Bitdefender Rescue CD : Useful tool but no longer updated.Adaware Live CD: Easy to navigate but file is large.Panda Cloud Cleaner Rescue ISO : Compact but needs Windows to run.Norton Bootable Recovery Tool : Stellar reputation but no customization.Avira Rescue System : Easy-to-use tool for running a full scan.Dr.Web LiveDisk: Lots of options including file recovery.

Avast Rescue Disk: Included in Avast’s free antivirus software.

Trend Micro Rescue Disk : Simplistic tool with small file size.

Sophos Bootable Anti-Virus : Text-only interface.

Comodo Rescue Disk: Compact tool with automatic updates.

Kaspersky Rescue Disk : Highly customizable.

ESET SysRescue Live : Lots of customization options and additional tools.

Simply scroll down to find out more about each tool. In case you don’t have time to read the full list, we’ve included a brief description of each below. Here, we reveal the top options available. Indeed, there are a ton of free solutions out there. Thankfully, these tools won’t break the bank. Note that you may need to change your system’s boot order in the BIOS, which we discuss further at the end of this post.

Then you insert the removable device into the corrupted computer and the rescue tool program should be able to start up, allowing you to run a scan. If your system won’t boot at all, you’ll need to use another device to do this. In general, to use one of these tools, you first need to download a file from the provider’s website and copy it onto a removable device (usually a CD or USB stick) using a third-party program. It can run on a system that has been heavily corrupted to the point that it no longer functions. What if the damage is severe enough that you can’t power up or log in to your device, as is the case with some particularly nasty viruses? That’s where a bootable antivirus tool comes in. While traditional antivirus software is sufficient for scanning your computer in most cases, it does rely on you having a functioning system.

Bootable antivirus tools can be useful in some of the most serious situations.

Mac virus scanner free online