HELP! Cannot download a program, PDF -get message 'virus scan failed'

Question

HELP! Whenever I try to download a program, PDF etc I get the message 'virus scan failed'
I am on an Acer laptop running Windows 10 and Office 365 (free via workplace)
I had Total AV (free and paid) and McAfee (free) - all now unistalled
I had ZERO issues before I nstalled Total AV PAID
I have tried EVERYTHING but cannot download eg PDFs of say a bank statement, or (re)install Office HELP!!!

Answer 1

It sounds like your non-Microsoft antivirus programs were never properly uninstalled. Have you checked the Windows Security app to see if all features are enabled and working? Microsoft Security/Windows Defender, that comes with Windows 10, is now very highly rated. That is all I use.

Sometimes you need a specific uninstall tool from the antivirus vendor to completely remove their software. It may be also possible to simply reinstall and then immediately uninstall these products, in order to ensure that they uninstall more completely.

Run Task Manager and check the Startup tab for any trace of these other antivirus software and disable those lines, if any show up. Also run msconfig and under Services, check to hide all Microsoft Services. See if any remnants of these other programs appear in the remaining list of Services. Disable any that appear and restart Windows.

You should run a scan of your Windows system files to ensure that they are intact. At an Administrator Command Prompt:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth  
sfc /scannow

Answer 2

Hi,

We also could boot computer into Clean Boot environment, turn off antivirus software such as build-in Windows Defender, then try to download those software again to check.