Troubleshooting Hidden Viruses on Your Windows 10 Laptop

If your Windows 10 laptop has been exhibiting unusual behavior, such as increased temperature and rapid loss of disk space, you may be dealing with a potential virus or undesired software. Many users may find themselves in a similar situation, unsure of how to diagnose or remedy these concerns. Here’s a practical guide to help you navigate this frustrating experience.

Symptoms of a Possible Infection

Over the past month, you might have noticed that your laptop is operating at a higher temperature than normal, in addition to an unnerving drop in available disk space—losing around 2 GB daily. Paired with a decline in performance, these issues can certainly raise red flags, even if you haven’t recently installed any questionable programs.

Scanning for Threats

To combat the issues you’ve been experiencing, you’ve already taken vital steps by performing two comprehensive scans with Malwarebytes and another with Windows Defender. It’s good to know that you’re proactive about keeping your system secure; however, the absence of detected threats can be perplexing.

If you’ve attempted to run scans in Safe Mode but found that Windows Defender doesn’t initialize properly, you’re not alone in facing such challenges. Safe Mode is often recommended for troubleshooting as it loads only the essential drivers, but its limitations with certain antivirus solutions can be a hurdle.

Next Steps for Resolution

Here are several recommendations to further investigate and mitigate the potential threat on your device:

Utilize Additional Antivirus Software: Consider running a different antivirus program to check for malware. Some examples include Bitdefender or Avast, both of which offer free versions that can provide a fresh perspective.
Boot into Safe Mode with Networking: Instead of regular Safe Mode, try booting into Safe Mode with Networking. This can allow you to run your antivirus tools while still having internet access to download any necessary updates or programs.
Check Startup Programs: Many malicious programs can configure themselves to begin operating as soon as your computer starts. Investigate your startup programs by typing msconfig in the Windows search bar and reviewing everything that launches with Windows.
Disk Cleanup and Management: Regular maintenance can help in controlling disk space. Use the built-in Disk Cleanup tool to remove temporary files, and consider using tools like CCleaner to help manage your disk.
Monitor Resource Usage: Utilize the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to observe