Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Tool, a recovery tool for an infected Windows PC

Speed Up My PC

Microsoft has introduced Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta, a recovery tool that can help you start an infected PC and perform an offline scan to help identify and remove rootkits and other advanced malware.

NOTE: Windows Defender Offline is the new name for Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper.

This tool can also be used if you are unable to start or install an anti virus solution on your PC. Moreover, if the installed anti-virus cannot detect or remove malware on your Windows PC, this tool could be of help too.

Do note that like Microsoft Safety Scanner, the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper is not meant to be a replacement for a full antivirus security software like Microsoft Security Essentials. It is meant to be used only in situations where you cannot start your Windows computer due to malware infection.

The tool is available for 32-bit as well as 64-bit Windows.

To begin, please ensure that you have a blank CD, DVD, or a USB drive with 250 MB of space available.

Next, download the tool from Microsoft.

It is a stand-alone portable tool, so you have to simply click it to run it. No installation is required.

system sweeper 1 600x385 Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Tool, a recovery tool for an infected Windows PC

It will ask you to insert your CD, DVD, or USB drive.

microsoft system sweeper tool 2 600x385 Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Tool, a recovery tool for an infected Windows PC

Do so, and run the tool. The tool will help you to create the bootable media required to run the software on your computer. You can also create a standalone system sweeper on an ISO file.

If the exercise fails and you are unable to burn Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper onto CD or DVD, ensure that the CD/DVD/USB is not damaged. Maybe try using another media, preferably a brand new one. If the problem persists it may be because of incompatibility between System Sweeper and other software or drivers installed on your system. Try running Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper on a different Windows computer that is clean or not infected; or use the Create Standalone System Sweeper on an ISO file option to create a disc image which can be burned manually ontothe a CD or DVD using any CD or DVD creation software.

Download page: Microsoft.

Posted by on , in Category Security with Tags ,
Anand aka HappyAndyK is an end-user Windows enthusiast, a Microsoft MVP in Windows Desktop Experience since 2007, and the Admin of TheWindowsClub.com, TheGeeksClub.com & WinVistaClub.com. Creating a System Restore Point before trying out a new software or a tweak is always recommended.

Random Posts

  • Mike Nash

    Congratulations to Microsoft for offering tools to help remove Spyware.

    Does anyone know how to use this on a drive that has True Crypt?

  • Redk9258

    I hope this is like the Stand alone System Sweeper that was offered to enterprise customers. This looks like it may be more advanced.

  • IanH

    is it possible to use this on a USB without reformatting the USB?

  • Juan

    How much space does it required? i’m interested to install it into a usb pen drive.

  • redk9258

    @IanH – The tool WILL format the drive.

    @Juan – Approximately 244MB. This will grow as the definitions get larger.

    Also I have noticed that once you make the bootable media, the SSS is the same exact version that is included in MS DaRT. This version provides the WinPE environment and ONLY has SSS. MS DaRT is created using the Recovery Environment that is on your Windows 7 disc and includes other tools.

  • http://support.microsoft.com/select/?target=hub Guy Arad

    @redk, your answers are accurate.

    As for formatting the drive – indeed, first usage of the tool WILL format the USB drive.
    However, if the following conditions are met, when running the tool again, the USB drive will NOT be reformatted:
    1. The files on the USB drive are NOT damaged or missing (the tool WILL verify that.
    2. The version used to create the bootable USB drive is the same as the version of the tool being re-run.
    3. The same USB drive is used obviously :)

  • itconcerned

    Very nice tool, even being beta. Going on flash (USB), it worked plain and smoothly.