How to perform a VirusScan Command Line scan in Microsoft Windows

Technical Articles ID: KB51141
Last Modified: 5/4/2018

Environment

McAfee VirusScan Command Line Scanner (VSCL) 6.1.x
McAfee Anti-Virus Scanning Engine

McAfee DAT
McAfee Beta DAT

Summary

Usually, VirusScan Enterprise (VSE) and Endpoint Security (ENS) On-Demand Scans are performed through the VSE or ENS Console. But, sometimes you need to run a scan with strictly required programs. Some situations that might require this include scanning a computer:

Before installing VSE or ENS, to ensure it is clean
If it is infected and you are unable to load VSE or ENS
When VSE or ENS does not install successfully

Recent updates to this article:

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Date	Update
May 4, 2018	Removed references to VSCL 6.0.x EOL Added Endpoint Security (ENS) Added VSCL 6.1.x

Solution

Use the following steps to perform a VirusScan command-line scan in Microsoft Windows.

NOTES:

Sometimes you might need to run the command-line scan in Safe Mode.
McAfee recommends that you delete all temporary files from your computer before running any scan. These files include ones in the temp folder, temporary Internet files, Internet history, and cookies.

Download the latest VSCL from the Product Downloads site. The VSCL has the most up-to-date generic drivers.

McAfee product software, upgrades, maintenance releases, and documentation are available from the Product Downloads site at: http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/downloads.aspx.

NOTE: You need a valid Grant Number for access. KB56057 provides additional information about the Product Downloads site, and alternate locations for some products.

If you do not have a license for VirusScan CLS, contact Technical Support. See the Related Information section for contact information.
Create a folder on the root of your primary partition. In this example: c:\scan\.
On the infected computer, extract the contents of vscl-w32-6.0.x-l.zip (Where 'x' is the present version available) to c:\scan\.
Download the latest beta DAT file.
To download a DAT, Engine, XDAT, or Stinger file, go to https://www.mcafee.com/enterprise/en-us/downloads/security-updates.html.

You might need to download these files if your automated update fails, or if you want to use an Extra.DAT on an infected system.
Extract the contents of avvwin_netware_betadat.zip to c:\scan\ and overwrite the existing files.
Click Start, Run, type cmd and press ENTER.
Navigate to c:\scan, type the following command, and press ENTER:

scan.exe /adl /all /analyze /clean /program /unzip /winmem /rptall /report=c:\scan.log

This command starts a complete system scan, which is a best practice.

Related Information

See also:

For a list of the VirusScan Command Line Scanner 6.0.x switches, see KB52229.
If you suspect or know that a virus or other threat has infected your computer, see KB61183.
For a troubleshooting procedure that explains how to find possible infected files (the issue is the virus is not detected), see KB53094.

Contacting Technical Support

To contact Technical Support, log on to the ServicePortal and go to the Create a Service Request page at https://support.mcafee.com/ServicePortal/faces/serviceRequests/createSR:

If you are a registered user, type your User Id and Password, and then click Log In.
If you are not a registered user, click Register and complete the required fields. Your password and logon instructions will be emailed to you.

Related Microsoft documentation

See the following Microsoft articles to start your computer in Safe Mode using the F8 key or the System Configuration Tool.

F8 Method

	http://blogs.msdn.com/b/zxue/archive/2012/03/08/win8-howto-20-how-to-start-windows-8-in-safe-mode.aspx
Windows 7/Vista	http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Start-your-computer-in-safe-mode
Windows XP	http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true
Windows 2003	http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc706993(WS.10).aspx

System Configuration Tool (msconfig.exe)

Windows 8/7/Vista	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135/
Windows XP	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310560/
Windows 2003	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325375

Affected Products

VirusScan Command Line Scanner 6.1.x

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How to perform a VirusScan Command Line scan in Microsoft Windows

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How to perform a VirusScan Command Line scan in Microsoft Windows

Environment

Summary

Solution

Related Information

Affected Products

Languages:

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