How to use the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool

The Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool is a free utility that checks your system for malicious code that is actively running on your system. It is downloaded through automatic updates frequently and is used to detect malware after the point of infection. This utility will not catch everything. Instead it is used to deal with those fast-spreading viruses that seem to crop up every couple of months.

You can launch the Microsoft malicious Software Removal Tool by going to Start>Run and type mrt and hit OK. In Vista, just click the Windows icon and type that in the search box.

You will then be given the opportuniity to do a Quick Scan, a Full Scan or a Custom Scan. if you machine is really running bad, try the quick scan first, then do a full scan later. The full scan is best because malware can hide anywhere on your computer and the quick scan option may not find it if it is running from a different location in your system.

Read more about the Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool.