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Remove malware from your PC in Windows 8.1 or Windows 7

Windows Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials are powerful scanning tools that find and remove malware from your PC. Here's how to use Windows Defender in Windows 8.1 or Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 7 to scan your PC.

Important: Before you use Windows Defender Offline or Microsoft Security Essentials, make sure to save any open files and close apps and programs.

Use Windows Defender in Windows 8.1

  1. Select the Start icon, type Windows Defender, and then press Enter.

  2. From Scan options, select Full.

  3. Select Scan now.

View the results of your scan

  1. Select the Start icon, type Windows Defender, and then press Enter.

  2. Select the History tab.

  3. Select All detected items, and then select the View details button .

The Windows Defender Offline scan will automatically detect and remove or quarantine malware.

Use Microsoft Security Essentials in Windows 7

  1. Select the Start icon, type Microsoft Security Essentials, and then press Enter.

  2. From Scan options, select Full.

  3. Select Scan now.

View the results of your scan

  1. Select the Start icon, type Microsoft Security Essentials, and then press Enter.

  2. Select the History tab.

  3. Select All detected items.

The Microsoft Security Essentials scan will automatically detect and remove or quarantine malware.

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