Best boot-up pre-Windows Antivirus software??

[lektrix]

Any recommendations out there? I'm trying to fix a friend's PC but I need to be able to scan and remove any viruses before I boot into CMD to copy and backup his files...

 

[Dahak]

The only one I have used on a few occasions is Kaspersky Rescue Disk.

You could also use YUMI, and it allows you to make a few of them all on one usb disk
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/

 

[lektrix]

I did try AVG yesterday, and updated the definitions, scanned entire HDD and found some stuff but when I logged into Win7 again it was still messed.

 

[PliotronX]

If you can get into safe mode, have these tools prepared with updated definitions or use safe mode with networking: Adwcleaner, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, and Emsisoft Emergency Kit (thinking ahead, EEK takes a long time to update definitions but is worth running). If this combo doesn't get it, activate the free trial of Hitman Pro. Very few nasties survive these tools and if they do, don't waste any more time cleaning and just reload the OS.

edit- sorry you were in the process of reloading already, just realized. So yeah I have had Comodo rescue find stuff others don't but they all find things each other won't. It depends on how many scans and second opinions you wish to invest time into. When you backup the files, they won't likely be infected so you can safely reload and then scan the files through the new installation.

 

[lektrix]

I'm reloading the OS either way but need to make sure the 113GB of data I am backing up for them in their user folder is not infected before I move it on my external HDD. I wish I had a separate external HDD to completely reduce the risk but I don't .

 

[cholley]

+1 for kaspersky rescue disk

 

[PliotronX]

I'm reloading the OS either way but need to make sure the 113GB of data I am backing up for them in their user folder is not infected before I move it on my external HDD. I wish I had a separate external HDD to completely reduce the risk but I don't .

I was meaning to say that you should not have to worry about it reinfecting the reinstalled OS when the data is mounted or copied as there isn't anything referencing the files to self-execute. I would say go ahead and reload then scan the data from the new OS, it'll make life easier. If you want to go an extra mile or two, you could make a VHD out of the data and attach it to a VM for inspection on another system.

 

[PliotronX]

+1 for kaspersky rescue disk

That's a good'n too. You can throw these all onto a spare flash drive easily with YUMI like Dahak suggested. The only one I can't figure out how to use with YUMI is Trend Micro's rescue disc. I haven't found an ISO to feed into YUMI for it.