When i copy a file from floppy or internet to my computer and suppose that file contains virus will that virus be transfered to my computer only by copying or i it will not activate till the time i will not double click on it.Actually i downloaded a HTML page from internet and i am worried that either it is having virus or not.I donot want to install antivirus as it makes my system slow.So brief me when virus use to become active

If you copy an infected file to your computer, you aren't necessarily infected. Usually a virus has to be executed - the file must be opened - to infect your machine. So yes, the virus is "transferred to your computer" but no, you aren't infected until you open or run the virus-infected file.

To scan your PC for viruses without having to install any software, visit:

http://housecall.antivirus.com

and use the online scanner.

um, think it's smart to not install anti-virus software just because it makes your system slow?

whatever.
in answer to your question, it depends on the virus. for example, a boot virus on a floppy will become memory resident.
something like winbomb will start a virus' chain of action once the html page is opened.
sooo...why would you want to know such a thing? if you're truly worried about your own computer you'd just install an anti-virus program.

Depends on the virus packet. You can get a virus by simply visiting a webpage that is configured to infect you, you do not have to open anything or do anything, except visit the webpage. Unless you have an antivirus and firewall program, combined with your other properly configured security settings, you are playing "Russian Roulette", and you will eventially loose. Delete the file, and then go to PC Pitstop and run the system check and virus scan at that site. There are several very low resource antivirus programs available, one is free Grisoft"s AVG, the other ones that are reasonably priced are; Computer Associates' eTrust and ESET's Nod32. If you do not have a firewall get Kerio, as it is very small and takes very little system resources. If you were the only person effected by not having the proper security software, I could care less, but you expose all you friends in you address book, and then worst of all, you then expose all of us that use the "Net" and are completely innocent.

ok if i copy an infected file and then deletes that file without opening will it harm me in any way .tell meand thanks for ur answers

No one can say with absolutely certainty yes/no. To make sure you are not infected you must delete the file, and then use a free on line virus scans from the PC Pitstop, Trend Micro, Symantec, Panda, or Macafee websites to make sure you do not have a virus. It is not a permanent download, and it will have no impact on your system resources.

Norton saved me from a virus (JS SEEKER) I would have got otherwise just by visiting a website... and I did not open anything.
As capt says... you are potentially spreading an infection to others.
Get an anti-virus program and stop messing about !
AVG from www.grisoft.com
In case you are worried about money - this one is free.

For a boot-sector virus to infect your PC, you have to attempt to boot from the infected floppy. You can copy files to and from it all day without infecting your machine. But if you leave the infected floppy in your drive and reboot your computer, it will infect your system when the computer tries to boot from the floppy disk.

Virus-infected files have to be opened - either by you or by other software - to infect your system. So no, you can't infect your computer simply by copying a virus-infected file to the hard drive. If you delete the file without opening it, you'll be fine.

If this weren't the case, how would anyone ever accumulate a virus collection?

When you "visit" a website, you're opening the files which make up the site. Opening them in your browser is the same as opening them manually - the virus doesn't care HOW the file is opened; only that it's opened.

A good anti-virus program that you dont need to install is F-Prot for DOS. Copy the files to a CD, boot your computer into DOS, and run the exe off of the CD.

"I donot want to install antivirus as it makes my system slow."

I would rather have a slow system,
than a virus.

Norm

"I do not want to install antivirus as it makes my system slow."

Imagine how slow your system is going to be when you can't even use it!!! It's only a matter of time...you play with fire,you get burned.

Speed up your system.

Check out this site.

http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm