Bootable Rescue CD

Hello There are free bootable rescue CDs with regular database updates, designed to scan and disinfect computers that have been infected. The application should be used when the infection is at such level that it is impossible to disinfect the computer using anti-virus applications or malware removal utilities running under the operating system. I tried Avira (boot, update and scan OK), Kaspersky (boot, update and scan OK, looks great), and BitDefender (cant boot) on my clean 2 XP PCs. Want to keep these tools in drawer and never use, except in case of evident bad infection. Please WTT opinion and experience. Know that sometime scan produce false positives. Can I harm OS because improperly threat removing can cause the system to no longer boot? ArTech

Your question would be better answered by those specifically trained for those tools for malware. I would suggest you post your question HERE in the malware forum and let them give you a trained and experienced explanation.

arTech, any time you delete (or quarantine) files, because of a false positive or a real infection, there is a chance of damaging the OS. That is why some people who work with malware removal experts, ours or at other sites, end up here to repair something that is not working right. A lot depends on the severity of the infection and whether it affected system files or just introduced it's own files. No sure way to tell what the outcome will be, which is why having a good, up to date backup is the best insurance you can have. I suspect the folks in the malware area will tell you the same thing but it won't hurt to ask, that's for sure.

Thanks Ztruker Try to make strategy for possibly bad luck and bad infection in future. Backup data and image file of OS partition (Norton Ghost) is my first step always. Thereafter malware fight. Think that Bootable Rescue CDs are powerful, effective and easy to use tools able to sweep away any kind of infection (specially in combination with several respectable developers, and rootkit tools). This way can buy a lot of time, but will see in practice. This is my forum, and I don't want to bother busy and dynamic malware forum which solving real serious problems (although it is strange that these tools are taboo). arTech