Run Avast Boot Scan
I have an Acer AX3810-U1802 desktop running 64-bit Windows 7 with Microsoft Security Essentials (MSSE) as the only virus/malware software. I purchased the computer new several years ago, and it is stock (i.e., no hardware mods). Recently my wife got some sort of pop-up while using Skype, and she clicked on a 'No Thanks' button in the pop-up window. This immediately resulted in slow-down of the computer (especially while surfing the internet) and the start of ghost audio (e.g., like listening to FM radio ads with bad reception) playing constantly after connecting to the internet, and this ghost audio would not stop unless the computer was restarted, and then would always immediately start again after reconnecting to the internet by opening MS Explorer browser. I immediately performed a full scan of the hard drive with update-to-date MSSE and it found nothing suspicious.
How do I implement boot time scan in windows 7 64bit? MSE cannot do a boot scan like you're talking about before startup other than the short and tiny scan it does every time automatically and can't even be turned off. If it says it did so successfully, it also provides a link to help in how to use it to run the program - which may send. Boot-time scanning usually takes longer time to run that is up to several hours. Now, look at the methods to schedule or run an Avast Antivirus 2019 Boot-time scan: Firstly close all the running programs and apps then open Avast user interface by clicking its icon from the taskbar or by searching it from the search menu.
Soon after, a neighbor who recently graduated with a degree in computer IT told me to try using AVG or AVAST! to perform the virus/malware scan. I downloaded free AVAST! and it immediately discovered a Trojan virus, and then recommended that I allow it to automatically restart the computer and perform an AVAST! boot scan. Since I was very pleased that AVAST! found something during the initial scan and seemed to be doing something positive, I agreed to let it perform the boot scan. I only sat through the first 10 minutes of the process where it found several suspicious items and offered me many options of handling them. I kept selecting the default option of 'automatically fix' thinking that AVAST! would be smart enough to know how to handle each item (e.g., repair, quarantine, delete, ignore, etc.). I came back a few times to check on the process, and at one point I found it paused on one item that it said it had tried to unsuccessfully delete, so I just selected 'ignore' for that one item and let it proceed onward.
An hour later I came back and found the computer engaged in an continuous loop of automatically restarting/rebooting each time it got to the Windows logo point in startup. I was able to use F8 to get to the advanced boot menu, and out of the many menu options (which include a full system restore), I attempted to just start in Safe Mode (twice), but it only lets me enter the computer ID and password, and then it just pauses and automatically goes back into the same continuous reboot loop again. I did not try executing any other options on this advanced boot menu. Also, please know that I did make a set of restore discs when I originally got the computer, but for me a full restore would be a last resort, and it is not even clear to me whether that would work given the current dysfunctional state of this computer.
After reading many of the various forum threads here and elsewhere, I got the impression that there may be a portable program like FARBAR Recovery Scan Tool, or some other repair tool that might be able to find and repair whatever damage was done to the OS / boot sector on my computer. I am somewhat confused about what to try next and fear I may just do additional damage and completely brick the computer, so I have done nothing further at this point. Unfortunately, since the computer will not even boot up properly, I am unable to generate any diagnostic logs now.
Emergency aid from one of the trained professionals in this forum would be greatly appreciated to get my computer running and disease-free again. Thanks so very much.
- Andrew
Hi Blacksnakehp,
MSE cannot do a boot scan like you're talking about before startup other than the short and tiny scan it does every time automatically and can't even be turned off.
The new beta Microsoft System Sweeper might do the trick by actually booting to a USB Drive or CD that scans the system. Since the system boots to the USB drive, none of startup begins. It's not exactly like doing the scan during a normal bootup, but may fit your needs, though there is drawback.
There does not yet appear to be official support for this product even through Connect (other than the pages that follow if you didn't notice them and some others I found that may help) - in fact, I can't even find a way to report bugs or make suggestions for it (which seems unusual unless I've missed it somehow or only appears in a running program). We don't support it in this Forum.
Avast Run Boot Time Scan
Here's the Help and FAQ section for Standalone Sweep Beta in Connect: https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper/content/content.aspx?ContentID=24894.
Here's another article on it that essentially provides little more, but there were some tidbits (like the fact that it would format your USB drive so you'd lose everything else on it and that the the USB drive can't be password-protected and it must be bootable among others): http://securitygarden.blogspot.com/2011/06/setting-up-microsoft-standalone-system.html.
Although written for Windows 7, the following articles may still be of some help with your issues:http://www.sevenforums.com/news/166407-microsoft-system-sweeper.html and http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/166445-microsoft-standalone-system-sweeper.html.
When you create the bootable USB drive, if it says it did so successfully, it also provides a link to help in how to use it to run the program - which may send you to places other than those above which may help.
Also, make sure your BIOS are configured to boot to a USB drive (not all systems can be configured to do this, though many and probably most can - but if you're using an XP machine that may have started with an even earlier system, that may not be an available feature and using a bootable CD/DVD - also set as such in BIOS - may be the only option).
Avast Boot Scan Version 10
I hope this helps. MSE can't help you with this issue though we know other products that can do what you want to do but can't be installed at the same time as MSE or it will cause conflicts, freezes, crashes, other problems - plus neither program will work properly so you end up with less protection rather than more protection.
Virus Scan Boot Disk
Good luck!