If you’re trying to fix a PC so badly infected with malware that you can’t even get it to boot, Microsoft has announced a new program that might be a life-saver for PC repair.
Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper is a new tool weighing in at 500kb; with this app you can create a bootable disc or thumb drive that will perform an offline scan and get rid of any malware or rootkits installed preventing your PC from booting up. It can also work in conjunction with your current antivirus software, if that program is having trouble getting rid of a virus or rootkit.
Microsoft does stress however, that this app is not a replacement for a full anitivirus suite, rather it’s for those occasions where you can’t boot your system because of malware. The company already has a full antivirus suite free of charge in the form of Microsoft Security Essentials.
Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit.
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