Free Virus Scanners That Work Without Access to Windows
Bootable Antivirus, What are you to do if you have a computer hassle so terrible that your computer might not begin at all and you’re quite positive a plague or a few different malware is guilty?
How do you experiment for viruses while you can not start Windows to do a deadly disease test?
This is where a bootable antivirus application turns into the hero of the day. With a bootable virus scanner, you create a unique flash pressure or CD/DVD disc from a working computer after which use it on the infected machine to test the tough force for viruses — all without needing to start Windows!
Since the maximum extreme of viruses reason harm to the components of your pc that permit it to start, a bootable antivirus tool can regularly be a effective weapon at your disposal for getting the virus removed and your computer back up and going for walks.
Note: In widespread, getting a bootable antivirus software up and jogging calls for which you take the ISO image furnished after which, from a working laptop, burn it to a disc or burn it to a USB power. Next, you may want to boot from the disc or boot from the flash drive on the inflamed PC. More details are to be had in our evaluations and at the bootable AV program websites.
01. Anvi Rescue Disk
What We Like
- Really smooth to use
- Lets you scan the complete drive or sure folders most effective
- Can run a brief or complete test
- Able to repair malicious modifications made to the registry
- Relatively small down load length
What We Don’t Like
- Can’t experiment particular documents best
Anvi Rescue Disk is a absolutely simple bootable virus scanner. There are handiest three major scan buttons, sections to the program, and no custom settings.
You can run a brief clever scan, a full system test, or a custom scan to search for malware interior one or greater precise folders.
There’s additionally a section for finding and correcting corrupt Windows Registry issues that may have been altered by way of a pandemic.
The only issue I don’t like approximately Anvi Rescue Disk is that you need to scan the entire drive without delay — you can not pick out to test single, precise files like you could with normal antivirus software program.
02. AVG Rescue CD
What We Like
- Scans things most bootable AV programs do now not
- Lets you test for viruses on any attached hard drive
- Includes different gear like a tough power tester
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t have a graphical interface like most applications, so it might be difficult to apply in case you’re not used to that sort of UI
- Doesn’t offer definition updates
AVG Rescue CD is a textual content-handiest free bootable antivirus application. It can test for probably undesirable programs, scan cookies, locate hidden file extensions, and even scan internal information.
Bootable Antivirus, Before you begin a test with AVG Rescue CD, you have the option to just scan a folder of your choice, simply the boot quarter, most effective the registry, or any domestically connected difficult drive.
Unfortunately, because AVG Rescue CD does not offer a graphical interface, navigating the menus can end up difficult.
Important: AVG now not updates or keeps this application, so the virus definitions will forever be old. You can nevertheless experiment typically, but it might not catch brand new threats.
03. Avira Rescue System
What We Like
- Updates its definitions mechanically earlier than scans
- Uses a regular, graphical interface instead of textual content handiest
- Easier to put in than some bootable antivirus packages
- Includes other gear you might like
What We Don’t Like
- Scans a whole partition right now with out the choice to test precise documents handiest
- Large down load size
Avira Rescue System is a loose bootable antivirus application that still functions as a registry editor, net browser, and extra, all under a standard graphical interface.
Avira Rescue System routinely updates its definitions before appearing a scan, that’s super so that you don’t ought to re-download the software each time you want to apply it.
During a virus experiment, compressed documents are unpacked and scanned for delivered safety.
Avira Rescue System would not can help you test man or woman files, but simplest an entire partition straight away, that’s too bad. Also, the down load is instead massive at over 650 MB.
04. Comodo Rescue Disk
What We Like
- You can experiment particular files/folders or the whole pressure
- Includes an choice to bypass scanning sure files
- Supports more than one experiment sorts based on what you want to test
- Lets you choose among a graphical UI and one it’s textual content simplest
- Checks for updates robotically
- Relatively small download length
What We Don’t Like
- It’s hard to use the report/folder-stage experiment option
In addition to the normal, installable Comodo Antivirus software, Comodo additionally has a loose bootable antivirus application.
Comodo Rescue Disk can be released from a USB tool or disc in both text-handiest mode or with a full graphical consumer interface (GUI). The GUI model has a acquainted application interface which is a great deal easier to use.
Bootable Antivirus, There are 3 different test sorts you could start with Comodo Rescue Disk: clever experiment, complete experiment, or custom test.
Smart scan assessments for viruses and rootkits inside the reminiscence, boot sectors, autorun entries, and different regions like the registry and gadget folder. A custom test lets you select character documents and folders to test as opposed to a whole force.
You can also experiment information, enable heuristics scanning, and skip files over a specified size.
I love that Comodo Rescue Disk consists of a familiar Desktop-like interface because it makes it easier to use than a number of those different text-primarily based scanning gear.
05. Bitdefender Rescue CD
What We Like
- Provides a complete computing device revel in
- Checking for virus definition updates is straightforward
- Has more than one scan options
- Supports scanning unique folders aside from the complete drive
What We Don’t Like
- Large download at over 800 MB
- Start time is sluggish compared to comparable equipment
Bitdefender Rescue CD is a free bootable virus scanner application that mechanically checks for updates on every occasion it is released.
You can exclude sure file extensions from a test, pick the most document size Bitdefender Rescue CD have to test, and optionally consist of records with a test.
Bitdefender Rescue CD helps you to search in person folders if you wish to target a specific directory and now not the complete force.
One thing I don’t like about Bitdefender Rescue CD is that it takes pretty a long time to begin up whilst you boot into the program.
06. Bootable Antivirus, Dr.Web LiveDisk
What We Like
- Custom alternatives no longer determined in some of these different bootable AV applications
- Lets you define the sorts of documents it have to experiment
- Checks for virus definition updates from inside the software
- Runs from a disc or flash pressure
What We Don’t Like
- The big setup document may take some time to down load for some
Dr.Web LiveDisk is a function-stuffed loose bootable virus scanner for Windows and Linux.
There are plenty of configurable settings, like deciding on the movements Dr.Web have to take while finding inflamed, suspicious, or incurable files. Also, you could set what must occur within the occasion it detects specific issues like spyware, dialers, jokes, hacktools, and riskware.
You can also exclude directories from being scanned, set how large a record can be before it is excluded from a test, and define a maximum duration Dr.Web is authorized to spend scanning a single report.
I like that Dr.Web can take a look at for virus definition updates without delay from the program. This approach you may reuse the program in the future and all you need to do is replace it before you do a test.
You can set up Dr.Web LiveDisk to a USB device or a disc, but both approach remains a rather massive down load, at 750 MB in length.
07. Bootable Antivirus, F-Secure Rescue CD
What We Like
- Updates virus definitions robotically before every test
- Easy to use because there are not lots of options to get confused about
- Not as huge of a down load as some similar applications
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t have advanced test options
- Missing the familiar graphical UI, so it could be tough to use
F-Secure Rescue CD is a easy bootable antivirus program. It works without any graphical consumer interface, so it is probably a chunk confusing.
There are hardly any options or user input besides urgent the Enter key to affirm the begin of a test.
F-Secure Rescue CD updates its virus definitions mechanically before beginning a test however it’s unlucky you can’t bypass over them.
08. Bootable Antivirus, Kaspersky Rescue Disk
What We Like
- Lets you experiment specific folders, the whole pressure, and different areas
- Scans for plenty sorts of malware
- You get to pick out which interface to apply: graphical or textual content
- Includes different gear
What We Don’t Like
- Large down load at over 500 MB
Kaspersky has what’s referred to as a Rescue Disk, which could experiment for viruses, worms, Trojans, malicious equipment, spyware, dialers, and different malicious objects.
You can pick between using the graphical mode (endorsed) or the text-simplest mode.
Your scan options consist of Fileless gadgets, Startup items, and System pressure. You also can scan boot sectors and precise folders.
You can also use Kaspersky’s tool to browse thru the document gadget to copy or delete files. The Firefox browser is also constructed in to Kaspersky Rescue Disk, among many different equipment.
The handiest downfall I can find with Kaspersky Rescue Disk is that the down load document is as an alternative huge, and might, therefore, take the time to down load.
09. Panda Cloud Cleaner Rescue ISO
What We Like
- Works in Windows 10 and older Windows OSs
- Updates automatically
- Can test precise files, folders, and tough drives
- Small download size (below 2 hundred MB)
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t characteristic as a real bootable AV application
- Doesn’t paintings if the virus is blocking off get entry to on your computer
- Isn’t as clean to apply as comparable gear
Panda Rescue ISO is a application that allows the loose Panda Cloud Cleaner software to scan a laptop with none other walking approaches that might probably close it down and save you a virus scan.
First, you must boot to the Panda Rescue ISO disc to prepare your laptop for jogging Panda Cloud Cleaner. Next, your pc will reboot into Windows however release the cleaner before some other packages begin. All different techniques are shut down in order that Panda Cloud Cleaner is much less possibly to be terminated with the aid of a plague.
The problem I even have with this device is that it may no longer work well if a plague has infected your computer so deeply that you can not even boot into Windows. If this is the case, you’ll want to strive any of the alternative tools on this listing that do not require Windows to boot.
10. Sophos Bootable Anti-Virus
What We Like
- Supports two test types
- Includes an choice that helps you to delete precise files
What We Don’t Like
- Runs in a textual content-best mode
- Lacks custom scan options
- Takes a while to attain the actual download link at the download page
Not many custom settings or options are to be had in Sophos Bootable Anti-Virus except choosing one in all two one-of-a-kind experiment kinds.
A Recommended Scan can both rename infected files or just show a log of the malicious objects that had been observed. An Advanced Scan will surely do away with any infected documents it detects.
There’s also a Bash Shell menu option for manually casting off viruses. This option is handiest beneficial in case you recognise where the malicious gadgets are, which isn’t very possibly.
You should answer several questions earlier than you can get to the download link.
Note: Advanced steps are vital to get the Sophos Bootable Anti-Virus ISO record. You should examine the instructions cautiously with a view to download the program. It finally ends up requiring around 360 MB of free area.
11. Trend Micro Rescue Disk
What We Like
- There are two experiment sorts you can run
- Fairly clean to use thinking about the dearth of advanced options
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t have a graphical interface
Trend Micro Rescue Disk is every other unfastened bootable antivirus device that doesn’t have a graphical interface, meaning you’ll need to navigate totally in textual content mode with the arrow keys.
You can run a short scan or a full experiment depending on what areas you would like checked.
Note: Trend Micro Rescue Disk is first downloaded as a regular software file that consists of the bootable software program. Just choose to install it on a USB tool or CD.
12. Bootable Antivirus, VBA32 Rescue
What We Like
- Has plenty of experiment alternatives you can tweak
What We Don’t Like
- Might be tough to apply because of the textual content-best interface
- Download is round 200 MB
VBA32 would not help a graphical interface but it makes up for it in its distinctive settings.
There are lots of options in this program, like deciding on which drives to scan, defining a fixed of document sorts to test, choosing to experiment inner files, and figuring out a default action while a malicious report is detected.
You can also modify the heuristic test settings and update virus definitions directly from the CD or USB pressure.
The apparent downfall to VBA32 Rescue is which you ought to use it in a textual content-simplest mode, in contrast to most of those other equipment that have a everyday, graphical interface.
13. Windows Defender Offline
What We Like
- Several exclusion settings to customise the test
- Virus definition updates are supported directly from the disc
- Has a graphical UI instead of textual content
What We Don’t Like
- Download as an EXE document in preference to without delay as an ISO
From Microsoft, Windows Defender Offline is a bootable virus scanner that sports activities a complete person interface.
You can update the virus definitions at once from the disc, view quarantined documents, and exclude files, folders, and extension kinds from scans.
Windows Defender Offline helps brief virus scans, full scans, and custom scans so you can select your own folders and drives to scan.
The Windows Defender Offline tool from the down load hyperlink can burn the software program to a disc or USB device for you, so no image burning software program is important. See Am I Running a 32-bit or 64-bit Version of Windows? To know which down load report to pick.
14. Bootable Antivirus, Zillya! LiveCD
What We Like
- Runs with a full computing device interface
- Lets you test a whole pressure or unique folders best
- Includes a tool to repair corrupt MBR troubles
- Easier to apply than some bootable AV packages
What We Don’t Like
- Lacks simply superior test settings observed in comparable packages
- Can’t experiment precise files only
Zillya! LiveCD can scan whole drives or complete folders most effective, so it may not scan just single files.
There’s an option to test for viruses in doubtlessly dangerous report types like executables so you’re now not scanning every unmarried file kind, that may take a long time.
A utility known as Zillya! MBR Recovery is available from this bootable disc, which could experiment the MBR for viruses and attempt to restore boot troubles resulting from a corrupt MBR.
I like all the settings which might be covered in Zillya! LiveCD as well as the fact that it affords a totally smooth to apply interface.
15. Bootable Antivirus, ESET SysRescue Live
What We Like
- Super smooth to use.
- Advanced settings if you need to use them.
- Complete computer environment.
What We Don’t Like
- Large, 570 MB down load.
ESET SysRescue is some other bootable virus scanner that you can use totally free from a CD, DVD, or USB device. It comes from the business enterprise ESET, which also sells protection software program for home users and organizations.
This tool affords a complete desktop environment, so if you’re uncomfortable with text-most effective consumer interfaces, you ought to be okay with how this one works. There’s a start menu, laptop items for other gear like TeamViewer and GParted, a file browser, and of path a shortcut to ESET SysRescue.
The virus scanner itself may be very smooth to apply and can be used speedy without any customizations. From the On-demand test web page, simply choose the option you want to apply: Smart test to test only some regions for malware — specifically, not unusual places malware is located; or pick Custom scan to run an in-depth, full scan of any area of the force, consisting of the whole thing.
However, you could alternate superior settings in case you want. Some of the test settings consist of choosing which object kinds to scan — such as documents, symbolic links, e mail files, documents, self-extracting information, boot sectors, and others. You also can allow heuristics, stumble on PuPs, exclude unique file extensions, and set scan limits on files of a certain size.
When you first run this system, you are given the option to not simplest run SysRescue but additionally check for errors on the disc or inside the memory.
16. PC Tools’ Alternate Operating System Scanner
What We Like
- Very easy and smooth to apply
- You can start going for walks a experiment in seconds
- Includes other useful tools that paintings satisfactory when run out of doors of the OS
What We Don’t Like
- Lacks custom scan settings
- Download is huge at over 350 MB
This software is a bit one of a kind than the others on this listing because PC Tools’ Alternate Operating System Scanner is a portion of a larger suite.
The complete suite includes not only a deadly disease scanner but also a machine shell, record manager, records destruction software, and report healing device.
If malicious documents are located, PC Tools’ Alternate Operating System Scanner will display a consequences web page where you may disable them so they can not do any harm to your other files.
The primary factor I like approximately this device is that there are not any custom settings (which will be a good or awful element depending on your angle). It works as quick as deciding on the power to test after which looking forward to the outcomes.
The respectable internet site that used to host AOSS is not operational, so if the hyperlink above does not work to download AOSS, do that one from the Wayback Machine.