Bootable rescue disks are useful when malware is preventing you from running regular antivirus software. These tools let you check your computer for malware without having to run Windows, and they can often detect files that antivirus software might fail to detect. Some of them can even scan the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the hard drive, which is especially useful in eliminating persistent or difficult-to-clean threats.
These bootable tools have an interface based on text. However, many have customization options, so you can choose to scan only certain types of files or folders, or even certain size files. The most effective of these tools will have an interactive user interface that is graphical and support for more advanced threats such as rootkits or ransomware.
AVG Rescue CD, with its simple but thorough GUI and a variety of scanning options, is a great example. It is also one of few programs that perform a full MBR scanning, which is normally impossible with a non-bootable application. However, it’s not the fastest on this list and its text-only interface isn’t for everyone.
Kaspersky Rescue Disk, another excellent option, is fast and has a well-designed UI. It also supports more advanced infections. It comes with features that you can’t find in other bootable anti-virus tools, like the capability to scan the boot sector and hidden startup objects, as well as fileless and the entire drive. You can also exclude files to reduce the scanning time. In our tests, it discovered all the malware samples we sent it and even some that did not pass detection by other antivirus programs.