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ESET SysRescue Live

ESET has discontinued SysRescue Live. Here is what to use instead to clean an infected PC.

Discontinued by the vendor

ESET SysRescue Live is no longer maintained. It no longer receives program or detection updates, and an outdated rescue disk can miss current malware. Use one of the maintained alternatives below.

About ESET SysRescue Live

ESET SysRescue Live was a free bootable antivirus based on Linux and ESET's NOD32 engine.

ESET has ended development of the tool. Old copies still boot, but they cannot reliably detect new threats.

If you need to clean a PC that will not start, these free tools do the same job and are still maintained:

Free alternatives to ESET SysRescue Live

ToolTypeBest for
Kaspersky Rescue DiskBootable ISOPCs that will not start; rootkits and ransomware lockers
Avira Rescue SystemBootable ISOCleaning plus file recovery with a full desktop
ESET Online ScannerWindows appESET's engine on a PC that still starts

Frequently asked questions

Can I still use an old ESET SysRescue Live USB?

It will boot, but its detection engine is outdated and may miss current malware. Use a maintained rescue disk instead.

What is the closest replacement?

For a PC that will not boot, Kaspersky Rescue Disk is the most similar. If Windows still starts, ESET Online Scanner gives you ESET's current engine.