It is possible to use the Windows Task Scheduler to carry out automatic scans with Trojan Remover. You can schedule the on-boot scanner (FastScan) to activate at regular intervals (useful if you do not shut down your PC daily) - this will carry out a quick scan for active Malware, and alert you if it detects anything. Alternatively, you can schedule a scan for a particular drive or directory. When activated, Trojan Remover will scan the drive/directory chosen.

 

On XP, the Windows Task Scheduler is normally accessible via START > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks.

 

Scheduling a scan for active Malware (the on-boot FastScan)

Open the Windows Task Scheduler, and double-click on 'Add Scheduled Task'. This will start the Scheduled Task Wizard. Click on the 'Next' button. In the screen that appears, click on the 'Browse' button. Browse to the directory where you installed Trojan Remover (C:\Program Files\Trojan Remover by default) and double-click on the Trjscan.exe program. In the next two screens select the times you want the scanner to run. Clicking on the 'Finish' button on the last page closes the Wizard and your scheduled task is set up.

 

Scheduling a drive/directory scan

This requires slightly more work than the above task, as you need to specify to Trojan Remover what drive or directory it has to scan when activated.

 

Open the Windows Task Scheduler, and double-click on 'Add Scheduled Task'. This will start the Scheduled Task Wizard. Click on the 'Next' button. In the screen that appears, click on the 'Browse' button. Browse to the directory where you installed Trojan Remover (C:\Program Files\Trojan Remover by default) and double-click on the Rmvtrjan.exe program. In the next two screens select the times you want the scanner to run. In the final screen, place a checkmark in the box labeled 'open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish'. Click on the 'Finish' button - in the screen that comes up, look at the box labeled 'Run:'. In here you will find the command that the Scheduler will actually run - it will look something like this:

 

C:\PROGRA~1\TROJAN~1\RMVTRJAN.EXE

or, on 2000/XP:

"C:\Program Files\Trojan Remover\Rmvtrjan.exe"

 

This line will differ depending on where your copy of Trojan Remover is actually installed.

 

This is where we will tell Trojan Remover what drive or directory to scan. Click your mouse inside this box so that you can edit what is there. Move to the end of the line, and add the following parameters (preceded by a space):

 

/ds "[drive or directory name]"

 

where [drive or directory name] is the actual drive or directory you wish to scan. Here are some examples:

 

C:\PROGRA~1\TROJAN~1\RMVTRJAN.EXE /ds "C:\" - this will scan the whole C: drive.

C:\PROGRA~1\TROJAN~1\RMVTRJAN.EXE /ds "C:\Windows\" - scans the Windows directory.

 

On 2000/XP, the entries may look like this:

"C:\Program Files\Trojan Remover\Rmvtrjan.exe" /ds "C:\" - this will scan the whole C: drive.

"C:\Program Files\Trojan Remover\Rmvtrjan.exe" /ds "C:\Windows\" - scans the Windows directory.

 

Once you have edited the line correctly, click on the 'OK' button - your task is now scheduled.

 

When the scan runs the program will appear minimized, i.e. you will only see the button on the taskbar. If you wish to see the progress of the scan, you can click on the program's taskbar button to open the drive/directory scan screen. When the scan is completed, if no malware has been found (and the scan screen is still minimised) then the program will shut itself down automatically.

 

** NOTE FOR WINDOWS XP USERS **

If the User account you use to schedule this task does not have a password assigned to it (i.e. the password is blank), then you will need to make a system modification to allow scheduled tasks to be run. This is what you need to do:

 

For Windows XP Pro

Click START > Control Panel. Double-click on Administrative Tools. Double-click on Local Security Policy. In the left-hand pane, navigate to Local Security Policy > Security Settings > Local Policies > Security Options. In the right-hand pane find the option labeled 'Accounts: Limit local account use of blank passwords to console logon only'. This policy is enabled by default - right-click on it, and select Properties. Change it from Enabled to Disabled.

 

For Windows XP Home

You will need to manually modify the Windows Registry. WARNING: serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. If you are not familiar with using Regedit, contact us for further advice.

Using regedit, navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Lsa

 

You should see a value labeled limitblankpassworduse, set to 1. Modify this value, changing the 1 to 0 [zero].

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