Creating the rescue disk

Creating the rescue disk means the creation of a disk image (ISO file) with up-to-date anti-virus databases and configuration files.

The source disk image serving as a base for new file creation can be downloaded from Kaspersky Lab server or copied from a local source.

You can create Rescue Disk using the Rescue Disk Creation Wizard. The rescuecd.iso file created by the Wizard is saved on the hard drive of your computer:

  • in Microsoft Windows XP – in the following folder: Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Kaspersky Lab\AVP11\Data\Rdisk\;
  • in Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows 7 – in the following folder: ProgramData\Kaspersky Lab\AVP11\Data\Rdisk\.

The wizard consists of a series of screens (steps) navigated using the Back and Next buttons. To close the wizard once it completes its work, use the Finish button. To stop the wizard at any stage, use the Cancel button.

To start the Rescue Disk Creation Wizard:

  1. Open the main application window and select the Tools section in the left part of the window.
  2. In the right part of the window click the Rescue Disk button.

Detailed discussion of the wizard steps.

Searching for an existing disk image

If the Wizard has found a rescue disk image file created earlier in the dedicated folder (see above), you can check the Use existing ISO image box to use this file as the original disk image and proceed to the Updating image file step (see below). Uncheck this box if you do not want to use the disk image that has been found, and the Wizard proceeds to the Select disk image source window.

If the Wizard cannot find any ISO file, this step is skipped, and the Wizard proceeds to the Select disk image source window.

Selecting the disk image source

If you have checked the Use existing ISO image box in the first wizard window, then this step will be skipped.

At this step, you should select the image file source from the list of options:

  • Select Copy ISO image from local or network drive if you already have a rescue disk or an image prepared for it and stored on your computer or on a local network resource.
  • Select the Download ISO image from Kaspersky Lab server option if you do not have an image file, and you want to download it from Kaspersky Lab server (file size is about 100 MB).

Copying (downloading) disk image

If you have checked the Use existing ISO image box in the first wizard window, then this step will be skipped.

If you have selected the option of copying the image from a local source at the previous step (Copy ISO image from local or network drive), you should specify the path to the ISO file at this current step. To do so, click the Browse button. After you have specified the path to the file, click the Next button. The progress of disk image copying is displayed in the Wizard window.

If you have selected Download ISO image from Kaspersky Lab server, the progress of disk image downloading is displayed immediately.

When copying or downloading the ISO image is completed, the Wizard automatically proceeds to the next step.

Updating image file

File update procedure includes:

  • update of anti-virus databases;
  • update of configuration files.

Configuration files determine the possibility of starting the computer from a removable disk or CD / DVD written using a rescue disk image provided by the wizard.

When updating anti-virus databases, those distributed at the last update of Kaspersky Anti-Virus are used. If the databases are obsolete, it is recommended to update and restart the rescue disk creation wizard.

To begin updating the ISO file, click the Next button. The progress of updating displays in the wizard window.

Recording the image on a data medium

In this window, the Wizard informs you of a successful creation of Rescue Disk and offers you to record it on a data medium.

Specify a data medium to record the ISO image:

  • Select Record to CD / DVD to record the image on a CD / DVD.

    You will be offered to specify the CD / DVD on which the image should be recorded. After that, the ISO image will be recorded on this CD / DVD. Recording process may take some time, please wait until it is completed.

  • Select the Record to USB flash drive option to record the image on a removable drive.

    Kaspersky Lab recommends that you do not record the ISO image on devices which are not designed specifically for data storage, such as smartphones, cellphones, PDAs, and MP3 players. Recording ISO images on these devices may lead to their incorrect functioning in the future.

    You will be offered to specify the removable drive on which the image should be recorded. After that, the image will be recorded on this removable drive. Recording process may take some time, please wait until it is completed.

  • Select the Do not record option to cancel recording the image that you have created on a data medium.

    In this case, the folder with the disk image file that you have created will open.

Closing the Wizard

To finish with the Wizard, click the Finish button. You can use the disk that you have created for further loading the computer.

Creating the rescue disk