UPDATE: Some more free Rescue CDs download links added.
Many times we found ourselves in a difficult situation when our system cannot load in the regular way, for example due to virus infection or some system file missing, etc.
In such conditions, Rescue CD becomes very useful. You can simply boot using the rescue CD and can scan your system, remove the virus, copy/delete files, create/delete partitions and many other system tasks. So a Rescue CD is boon for all of us.
Many respected anti-virus companies are providing their rescue CDs free of cost. So here we are sharing a few such free rescue CDs which you can download and burn for future use:
Kaspersky Rescue CD:
Kaspersky is one of the best anti-virus company and now its providing a rescue CD absolutely free which contains the latest Kaspersky anti-virus. So you can scan your system by booting your system using Kaspersky rescue CD.
BitDefender Rescue CD:
BitDefender is also a great anti-virus software. It also provides a free rescue CD which comes bundled with latest BitDefender anti-virus. The best thing in this rescue CD is, when you boot using this CD and connects to Internet, it can update the virus definition.
Download BitDefender Rescue CD
AVG Rescue CD:
AVG is one of the best FREE anti-virus and it also provides rescue CD. Its built on a Linux distribution platform and contains lots of useful system tools including anti-virus, midnight commander, simpler and several Linux tools like vi, openssh, ntfsprogs, etc.
Avira Rescue CD:
Avira is one of the best FREE anti-virus software and it also provides a free rescue CD. Its a Linux based CD which can help you in scanning your system for virus infection.
Download Avira Rescue CD (ISO)
Download Avira Rescue CD (EXE)
F-Secure Rescue CD:
Another Linux based Rescue CD which can help you to scan your system. It can also update the virus definition if an Internet connection is available otherwise you can manually update it using USB drives.
Panda SafeCD:
Panda SafeCD comes in handy when you need to clean a friend's PC (or your own) from a malware infested state. It is specially useful for detecting and disinfecting malware infections which give regular AV products running within Windows a hard time.
Dr.Web LiveCD:
If your Windows or Linux system has been rendered non-bootable by malware, restore it with Dr.Web LiveCD. Dr.Web LiveCD will clean your computer of infected and suspicious files, help you copy important information to a removable data storage device or another computer, and then attempt to cure infected objects.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Software, Troubleshooting.
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Dr.Lion
Thx VG it helps
Robert Gates
Jan 25, 2010: just checked the pcTools site via the link provided here. Text of their ad states (waaaayyyy at the bottom of the page) that the free trial version detects but does not remove malware. Short chat session w/ thier online rep confirms: she wanted to transfer me to their sales dept to make certain that I got directed to the correct product.
Andrew
Thanks for the list of Rescue CD's
I connect to the Intenet via wifi and am looking for a good rescue disk that can be updated via this type of connection. For example, if the pc became infected the cd would connect to the Internet and download the latest files propr to scanning and cleaning.
Hopefully, I could create the CD on CD-R media. If I needed to re-write the cd in any way then I would need to use a CD-RW.
Any advice greatly received.
A
Dozer84
so i downloaded AVG Rescue CD and it gave me a bunch of names and im kinda confused. only like 8 of the paths are .iso so do i just copy and burn those. please give a step by step instruction thanks
BeyoundPC
We use all of these... Thanks for the links!
Fiaz
Dear Vishal,
I have found your page very helpful and knowledgeable.I got Windows XP operting system in DVD which is not bootable.Please advise me how I can make the this DVD botable.
1. If i have download Rescue CD directly into CD then it will be automatically bootable or I have to do some things else as well.
Regards,
Fiaz
VG
^^ If you burn the downloaded ISO file directly on a CD/DVD, it'll automatically become bootable.
Regarding bootable XP CD, you can use nLite.
Fiaz
Dear Vishal,
What is means by Burn.I have download Rescue Avira CD iso file directly into CD disk and double cliked on image to burn in CD disk.But I am receiving error message that, boot failure.Please advise
For windows XP, I understand that, I have to installed nlite software into CD where I have safed windows XP to make it bootable.Please advise
Regards,
Fiaz
VG
^^ Simply use an image burning software like Nero and select option to burn image to disc. Select downloaded ISO file and write it to your CD/DVD.
Fiaz
Dear Vishal,
I still can not make rescue bootable cds.I have done
1. Downloaded Avira rescue cd ISO into Desktop.
2. Extract iso files directly into CD.
3. I have use Roxio easy creator software to burn image file into CD, but there in no any image files available which i can burn to cd.
Please advice.
fiaz