Solve “Operation Did Not Complete Successfully Because The File Contains A Virus” Error Efficiently

At the time you are trying to open a file on your computer and getting the error message “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” in the form of the result. This might seem quite is unexpected! However, in reality, you just couldn’t predict it earlier. If this is the case, you are stuck with and searching for the methods that how to deal with such an issue, then, you can study forward to this article. This article covers all the important points which are related to this error message. Also, from here, you can learn effective methods, to solve the matter efficiently. So, check it out.

Nowadays, as the usage of the internet hikes rapidly all over the world. There are several threats that are also generating. And one of such results is this error message. If you are trying to open a file on your computer which is really an infected one then, this will be the result error message you will get. And in this case, it is better not to worry about it, because this restriction is good for your computer’s health. Now, as you know about the file, you can proceed to remove it permanently from your device to keep the device protected from any kind of injury.

In exceptional cases, it is found that many of the common files which are not a danger, also get restricted from the antivirus tool to get open and pop-ups the error message as written in the title of this article. If this abnormality takes place, then, in that case, you need to fix the problem as soon as possible. Before proceeding to the solution part of the error, let’s know the possible causes of it.

What Results in “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” Error?

There is not a definite fact to indicate out which is responsible for the error. But, generally, the abnormality pop-up of the “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” error message occurs due to these below-said reasons. So. if you keep interested to know the cause of the error then, follow these below lines:

Sometimes, a virus attack on the computer gets to combine with a file and thus get you the error message window, while you are trying to open such a file. If this is the case, then the solution for it will be a critical one. And to learn it, you need to read further to this article.

Antivirus detects wrong information about the file, though it is safe from virus, can also be a possible cause for the error. In this situation, you will be able to solve the problem by disabling the antivirus software you are using for your system security purpose.

There can be many other causes as well which are result in this error message when you are trying to open a file. No matter whatever be the case, you can try these below-explained methods, which are gathered from the users who have solved the problem efficiently.

Methods to Solve “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus Windows 10” Error

Worrying will do nothing better in any regard of solving the problem. However, if you spend some of your efforts following the methods as stated below, then, you may be able to fix the problem. Many of the times, it is found that by disabling the Windows default security tool, that is the Windows Defender, the problem gets solved. Here, in this following section, you will get to learn such effective methods with the help of which many of the users already get the effective result in solving the problem. So, check it out:

Method 1: Disable Windows Defender to Fix “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” Error

The first and the most effective method which you can try to fix the “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” error is “temporarily disable Windows Defender”, the default security tool of Windows. And the steps which you need to follow to perform this task are as below:

At first, take the mouse pointer onto the Windows logo, which is at the extreme below the left-hand side corner. And then, make a right-click on it. After that, from the menu window, select the “Settings” option.

Now, from the available options, under the Settings window, click on “Update & Security”. Next, click on the Windows Defender option from the left-hand side panel. After that, look at the right-hand side of the window, here, you will see a section as Real-time protection, disable it.

Further, close the Settings window. And then, try to open that file to check if the problem gets sorted. And if Yes, then fine, it means that, you need to disable the Windows Defender tool every time, whenever you want to open the file.

Alternatively, there is a process by which you can turn off the Windows Defender tool permanently. To learn it, check out the below lines. But remember that, if you did this method, your system will become insecure. So, you need to do this process at your own risk.

Steps to Completely Disable Windows Defender tool

There are two different ways by which you can turn off the Windows Defender tool permanently and are as follows:

  1. Disable Windows Defender via Registry Editor
  2. Disable Windows Defender via Group Policy Editor

The steps to follow for these ways of turning off the Windows Defender tool permanently are as below. You can try any of these.

Disable Windows Defender via Registry Editor

At first, press the Windows and the letter “R” key at a time, to open the Run bar. After that, on the Run bar type “regedit”. Next, either press the Enter button or click on OK, this will get you the Registry Editor window open. Now, the clever decision is to create a backup of the registry before you proceed with the further steps. This is because, if anything goes wrong, still, you have the option to fix it. The steps to continue with, to create a backup registry is very simple and are as below.

Now, from the top panel of the Registry Editor window, click on the File option. After that, select “Export…”. Then, under the Export range section, enable the checkbox for “All”. And then in the File name: section enter a name for the file. Also, set a location for it. Next, click on the “Save” button to export the registry.

Once, you have created the registry backup. Then, from the left-hand side panel of the Registry Editor window, open the folder named as “HKEY_LOAL_MACHINE”. After that follow the path as follows: SOFTWARE> Policies> Microsoft> Windows Defender. Now, at the right-hand side panel of this window, you may get an option as “DisableAntiSpyware”. In case, if it (Disable AntiSpyware) was not present, then, you need to right-click on an empty space of this right-hand side pane. After that, select New> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Then, name this new DWORD file as “DisableAntiSpyware”. Next, tap the Enter key to save it.

Further, you need to double-click on DisableAntiSpyware. Next, from the Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value window, go to the “Value data” section and set it’s value to 1. And lastly, click on the OK button to save changes. That’s all about the process, to disable the Windows Defender tool permanently.

Disable Windows Defender via Group Policy Editor

First of all, you need to open the Run bar window. And for this purpose, press both the Windows and the letter “R” key at a time. And then on the Run bar, type “gpedit.msc”, without quotations. Next, press the Enter button, to get the Group Policy Editor window open.

Now, from the left-hand side panel of the Group Policy Editor window, unfold the folder named as Computer Configuration. After that, under the Computer Configuration folder options, open Administrative Templates. Next, follow the path as follows: Windows Components> Windows Defender. Further, from the right-hand side panel locate the “Turn off Windows Defender” option, by scrolling down the window. After that, double-click on it.

Next, activate the checkbox for the Enabled option under the Turn off Windows Defender window. After that, click on Apply> OK to save changes. This is another way to disable the Windows Defender tool.

Note: It is advised not to turn off the Windows Defender tool permanently. Because if it is done, then your PC is vulnerable to malware. You can do another thing, that is, you can install a third-party antivirus to keep your system protected.

Method 2: Add the Problematic File to the Exclusion List

This is another useful method to fix the “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” error. If you have tried the above-explained method and still get the error then proceed with these steps below:

First of all, right-click on the Windows Start menu. And then, from the available options click on Settings. After that, under the Settings window options, select Update & Security. Next, from the left-hand side panel of the Update & Security section window, click on Windows Defender. And then, click on the “Open Windows Security” button, from the right-hand side of this window. Further, under the Windows Security window, navigate to the Security at a glance section, and here, you will get an option as “Virus & threat protection”, click on it. After that, from the next window, go to the “Virus & threat protection settings” section and then click on the “Manage settings” link.

Now, scroll down the window, to get the Exclusions section. After that, click on the “Add or remove exclusions” link. Next, select Add an exclusion. Here, you need to select the file of which you are facing the error message while opening it. After, you have done it, restart your computer to get the total effect of this method. Now, try to open the file, to check if the error gets resolved.

Method 3: Solve “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” Error Utilizing Administrator: Command Prompt

According to many of the users, who got the “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” error message, was able to solve it by following these steps below. So, you can try this method as well. The steps to follow to perform this method is quite simple and are as below:

At first, click on the four flags symboled Windows logo, which is at the extreme below the left-hand corner, to get the search bar active. After that, on the search bar type “cmd”. Next, right-click on the top-most search result, that is, cmd or Command Prompt. After that, from the menu list, select the “Run as administrator” option. Now, on the Administrator: Command Prompt, you need to enter the commands as given below. Press the Enter button after each command to execute.

  • sfc /SCANFILE=c:windowsexplorer.exe
  • sfc /SCANFILE=C:WindowsSysWow64explorer.exe

Note: You may need to modify the commands, according to the file location name, with which you are facing the problem.

After these above-said commands get executed on the Administrator: Command Prompt, close the window. And then, restart your computer. Next, try to open the file again, to check if the issue gets solved. Hopefully, this time your answer will be Yes. But, if No, then, don’t worry and try this further method.

Method 4: Perform a Clean Boot

Many of the times it is found that the error message appears during opening a file due to a conflict with another file. If this is the case, to identify and solve the matter, you need to follow the below instructions. So, check it out:

Disable all the Services Under System Configuration

At first, open the Run bar window by the use of WIndows and the letter “R” key. You need to press both of the keys at a time (Win+R). After that, on the Run bar enter “msconfig”, without using quotations. Next, click on OK, this will get you the System Configuration window open on the screen. Now, click on the “Services” tab, under this System Configuration window. After that, from the below portion of this Services tab window, enable the checkbox for “Hide all Microsoft services”. Then, click on the “Disable all” button, which is at the right-hand side portion of this window.

Utilize Task Manager to Disable all the Startup Applications

Further, from the System Configuration window, click on the “Startup” tab. After that, from the open window, select the “Open Task Manager” link. Now, in this next window, you will be able to know all the startup applications of your system. This time, you need to disable all of these startup applications and the steps which you need to follow for this, are as below:

You need to right-click on the application, and then select the Disable option for it. That is the overall process, you need to apply for all the applications available on the Task Manager window. Once you have disabled all the applications, close the Task Manager. And then, return back to the System Configuration window. After that, click on Apply> OK under the Startup tab, to save the changes.

Verify the Solve

Now, restart your computer and then check if you are able to open the file this time or not. And if then, it replies that the error occurs due to a conflict issue. Now, to identify another file that is the culprit to conflict with this file, you need to try to open each file one by one and then check to open this file. Once you identify the conflict-causing file, you need to uninstall it. And the steps to follow to uninstall a file is very simple and are as explained below, that is in the uninstall method of the antivirus tool. You just need to do the same process, with the file which you want to uninstall in place of antivirus.

Method 5: Disable> Uninstall (Optional) Antivirus Software

Many of the users who have faced the “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” error message, was able to solve it by uninstalling the third-party antivirus software. Most of the time, it is found that the error occurs due to the use of the trial or non-paid version of the antivirus software. But, it does not mean that the paid version is an exception for the cause of this error. To identify if the antivirus software is the culprit causing the error,  there is no other best option rather than disabling it for a few periods. And the steps to disable antivirus software are a little different regarding the tool you are using. But most of the antivirus software can be disabled by following the steps as below:

Disable Antivirus Software

First of all, locate the antivirus icon on the taskbar panel. Sometimes, you may get it directly onto the taskbar screen. However, sometimes, it gets located inside the taskbar tray. So, if you do not find the antivirus icon on the taskbar panel. You need to check it inside the taskbar tray. The upward arrow symbol, which is located on the Taskbar panel and that is near to the time and date section is termed as the taskbar tray. Once, you get the antivirus icon, right-click on it. Then, point the mouse arrow onto the Antivirus shields control option, this will open another menu list. Now, from this menu list, select the time period for which you want to disable the antivirus software.

After that, restart your computer and then try to open that file again, to check if the issue gets resolved. And if then it is better to uninstall this antivirus software and in place install a different one. Now, the question is how to uninstall antivirus software. To know the answer to it, follow the below instructions.

Uninstall Antivirus Software

At first, open the Control Panel window. Press down the Windows button to get the search bar active. After that, on the search bar type control. Next, click on the top-most search result, which is Control Panel. Next, check if the “View by” portion of the Control Panel window is set as Category or not. And if not, then, you need to drop-down menu list for “View by” and from the available options, select Category.

Next, from the Control Panel window, click on Programs> Programs and Features. That is all you need to do, to get all the installed programs list open on the screen. After that, from the list navigate to the antivirus program and right-click on it. Then, select Uninstall> Uninstall to confirm.
Once, you have successfully uninstalled the antivirus software or any other program, it is advised to restart your computer, to get the complete utility of uninstalling the program.

All these are the complete methods with the help of which you will be able to solve the “Operation did not complete successfully because the file contains a virus” error efficiently, as the other users do. If you have any queries regarding this topic, then, you can leave a comment in the comment section as given below.

Nathaniel Villa
Nathaniel Villa

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