If malware is preventing you from being able to run normal antivirus software bootable rescue disks may assist. These disks allow you to scan your computer without having to run Windows, and they can often uncover files that antivirus software might ignore. Some even scan the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the hard drive, which is particularly effective in eliminating persistent or difficult-to-clean malware.
These bootable programs have an interface based on text. However, most offer customization options, so you can choose to scan only certain kinds of files, folders, or even certain size of files. The best of these tools have a graphical interface and support for more sophisticated threats, including rootkits as well as some types of ransomware.
AVG Rescue CD is a good example, with a basic but well-organized GUI and a wide range of scanning options. It’s also among the few that offer an entire MBR scan, which is usually impossible to achieve with an unbootable program. However it’s not the quickest on this list and its text-only interface isn’t for vdr everyone.
Kaspersky Rescue Disk is a different top choice that’s fast, has well-designed interface and can handle more advanced infections. It has features are not often found in other bootable antivirus software that include the ability to scan boot sectors, hidden startup objects as well as files that are not fileless and the entire hard drive. You can also exclude files to cut down on the time of scanning. It was able to detect all malware we sent, including those that were undetected by other antivirus software.