Updated: February 22, 2002

DOS scanners are not obsolete. They are still quite useful and in some cases, absolutely necessary.

The F-PROT for DOS anti-virus program is highly recommended for its well known quality, ease of use and small size. Instructions for download, installation and basic usage are included here to assist novice users and victims of malware.

The F-PROT for DOS anti-virus program is "shareware" and free of charge for private use (that is, free for any individual or family using it on a personally owned computer).

Private users may obtain free updates from BBSes, via FTP or E-mail.
To obtain updates to the DOS shareware version over the net, read this.

System requirements:

• IBM PC compatible computer
• Version 3.x requires DOS 3.3 or better
• 80386 computer
• 4MB of memory.

F-PROT will run under Windows 3.x, Windows 95, 98 and NT, OS2, or UNIX, LINUX or Macintosh workstation running a DOS or Windows emulator.

F-PROT will work on most network systems.

Download:

Automated F-Prot Download / Update Utility   -   Read Me!
(Art Kopp's Updater for F-PROT for DOS - F-pup Version 1.6a)
F-pup is freeware, copyright (C) 2002 by Art Kopp.

The current version of F-PROT for DOS anti-virus is 3.11b and it is available right here from this site. You're welcome to download the zipped archive at claymania.com or pick from the list of download sites below. You should also download and install the latest virus definition files.

F-PROT for DOS anti-virus 3.11b is also available at:

• Frisk Software International
  (Frisk are the manufacturers of F-PROT for DOS and Windows)
• ftp.complex.is
• ftp.isnet.is
• ftp1.mirrors.complex.is
• ftphost.manawatu.net.nz
• garbo.uwasa.fi

F-PROT for DOS anti-virus - latest virus definition files:

• ftp://ftp.F-Secure.com/anti-virus/updates/f-prot/fp-def.zip

Normal F-PROT Installation to Hard Disk:

Using Winzip or your archive extractor of choice, unzip the files into the directory: C:\FSI

Usage:

Start (or Restart) the PC in DOS mode.
At the C:\ prompt, type CD FSI and press the "Enter" key.
Type F-PROT and press the "Enter" key.
You'll get a screen which shows the available functions. You can use the arrow keys to move around the screen, and press the "Enter" key when you want to select an action.

• Scan
• Options
• Information
• Quit

When [Scan] is selected, you get a menu where you can specify where to search for viruses, and what to do when a virus is found. See the file SCAN.TXT for further information.

When [Options] is selected, you get a menu where you can enable or disable various options. To change an option, move the red line over it, using the arrow keys and press <ENTER>.

When [Information] is selected you get a list of several subjects you can select to get more detailed information about the program.

Finally, selecting [Quit] will terminate the program.

Creating a floppy "boot disk" and F-PROT scanner set:

Insert an empty floppy and type the following commands at the DOS prompt:
(press the "Enter" key after typing each command)
sys c: a:
copy %windir%\himem.sys a:
copy %windir%\emm386.exe a:
edit a:\config.sys

An editor window should appear now. Type the following lines and save the file:
device=a:\himem.sys
device=a:\emm386.exe noems
dos=high,umb

Copy F-PROT.EXE and ENGLISH.TX0 onto this new system boot disk and write protect it.

Insert another empty floppy and copy SIGN.DEF, SIGN2.DEF and NOMACRO.DEF onto the second diskette. Then rename NOMACRO.DEF to MACRO.DEF(*) on the second disk and write protect it.  Download nomacro.def from ftp.complex.is if it's missing from your file set.

(*) You may be wondering why you must rename nomacro.def to macro.def on the floppy. After all, there is already a file named macro.def, so why not use that one?

Here is a short explanation: macro.def, the big one, contains information about macro viruses (e.g. viruses that infect Word and Excel documents). However, there is not enough free space on the floppy to hold macro.def. But that is not a problem at all because there is no need to boot from floppy to search for and disinfect macro viruses; so we can dispense with macro.def on the floppy.

Still, since F-Prot requires a file named macro.def to be present, we simply use a much smaller file and rename it to macro.def. Can you use any file and simply rename it to macro.def? The answer is no. Nomacro.def is not as empty as it seems. It contains information that enables F-Prot to detect macro viruses generically, but if it finds one it won't be able to tell you the name.

Usage:
(If using the floppy "boot disk" and F-PROT scanner set referenced above.)

Boot your infected computer from the first floppy disk. You may have to set the boot sequence to A,C instead of C,A (which is hopefully your default setting). This can be done in the BIOS, which is usually accessed by pressing DEL while the computer is performing the power-on-self test.

When the DOS prompt A:\> appears, type:
F-PROT /LOADDEF
Press the "Enter" key.
When asked for the SIGN.DEF, insert the second disk and press the "Enter" key (and wait).
F-PROT and the definition files will load and the options screen will be displayed.

Here's a list of all the command line switches and what they do.


You might also want to check out AVDisk, an excellent utility which automates the task of getting your anti-virus software on to floppy disks.