Alex Ruben
How To Resolve the File Contains a Virus Error on FitGirl and DODI Repack Games
If this kind of thing pops up while trying to install games from FitGirl or DODI repacks, yeah, you’re not imagining things. Windows Defender (or whatever antivirus you’re running) sometimes throws a fit and flags these files as threats — even if they’re totally safe. Usually, it’s a false positive, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying. Luckily, there are a few tricks to get past this mess and actually get your game installed. Fair warning though: messing with antivirus settings isn’t risk-free, so only do this if you kinda trust where you’re getting these files.
How to Fix the “File Contains a Virus” Error on Windows
Check if Windows Defender flagged the files and temporarily disable real-time protection
This is probably the most common cause — Windows sees a suspicious file and just bans it before you can even see what it is. Disabling real-time protection stops Defender from auto-quarantining or blocking those files while you’re trying to install things. On some setups, this might need a reboot or a re-login for changes to stick.
- Hit Start Menu and type Windows Security. Get into that.
- In Windows Security, click Virus & threat protection.
- Scroll down and tap Manage settings.
- Turn off Real-time protection. Expect a warning, but it’s fine as long as you trust your downloads.
Verify if the files got quarantined and restore them if needed
This part’s important because sometimes Windows has already flagged your setup files and stuck them in quarantine. Restoring these files kinda tricks Windows into trusting them temporarily.
- Stay in the same Virus & threat protection area and click on Protection history.
- Look for quarantine logs related to your game install files — they’ll be marked suspicious.
- Click on each and hit Restore. Confirm with Yes. If you’re on one of those stubborn machines, on some, files seem to stay in quarantine even after restore — you might need to do it again or restart.
Turn real-time protection back on after restoring files
Because of course, Windows can’t just leave well enough alone. Re-enable real-time protection once you’ve restored and tried running the installer again:
- Go back to Manage settings in Virus & threat protection.
- Toggle Real-time protection back on.
Run the installer again, this time with caution
This part’s kind of weird, but double-clicking the setup might still show warnings. If that happens, click More info and then Run anyway. Windows thinks it’s a threat, but if you’ve already done your homework and restored the files, it’s probably okay. Trust your gut here, but don’t go blindly clicking next if something seems off.
- Navigate to your game’s setup location.
- Double-click it.
- When the warning pops up, click More info, then Run anyway.
If the game still acts up, check for missing components or files
This isn’t as common, but sometimes, files might get flagged because they’re missing dependencies like specific DLLs or runtime files. Usually, scouring trusted forums or repositories for missing .dll or .exe files (or running tools like [Vcredist](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads)) can help. Not sure why this works, but on different machines, it’s come in handy.
Extra tips
- Stick to downloads from trusted sources, especially for repacks — makes false positives less likely.
- If you’ve got third-party antivirus tools, consider disabling them temporarily during install. Just be sure to re-enable afterward.
- Keep Windows and your antivirus up to date — weird interactions can happen with outdated software.
Final notes and what’s next
This whole process is a bit of a dance — sometimes it works on the first try, other times not so much. Restoring files and toggling protections aren’t perfect, but it’s the best shot if Windows keeps blocking legit game files. Just remember, doing this sort of thing can open your system up to threats if you’re not careful, so only do it with files you trust fully.
Summary
- Temporarily disable real-time protection
- Check and restore quarantined files
- Re-enable real-time protection
- Proceed with installation, using “Run anyway” if needed
- Look for missing components if issues persist
Wrap-up
All in all, messing around with antivirus settings isn’t fun, but sometimes it’s the only way to get those darn game files installed without running into false positives. Just keep in mind: always download from reputable sources and double-check files if something feels off. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone, or at least helps get the game installed without too much fuss.