# Virus/Computer question/problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 1, 2001, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-computer-question-problem/74440 "2001-08-01T04:18:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@Ell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ell)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-computer-question-problem/74440/1 "2001-08-01T04:18:34Z")
I’ve found a virus on my computer called sirc32.exe. So I deleted. Ha ha I thought, I’ve beaten you. But now it seems to be associated with the type Application (\*.exe). So whenever I try to open an app it says can’t find sirc32.exe and therefore can’t open anything. So I says to myself lets go to the file types screen and change the association with Applications. But guess what, I won’t let me change it (the edit command button is greyed)! **So** (still with me?) **how do I change the associations with Application to nothing or whatever it was before, thus enabling me to use my computer again?** ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-computer-question-problem/74440/2 "2001-08-01T04:45:24Z")
I do believe this was a hoax. There was an email going around warning about a “virus” that was in actuality a file needed by Windows. I don’t know about the fix. I believe there was a Pit thread about it a few weeks back, which may have more information. ---
**Author:** ![Ell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@Ell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ell)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-computer-question-problem/74440/3 "2001-08-01T04:55:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Smeghead \* > \*\*I do believe this was a hoax. There was an email going around warning about a “virus” that was in actuality a file needed by Windows. I don’t know about the fix. I believe there was a Pit thread about it a few weeks back, which may have more information. \*\* [Norton Antivirus says it is a virus](http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.html) ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-computer-question-problem/74440/4 "2001-08-01T10:03:24Z")
Best solution is to get the cleaning tool from the page **Ell** references. But, if you’re feeling brave and want to try it yourself… Boot in in DOS mode. Copy regedit.exe to [regedit.com](http://regedit.com) (this will bypass the “can’t run an exe” problem). Run windows, run [regedit.com](http://regedit.com), search for any entries with sirc32.exe and remove them. This is a general method of fixing the problem. Don’t blame me if you accidently remove an important entry. If you’re not sure what you’re doing with the registry, find someone who is. In this specific case, you’ll also need to remove references to Scmx32.exe and Scam32.exe and then you can search your HD for these files and delete them. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-computer-question-problem/74440/5 "2001-08-01T12:04:58Z")
If you can get online, download the cleaning tool from [Norton](http://www.sarc.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.html), especially if you don’t want to mess with the registry. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-computer-question-problem/74440/6 "2001-08-01T12:14:28Z")
Definitely not a hoax. And it’s also a bitch to clean off–it infects the recycle bin. Luckily the cleaners you can get off the 'net do a good job of wiping it off. Just don’t open any attachments from people who ask for your advice in broken english… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/virus-computer-question-problem/74440/7 "2001-08-01T23:32:57Z")
Duh. I was thinking of something else. Sorry sorry sorry. Carry on.