Windows 7 - Microsoft Safety Scanner

   Information

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is a free portable downloadable standalone EXE security tool that provides on-demand scanning and helps remove viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. It works with your existing antivirus software.

The Microsoft Safety Scanner expires 10 days after being downloaded. To rerun a scan with the latest anti-malware definitions, download and run the Microsoft Safety Scanner again.

The Microsoft Safety Scanner is not a replacement for using an antivirus software program that provides ongoing protection.

For real-time protection that helps to guard your home or small business PCs against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software, download the free Microsoft Security Essentials in addition.

   Note

The release of the Microsoft Safety Scanner has resulted in confusion about the available anti-malware tools provided by Microsoft and questions about when they should be used.

Read more at: Understanding Microsoft Anti-Malware Software ~ Security Garden

   Warning

System Requirements:

• Operating System: Windows 7; Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista; Windows XP.
• A PC with a CPU clock speed of 500 MHz or higher, and 256 MB RAM or higher.
• VGA display of 800 × 600 or higher.
• 200 MB of available hard disk space.

1. If you have not already, you will need to download and save the Microsoft Safety Scanner to your computer.

2. Run the downloaded msert.exe file from where you saved it at.
NOTE: Microsoft Safety Scanner does not install on your computer, and is only a standalone EXE file.

3. Check the Accept all terms.... box, and click on Next. (see screenshot below)

4. Click on Next. (see screenshot below)

5. Select (dot) what type of scan you would like to run, and click on Next. (see screenshots below)
NOTE: If you select Customized scan, then you would need to click on Choose Folder first to select what folder and it's contents you want scanned.

6. When the scan is finished and if nothing is found, then click on Finish. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If something suspicious is found, it will give you an option of what to do with it.

   Note

The Microsoft Safety Scanner scan log results are located at:

C:\Windows\Debug\msert.log

Example msert.log file:

Code:

 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Safety Scanner v1.0, (build 1.101.1492.0)
Started On Thu Apr 14 21:34:49 2011
->Scan ERROR: resource process://pid:952 (code 0x00000490 (1168))
->Scan ERROR: resource process://pid:4396 (code 0x00000005 (5))
->Scan ERROR: resource file://C:\pagefile.sys (code 0x00000020 (32))
->Scan ERROR: resource file://C:\pagefile.sys (code 0x0000054F (1359))
Results Summary:
----------------
No infection found.
Microsoft Safety Scanner Finished On Thu Apr 14 21:56:10 2011
 
Return code: 0 (0x0)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Safety Scanner v1.0, (build 1.101.1492.0)
Started On Thu Apr 14 21:57:48 2011
Microsoft Safety Scanner Finished On Thu Apr 14 21:58:05 2011
 
Return code: 0 (0x0)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Safety Scanner v1.0, (build 1.101.1492.0)
Started On Thu Apr 14 21:58:10 2011
Extended Scan Results : C:\Users
----------------
->Scan ERROR: resource process://pid:5476 (code 0x00000005 (5))
->Scan ERROR: resource file://C:\pagefile.sys (code 0x00000020 (32))
->Scan ERROR: resource file://C:\pagefile.sys (code 0x0000054F (1359))
No infection found as part of the extended scan
Results Summary:
----------------
No infection found.
Microsoft Safety Scanner Finished On Thu Apr 14 22:04:18 2011
 
Return code: 0 (0x0)