How do I run an anti-virus scan if I can't boot?

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Many programms include spyware modules. Use anti-spyware for protect your privacy.
As for me, I like professional anti-spy software like PrivacyKeyboard by Raytown Corporation LLC.
You can download it here: http://download.softsecurity.com/1/14/prvkbd.zip (~4MB)

Anti-Spyware: Efficiency of the Means of Defense

I used Knoppix to recover from an LSASS error (endpoint format is invalid). Since the error occurred before the Windows Desktop loaded and I couldn't even boot in SAFE mode, I booted from a Knoppix CD, navigated to my data, and saved them to a portable USB hard drive. Although I was totally unfamiliar with the user interface (I can barely SPELL Linux), it was intuitive enough for me to use easily. I then formatted and re-installed.

Thanks, Shanzola for the encouragement. I have a hard time spelling SPELL if that gives you a clue about my computer expertise. You've given me the encouragement to give it a try. And thanks to you too, Leo for another informative article!

If you can, please help me...
I have a boot virus that doesn't alow me to install windows (any type XP,2k) it creates an error at instalation and it restarts the PC after installation. I used Ultimate boot disk cd 3.4 and it doesn't recognises the virus, only the bios antivirus. If you can, please let me know what to do because I'm out of options. Thank you.

Try Live CD suggestions in the article: knoppix, for one example.

If you have a second PC you can hang the (possibly) infected drive on the second PC as a slave drive and scan it that way.

Here's a question, once upon a time I remember Nortons antivirus disk being bootable with a Dos scan and virus removal utility in it. does anything like that still exsits? and if so what company still makes it it was fantastic if you thought you were infected and couldn't boot. scanned EVERTYHING , you'd load your dat files a floppy after you booted to the CD and run it from there.

Try to use Avast boot scan. It runs before Windows GUI is loaded. It is also free for non-commercial use. This is no advertisment :) I use it too in this situation. http://avast.com/

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Another approach are to use the Linux "live" CDs like
Knoppix, or to build a Windows Boot CD yourself using a tool
like BartPE. Unfortunately a Windows boot CD cannot be
distributed (it's piracy of Windows), but you can make your
own using your own copy of Windows if you think to do so
before you have a problem.

Leo

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Very interesting but difficult for a non-expert: I tried to implement using.
1. BartPe. Created a cd but couldn't implement an antivirus plugin. The documentation doesn't seem to be up to date. Do you have a working example?

2. I have a Ubuntu live CD but it doesn't include an antivirus scanner. Can't download one as Ubuntu live won't store to the hard disk.

3. Chaleem suggested doing an Avast boot scan. I use the free Avast version but it doesn't include the boot scan.

4. re Max Taylor's note I have an old Norton Systemworks cd and it does a boot scan but only of the a drive!

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