Open Notepad and copy paste the following string and save it (as .exe if your scanner is configured to scan only specific extensions) [It’s Eicar’s AV Test code]
X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*
If you have a decent anti-virus, it should throw out warnings.. 
i am eternally grateful for this-thanks so much
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