Basic system cleansing to get you working again can normally be carried out within a couple of days.

Usually, basic system cleaning, and the installation of anti-virus and anti-spyware is all that is necessary.

More comprehensive anti-virus and anti-spyware software installation will normally take longer as this involves lengthy examination of your entire computer (not just the hard-drive working area) and removal of various active and dormant files, programs etc. that would prevent the correct functioning of the anti-virus software program.

Where a virus has infiltrated a program, or damaged the operating system, the process of returning the computer to its original condition can take several days.