Steve,

The files would have to be on your machine in order for your AV software to
do ANYTHING with/about the files. And chances are that your AV software
would automatically scan downloaded files. If it did not do this, I would
get a new AV.

When you download anything, it goes to your Temporary Internet Files folder
before it ends up in the folder you choose to download to.

Your AV should have some sort of a resident scanning utility, a name similar
to Resident Shield.

From AVG HELP:
The Resident Shield scans files as they are copied, opened and saved. When
the Resident Shield discovers a virus in a file that is accessed, it stops
the operation currently being performed and does not allow the virus to
activate itself. The Resident Shield, loaded into the memory of your
computer during system startup, also provides vital protection for the
system areas of your computer.

On-close scanning - select this if you want the Resident Shield to test
files that are downloaded from the Internet or other computer on a local
network even if they are not accessed by a local user. While this feature
leads to earlier detection of viruses it does not offer any greater
protection. Furthermore it is more demanding on system resources, which may
adversely affect computer performance.

Read the HELP for your AV.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:uTPImpwPHHA.3624@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl,
Steve Hawkins <steve.a.hawkins@ntl(nospam)world.com> hunted and pecked:
> Actually, I now realise that I do get a right click option to scan files
> in some windows, but not before I download them...
>
> S
>
>
> "Steve Hawkins" <steve.a.hawkins@ntl(nospam)world.com> wrote in message
> news:Ow8m5pjPHHA.448@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Not often felt the need to do this so only just found that I don't seem
>> to be able to simply scan any suspect file for virus without going to My
>> Computer. Is there any way to add this scan function to a right mouse
>> click menu?
>>
>> Cheers.
>>
>> Steve_H