Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (FRST) Review

You can find and remove unwanted software in Windows with the FRST help.

The Farbar Recovery Scan Tool, which is designed to search for malware or the results of its work and then remove them, cannot be called typical: the actions in it are not performed automatically, but mostly manually, unlike the most popular malware removal tools.

But even novice users of FRST can come in handy: with its help, they can transfer complete information about various elements and system parameters that are critical for Windows operation to a specialist. The article below briefly describes how the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool works.

Using Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

You can install Farbar Recovery Scan Tool with support for the many interface language for x64 or x86 (32-bit) versions of Windows 11, Windows 10 or previous versions of the OS from the official page. Please note that some browsers and system protection tools may warn you that this file is unsafe.

However, the reputation of the tool is in full order and, in any case, from the indicated source, it is safe to install it.

The utility is launched on behalf of the administrator, the interface language is determined by the current interface language of the installed OS. In general, the procedure for using FRST during the scanning phase consists of the following steps:

Defining scan options. For most scenarios, the default settings are suitable: analysis of registry entries, services, process lists, Internet and browser settings, drivers, files created within the last month, as well as additional system settings under the “Addition.txt” item, where accounts, hosts file, firewall rules and some additional items, as well as event log and Windows Defender errors. 

Starting a scan and waiting for the results. 

As a result of scanning, text files are created with the result of the analysis. The files are located in the same folder where the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool was launched. When using the default parameters, these are two files - FRST.txt and Addition.txt

After the scan is complete, two scenarios are possible:

Self-analysis of FRST.txt and Addition.txt files, compilation of a fixlist.txt file and launching a fix in the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool. For independent analysis, it is necessary to understand the purpose of the elements presented in the above files, as well as exactly how malware can be “prescribed” in the system, since in the report files, with the exception of certain items (for example, local group policies), there are indications of the need for close attention to individual items are missing. 

Transferring files for analysis to a specialist, receiving a fixlist.txt file from him and starting a fix.

In all cases, the fixlist.txt file is a text document, the lines of which indicate the elements previously found by FRST and subject to removal/correction. The finished file for fixing is located in the folder with the executable file of the program, after which you need to run the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool as an administrator and click the "Fix" button. Depending on the specific elements, some of them will be deleted, some will be brought to the "default" state, the work of these processes will be stopped.

FRST Tool Review:

Ordinary users can transfer the most detailed information about the current state of the system to someone who can help with solving problems and removing malware.

A specialist can obtain detailed information on all the key elements for the operation of the system, analyze it and create a script to correct the problems found.