Norton Bootable Recovery Tool

Overview

The Norton Bootable Recovery Tool is a Rescue tool available for free to existing customers of Norton Antivirus, Norton Internet Security and Norton 360. You can use this tool in emergency situations to restore your computer to normal working order when:

• Installation of your Norton security product fails because your system is deeply infected by crimeware.
• Crimeware is deeply embedded into your computer’s operating system that it takes a special tool to remove it.

Locating the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 1/1

You can find the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool on:

• Your product disc, if you purchased your Norton security product on a disc.
• Symantec’s web site by clicking here. From this site, you can download an easy-to-use wizard that will help you create your bootable CD, DVD or USB device so you have the tool ready for emergency situations.

You can also access the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool Wizard through your Norton Product. Open the Windows' Start menu, select your Norton security program and then click "Norton Recovery Tools".

If you have your product disk, you can go directly to the "Running the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool" section of this tutorial.

If you do not have a Norton disk, be sure to take a moment to open the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool Wizard and follow the simple steps to create your customized Rescue Boot Disk.

Your Customized Rescue Boot Disk will boot your computer in a safe environment, then work to remove the threats that caused the problem so that you are back up and running in no time.

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 1/14

Once the download and install completes, the wizard will start automatically and you can create the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool.
You can create the tool in three formats:

• CD or DVD
• USB key
• ISO file to start from a virtual system

You can also update the threat definitions on a Norton Bootable Recovery Tool previously created on a USB device,

Click the option you want to follow.

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 2/14

To create the tool on a disk, please make sure you have a CD/DVD writer available on your computer. If you have multiple CD/DVD writers available on your computer, please specify the location (drive) on which you want to create the tool. The tool comes with a default set of network and storage drivers. You can add more drivers by clicking on the “Add drivers” link. If you don't know if you need to include more drivers in your customized Norton Bootable Recovery Tool, please create the tool using the default settings. If the tool does not run properly on your computer, you can come back later to this wizard and create a new tool with additional drivers.

Finally, be sure to select your preferred language and click "NEXT".

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 3/14

The most current threat definitions are downloaded during creation of the Tool.
Creation may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your connection.
You can cancel the operation at any time by clicking "Cancel."

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 4/14

The tool is now ready for use. Please keep your CD/DVD handy for emergency situations.

When you need to use it, please put the disk in the CD/DVD drive and restart your computer. Most computers will prompt you to start from the CD or DVD. Select this option.

If your computer does not start from your CD or DVD you may need to change your BIOS settings. Please refer to your System manual on how to bring up and modify your BIOS settings.

NOTE: You will need the product key of your Norton security product to use the Norton Bootable recovery Tool. You may want to keep it together with your CD/DVD.

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 5/14

To create the tool on a USB key, please make sure you have your device inserted in your computer.

If you have multiple USB keys available on your computer, please specify the location (drive) on which you want to create the tool. The tool comes with a default set of network and storage drivers. You can add more drivers by clicking “Add drivers” link.
If you don't know if you need to include more drivers in your customized Norton Bootable Recovery Tool, please create the tool using the default settings. If the tool does not run properly on your computer, you can come back later to this wizard and create a new tool with additional drivers.

Finally, be sure to select your preferred language and click "NEXT".

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 6/14

Creating the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool on a USB key requires reformatting of that device. All data stored on the device will be lost.
Please save the files you need from your USB key to a different location before clicking "Yes" on the screen above.

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 7/14

The most current threat definitions are downloaded during creation of the tool.
Creation may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your connection.
You can cancel the operation at any time by clicking "Cancel".

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 8/14

The tool is now ready for use. Please keep your USB key handy for emergency situations.

When you need to use it, please connect your USB key on your computer and restart the computer.

Please note that some older computers may not support starting from a USB key. Also, some computers may not be configured to boot from a USB key. If your computer does not start from your USB key, you may need to change your BIOS settings. Please refer to your System manual on how to bring up and modify your BIOS settings.

NOTE: You will need the product key of your Norton security product to use the Norton Bootable recovery Tool. You may want to keep it together with your USB key.

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 9/14

You can create an ISO file as your customized Norton Bootable Recovery Tool. You can then copy this ISO file to a CD or DVD and use it as a recovery CD or DVD on any computer.

You can also use this ISO file to point to any virtual machine as a virtual CD-ROM.

The tool comes with a default set of network and storage drivers. You can add more drivers by clicking on "Add drivers". If you don’t know if you need to include more drivers in your customized Norton Bootable Recovery Tool, create the tool using the default settings. If the tool does not run properly on your computer, you can come back later to this wizard and create a new tool with additional drivers.

Finally, be sure to select your preferred language and click "NEXT".

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 10/14

The most current threat definitions are downloaded during creation of the tool.
Creation may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your connection.
You can cancel the operation at any time by clicking "Cancel".

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 11/14

The tool is now ready for use. You can now point to a virtual machine to use this file as a virtual CD-ROM or Burn a CD/DVD using this ISO file as the source.

NOTE: You will need the product key of your Norton security product to use the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool.

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 12/14

You can update the definitions of the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool you have previously created on a USB key. On the main menu, select Update USB key definitions and specify the location (drive) of your NBRT USB key.

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 13/14

The most current threat definitions are updated on your USB key.
This may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your connection.
You can cancel the operation at any time by clicking "Cancel".

Creating your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 14/14

The update is now complete. When you need to use it, please connect your USB key on your computer and restart the computer.

Please note that some older computers may not support starting from a USB key. Also, some computers may not be configured to boot from a USB key. If your computer does not start from your USB key, you may need to change your BIOS settings. Please refer to your System manual on how to bring up and modify your BIOS settings.

NOTE: You will need the product key of your Norton security product to use the Norton Bootable recovery Tool. You may want to keep it together with your USB key.

Where can I find my product key or PIN? 1/1

You will need your Norton security product's product key or PIN to run the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool. The location of the product key or PIN varies depending on how you acquired the product.

If you purchased a retail copy of the product on CD, the product key is either on a sticker on the CD sleeve or on an insert in the product package. If you purchased the product on DVD, the product key is on the DVD package.

If you downloaded the product from the Symantec Store, the product key is stored on your computer as part of the download process and is included in the confirmation email from the Symantec Store.

If your computer came with the product already installed, the product key is provided as part of the activation process. Be sure to save your product key by creating or signing in to your Norton Account, or by printing the key.

Running the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 1/3

Once your system starts from your Norton Bootable Recovery Tool, you will have to enter your product key, or if you get your Norton security product through your Internet service provider, your PIN, and accept the End User License Agreement.

Running the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 2/3

Once the main UI appears you can:

• Start a scan,
• Undo the results of a previous scan session
• Click "Advanced" to get a command prompt under the WinPE environment

Before you start a scan, it is important that you have the "Save Scan Session Information" box checked so you have the option to undo all actions taken by the tool later on. Removing some security risks may cause errors in your computer’s startup.

Running the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool 3/3

Please wait while the scan is in progress. Depending on the items to scan, it may take a while to complete. The scan results page will display the security risks found and the actions taken. The tool will automatically remove all known risks and will ask what you want to do with the potential risks. Make your selection from the dropdown menu next to each potential risk and then click “Continue”.

When the tool has completed fixing the threats, the scan summary page will appear. Click "Done" to restart your computer in your regular operating system environment. If this is successful, make sure you also run a full system scan using your Norton product.

If you cannot start your operating system, you can try:

• Running another scan
• Undoing the previous session

Undoing a previous session 1/3

If you want to review and undo the actions from a previous scan session, click "Undo" on the tool’s main screen. When you undo a scan session, all items removed during that session will be restored to your system, including all known risks.

Undoing a previous session 2/3

Select the scan session you want to undo and click "Undo". Once you click this button, you cannot cancel the operation. You must allow the tool to restore all the files back to your computer.

Undoing a previous session 3/3

When the Undo has completed reverting the session you can return to the main window and run another scan.