--- title: "How to remove virus from Desktop and laptop" description: "If your PC or laptop is running slow, or strange windows keep popping up as you browse about Windows, your PC may well have been infected by a virus," author: "Anonymous User" published: 2015-05-23 updated: 2026-05-13 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1774/how-to-remove-virus-from-desktop-and-laptop category: "troubleshooting" tags: ["desktop troubleshooting", "laptop troubleshooting"] reading_time: 3 minutes --- # How to remove virus from Desktop and laptop In this article I’ll explain about clean desktop and laptopand how to safe our desktop and laptop from virus.\ ##### Details: ## If your PC or [laptop is running slow](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/108669/what-to-do-if-your-laptop-is-running-slow), or strange windowskeep [popping up](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/51481/how-to-fix-an-iphone-se-problem-on-apple-id-verification-prompt-that-keeps-popping-up) as you browse about Windows, your PC may well have beeninfected by a virus, spyware or one of the myriad other types of malware thatproliferate on the web. We show you how to remove malware from a [PC or laptop](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/95968/how-do-i-repair-a-microsoft-edge-browser-on-a-windows-pc-or-laptop). Howto clean up your PC after infection by a virus or spyware, or any of the othernet nasty’s out there. We'll start, however, by giving you some quick and basicadvice on prevention. ##### Remove a virus: Prevention: ## Check now: do you have on your pc [internet security](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/167386/how-can-we-find-complete-internet-security) internetsecurity software that includes up to date firewall, antivirus and antispyware.That is the very least you need in your security arsenal. The easiest way toget such security on your PC is to purchase an internet security suite. Readour internet security software reviews and Group test: what's the best securitysoftware? For information on the best products. Incidentally, if you do have up-to-date security softwareand you still think you are infected, simply running a scan is a good firststep, but it is likely it won't [solve the problem](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/94744/why-is-google-play-store-not-completing-downloads-and-how-can-i-solve-the-problem). Once installed any malwareworth its salt will be able to disable your antivirus. (Security software to agreater or lesser degree prevents infection, but if your security software hasalready failed, it is unlikely alone to be able to solve the problem. Remember,no antivirus program can detect 100 percent of the millions of malware typesand variants, particularly given the fact that literally thousands of newthreats spring up each day.) ##### Remove a virus: enter Safe Mode: ## First, do no harm. You need to disconnect your PC or laptopfrom the internet. Do so by unplugging any wired connections, and switching offWi-Fi on [your laptop](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/108500/what-to-do-if-your-laptop-is-running-hot). Now we're going to boot into Windows' Safe Mode. This isa version of Windows that runs without many of the programs and processes requiredby full Windows. It will allow you to use your PC without doing any moredamage, and it should help you to find out what the problem is. Malware won'trun in Safe Mode. To boot into Windows Safe Mode in Windows 7, Windows Vistaor Windows XP, first [shut down](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/108505/what-to-do-if-your-computer-won-t-shut-down) your PC. Turn on your PC and as soon as you seeanything on the screen press the F8 key repeatedly. You'll now see the AdvancedBoot Options menu. Select Safe Mode with Networking and press Enter. Windows 8 is a little different. Windows 8 PCs start upquickly so there's not enough time to press F8. For Windows 8, at the Windows 8login screen, simply choose restart and hold down the Shift key. You willarrive at the windows with options to troubleshoot your system from which youcan select to boot in Safe Mode. Of course most people who need Safe Mode will already have aproblem with their PC. If you are already logged in and can see only a blackscreen, hit CTRL, ALT, DEL to bring up the selection screen, and choose logout,restart. Then hold down the Shift key and you will be taken to the window viawhich you can choose Safe Mode. ##### Remove a virus: delete temporary files: ## This step isn't critical, but it can help. Deleting tempfiles will [speed up](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/114802/how-can-you-speed-up-a-slow-android-or-ios-device-without-installing-third-party-apps) virus scanning, free [disk space](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/109146/why-does-my-computer-display-a-low-disk-space-warning-after-recent-updates) and may even delete malware.Select Start, All Programs (or just Programs), Accessories, System Tools, DiskCleanup. And choose to delete [temporary files](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/33907/how-to-programatically-check-temporary-files-in-system-using-c-sharp). check more post on troubleshooting here --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/articles/1774/how-to-remove-virus-from-desktop-and-laptop Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.