Bootable rescue disks can be useful when malware stops you from running standard antivirus software. These tools allow you to scan your computer without having to run Windows and can often locate files that antivirus software might fail to detect. Some tools can scan the Master Boot Record of the hard drive. This is a feature that is particularly beneficial to eliminate persistent or difficult to clean-up threats.
These bootable software tools feature a text-based interface. However, they do provide options for customization, so you can choose to only scan certain kinds of files, folders, or even select specific file sizes. The most effective of these tools will feature a an graphical user interface as well as support for more advanced threats such diligent boards for efficient management as rootkits or ransomware.
AVG Rescue CD is a great example, offering a simple but a full GUI and a wide range of scanning options. It’s also among the few that offer the full MBR scan, which is usually impossible to accomplish with an unbootable program. It’s not the most efficient program on this list however, and its text-only user interface isn’t suitable for everyone.
Kaspersky Rescue Disk is another excellent choice that’s fast, has a well-designed interface and can handle more advanced viruses. It includes features that you’ll rarely see in other bootable antivirus tools, such as the ability to scan boot sectors and hidden startup objects as well as files that aren’t fileless as well as the entire hard drive. You can also block files to reduce the time required to scan. It detected all malware we sent, including those that were undetected by other antivirus software.