD-ROM, you may need to set this option up first. To do so, please follows these steps:

1.Switch your computer off.

2.Restart your computer. Usually you reach the BIOS setup by pressing the DEL button as the computer is booting up (and sometimes the F2 or F10 button as well).

3.How to change individual settings in your BIOS setup varies from computer to computer. Please consult your computer's documentation. The result should be the boot sequence CD/DVD-ROM:, C: , meaning that the CD/DVD-ROM drive becomes the 1st boot device and the hard disk partition with your Windows operating system on it becomes the 2nd boot device.

4.Save the changes and restart your computer. Your computer is now ready for a boot scan.