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Step-by-Step Guide to Booting from the eScan Rescue Disk

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Step-by-Step Guide to Booting from the eScan Rescue DiskWhen your Windows PC is infected with persistent malware that resists regular antivirus tools, a rescue disk lets you boot the system into a clean environment to scan and remove threats. This guide walks you through downloading, creating, booting, and using the eScan Rescue Disk to clean an infected computer safely and effectively.

What is the eScan Rescue Disk?

The eScan Rescue Disk is a standalone, bootable antivirus environment provided by eScan that runs outside the infected operating system. Because it operates from external media (USB or CD/DVD), it can detect and remove rootkits and other malware that hide from or cannot be removed by an antivirus running inside Windows.

What you’ll need

  • A working computer with internet access to download the rescue disk image.
  • A USB flash drive (recommended) — 4 GB or larger — or a blank CD/DVD and disc burner.
  • The infected computer you want to clean.
  • Basic familiarity with changing boot order in BIOS/UEFI (steps included below).

Step 1 — Download the eScan Rescue Disk image

  1. On a clean computer, visit the official eScan Rescue Disk download page.
  2. Download the latest rescue disk ISO file. The file is typically named similarly to eScan_RescueDisk.iso.
  3. Verify the download completed successfully (compare file size or checksum if eScan provides one).

Step 2 — Create bootable media

You can create a bootable USB or burn the ISO to a CD/DVD. USB is faster and more convenient.

Creating a bootable USB (recommended)

  • Use a reliable tool: Rufus (Windows), balenaEtcher (cross-platform), or the built-in dd command on macOS/Linux.
  • Example using Rufus (Windows):
    1. Insert the USB flash drive and launch Rufus.
    2. Select the downloaded ISO under “Boot selection.”
    3. Keep Partition scheme as recommended (MBR for legacy BIOS or GPT for UEFI — Rufus usually auto-selects).
    4. Click Start and confirm any data-wipe warnings.
    5. Wait until the process completes, then safely eject the USB.

Example using balenaEtcher (macOS/Linux/Windows)

  1. Open balenaEtcher, select the eScan ISO, choose your USB drive, and click Flash.
  2. When finished, eject the drive.

Burning to CD/DVD

  • Use your OS’s disc-burning tool or a third-party utility. Choose “Burn image” or equivalent and verify the disc after burning.

Step 3 — Configure the infected PC to boot from the rescue media

  1. Insert the bootable USB or CD/DVD into the infected computer.
  2. Restart the computer.
  3. Access the BIOS/UEFI or Boot Menu:
    • Common keys to enter BIOS/UEFI: F2, Del, F10, Esc (varies by manufacturer).
    • Many systems offer a one-time Boot Menu via F12, F11, or Esc; use it to select USB/CD without changing BIOS settings.
  4. If using the Boot Menu, select your USB flash drive or CD/DVD drive and press Enter.
  5. If using BIOS/UEFI, set the USB or optical drive as the first boot device, save changes, and exit. The system will reboot to the rescue media.

Note: On UEFI systems with Secure Boot enabled, you may need to disable Secure Boot or use a rescue disk signed for Secure Boot. If eScan’s rescue media fails to boot, temporarily disable Secure Boot in UEFI settings, then re-enable after cleaning.

Step 4 — Boot into the eScan Rescue environment

  1. After selecting the rescue media, the PC should load the eScan Rescue Disk environment. This typically presents a simple menu or a minimal Linux-based desktop.
  2. Follow on-screen prompts to start the eScan Rescue tool. You may see options such as “Start Rescue Scanner” or “Boot into Rescue Mode.” Choose the scanner option.

Step 5 — Update virus definitions (if available)

  • If the rescue environment provides network access, choose the option to update virus definitions before scanning. This ensures the latest signatures and improves detection rates.
  • Connect to a network via wired Ethernet if possible (Wi‑Fi support may be limited in rescue environments).
  • If updates aren’t available offline, the included signatures will still detect many known threats but updating is recommended.

Step 6 — Scan the system

  1. Choose the scan type: Full system scan or targeted scan (e.g., C: drive). A full scan is slow but thorough—recommended for heavily infected systems.
  2. Start the scan. Monitor progress and note any malware detections reported by the scanner.
  3. Follow eScan’s prompts for each detected item: clean, quarantine, or delete. Quarantining is safest if you might need to recover files later.

Tips:

  • If the rescue tool detects rootkits or critical system infections, follow eScan’s recommended actions rather than trying to manually remove system files.
  • If the rescue environment reports items it cannot clean, note their names and locations for further action.

Step 7 — Review scan results and take actions

  • After the scan finishes, review the scan log/report. Save or copy the log to external media for later reference if possible.
  • Apply quarantine or removal actions as suggested.
  • Reboot the computer into Windows and see whether the OS behavior has improved.

Step 8 — Post-cleanup steps

  • Boot back into Windows and run a full scan with an up-to-date antivirus to confirm the system is clean.
  • Update Windows and all installed applications (patches close vulnerabilities exploited by malware).
  • Change passwords for sensitive accounts (do this from a known-clean device).
  • Restore any critical files from backups if they were removed or corrupted.
  • If problems persist (recurrent infections, system instability), consider fully reinstalling Windows after backing up personal data.

Troubleshooting & common issues

  • Rescue media won’t boot: check BIOS/UEFI boot order, try the one-time Boot Menu, verify media integrity, or disable Secure Boot.
  • No network access for updates: use Ethernet cable or create a new rescue USB on a computer that downloaded the latest definitions (if eScan supplies offline update files).
  • Scanner can’t remove some malware: note item names and search eScan’s support knowledge base or contact eScan support. In severe cases, back up data and reinstall the OS.

Safety considerations

  • Always back up critical personal files before attempting major removals or OS reinstallations.
  • Don’t input passwords or perform sensitive transactions until you’re sure the system is clean.
  • If you’re uncomfortable performing these steps, seek help from a trusted technician.

When to reinstall Windows

If infections persist after multiple rescue scans, system files are heavily damaged, or system stability is severely impaired, a clean Windows reinstall is the most reliable way to ensure a malware-free system. Back up personal data first, then perform a full clean install using official installation media.

Booting from an eScan Rescue Disk gives you a powerful, out-of-OS way to detect and remove infections that ordinary tools can miss. Follow these steps carefully, update signatures when possible, and combine rescue-disk cleaning with a full in-OS scan and good post-cleanup practices for the best results.

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