Infected PC Won’t Boot?
In some instances, malware infects users computers and then stops them from booting into Windows or even into Safe Mode. This makes the normal methods of removal impossible and many users resort to re-installing the Operating System.
In other cases, users can boot into Windows only to find that the Taskbar isn’t there, Windows Explorer isn’t working so the desktop is blank and Task Manager can’t be opened. Booting into Safe Mode does not help as users find that the usual security tools to solve these problems cannot be downloaded or installed.
There is a way to work around this though.
Download Kaspersky Rescue ISO or Avira AntiVir Rescue System both of which are free and burn whichever you choose to a CD on a clean machine. Both are Linux-based applications and very simple to use.
If you don’t have an ISO Burner there is a link to a free one at the end of this article as well as links to Kaspersky Rescue ISO and Avira AntiVir Rescue System.
Once the ISO image has been burnt to disc, place it into the CD/DVD tray on the infected machine, users need to ensure that the computer boots from Disc by opening the systems BIOS and ensuring that CD /DVD is set as first Boot Device.
On most computers this can be achieved by pressing ‘F1′, ‘F2′, ‘del’ or ‘esc’ key as the machine is powered on, and under either ‘boot options’ or in the BIOS use the arrow keys to highlight your CD / DVD Drive and either press Enter to continue or ’save and exit’. Check with your vendor for specific keys to open the system BIOS. Reboot and the computer should then boot from the CD.
These Rescue Discs are regularly updated with new definitions, so when users download they will be downloading the latest version, in the case of Avira, it can check for a live internet connection and download the latest updates.
When I tried to update Kaspersky it would not connect to update. So Avira performed better in that respect and although the Kaspersky scan was much quicker, the Avira scan appeared to be more thorough.
Download Avira AntiVir Rescue System ISO here - 56MB
Download Kaspersky Rescue ISO here - 114MB
Download Free ISO Burner here - 361Kb -- Ensure that you download the correct version for your computer. Supports Windows XP, 2003, Vista and Windows 7 with 64Bit versions included.
Once cleaned download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, install, update and perform a Quick Scan. Also download and scan with GMER for any rootkits.
Surf Safer, Surf with WOT - Click Here or the links below
Web of Trust for Internet Explorer
Web of Trust for Firefox
Web of Trust for Google Chrome
Free PC Security, Avira Rescue System Disc, Kaspersky Rescue Disc, Computer won’t boot, Malware, Your computer is not protected
Reader Comments
That's a good article Colin.The video makes it so easy to understand.I am sure this will be helpful for a lot of users.
CodHead - Thank you my friend
It does work with most malware infections although Avira is better than Kaspersky as it will look for an internet connection and update, Kaspersky seems to have a problem updating, but quite afew have made use of the links and burnt the iso images and it has worked for them, then it's just a sweep with mbam and ccleaner to make sure the machine is clean.
All the best
Colin
My boyfriends computer was infected and there was absolutely nothing to be done with it, we even had a computer guy take it away to try and fix but the harddrive was ruined. Was cheaper to buy a new laptop.
Thanks, that video made it very clearly!