Bootable rescue disks are useful in situations where malware blocks you from running standard antivirus software. These disks allow you to scan your computer without having to run Windows or Windows. They can often locate files that antivirus software could miss. Some of them can even look through the Master Boot Record (MBR) of the hard drive, which is especially beneficial for eliminating persistent or difficult to clean threats.
These bootable programs typically offer a basic text interface. However, they usually come with customization options so that you can select to scan specific folders or files, just sizes or types of files, and much more. The best among these tools offer a graphical interface and support for more advanced threats like rootkits, and other varieties of ransomware.
AVG Rescue CD is a great example, featuring a simple but well-organized GUI and many scanning options. It’s also among the few programs that provide the full MBR scan which is typically impossible to achieve with an unbootable program. It’s not the most efficient program on this list and its user-friendly text-only interface isn’t for everyone.
Kaspersky Rescue Disk is another great option that is fast and has a well-designed interface. It also supports more advanced malware. It has features you won’t find in other bootable anti-virus tools, like the ability to scan the boot sector as well as hidden startup objects, as well as fileless and the entire drive. It can also exclude files to reduce the time spent on scanning. In our tests, it identified all the malware samples we emailed it and even some that did not pass detection by other antivirus programs.