SysClean

Free Download to
Clean Your PC of Viruses and Trojans

SysClean is free manually operated virus cleaner provided by Trend Micro, one of the leaders in Computer Security Software.

The reason you would want SysClean is if your PC is infected and you either cannot get online for an online scanner or cannot get your normal Antivirus to work. Perhaps your regular Antivirus software can't get updates online and you don't know how to manually install them.

The utility can be downloaded on another PC and saved onto a USB Key or other media to transfer to the infected machine if need be.

Let's look at the steps to use this tool:

1. Head on over to Trend Micro and get the Sysclean utility. (Under If you are not a Trend Micro customer).
2. Get the latest pattern file from Trend Micro. (Under Virus Pattern Files / Cleanup Templates - official release).
3. Extract all components into the same folder on your computer. To make is easy you might just want to create a new folder on the root directory, such as C:\SysClean.
4. Boot to Windows Safe Mode. Many viruses and Trojans will not launch when booted to Safe Mode. This is critical for two reasons. First, your system will operate smoother, quicker and more reliably. Second, if a virus or Trojan is found, the file may be locked and therefore unable to be removed if it is currently running.
5. Run SysClean. You can either double click the executable file from Windows explorer or run from a command line; some command line options are available - see the Trend Micro instructions below.
6. Check the log if in doubt on the results. The log file will be in the directory that the program was launched from.

Trend Micro's ReadMe file instructions give you the information you need; it just looks like a bureaucrat wrote it. Why they don't put a link to the pattern file, I have no idea. Essentially I have taken their instructions and tried to simplify them.

As far as the Damage Cleanup Template they offer separately, I have no idea what it does because I have tried using it on infected computers and have NEVER seen it do anything. But, if you are desperate, try it. Shouldn't hurt anything at least.

SysClean is a good tool to have in the toolkit; it might save your bacon when nothing else is available. And best of all, it's FREE.