If malware hampers your ability to run normal antivirus software, bootable rescue disks can aid. These tools allow you to scan your PC without Windows and are often able to locate malware that antivirus software could overlook. Some of them can even look through the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the hard drive, a feature particularly effective in eliminating stubborn or difficult-to-clean-up threats.
These bootable tools typically have a rudimentary text interface. However, they usually have customization options, so you can choose to scan specific types of files or folders, only size or type of file, and more. The most effective of these tools have a an interactive user interface that is graphical and support for more advanced security threats, such as rootkits or ransomware.
AVG Rescue CD is a good example, with a simple-looking but a full GUI and a wide range of scanning options. It’s also among the few that can provide an all-inclusive MBR scan which is normally impossible to perform from an unbootable program. However it’s not the most efficient on this list, and its text-only interface isn’t for everyone.
Kaspersky Rescue Disk is another excellent choice that’s fast, has attractive user interface and is able to handle more advanced viruses. It has features you won’t discover in other bootable antivirus tools, for instance, the ability to scan the boot sector as well as hidden startup objects as well fileless and the entire drive. You can also remove files to speed up the time of scanning. In our tests, it found all malware samples we sent to it as well as some that were able to evade detection by other antivirus programs.