Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool; Mini-review

"Kaspersky® Virus Removal Tool is an utility designed to remove all types of infections from your computer. Kaspersky® Virus Removal Tool implies effective algorithms of detection used by Kaspersky Anti-Virus and AVZ Antiviral Toolkit.

Kaspersky® Virus Removal Tool is not capable for real-time protection of your computer."

Full info/download link here: http://avptool.virusinfo.info/en/

This freeware operates like McAfee's Stinger, or the MS Malicious Removal Tool, as an on-demand scanner.
- It's a 66 MB download.
- It is not supported by Windows 7.
- Can be installed in Safe Mode on infected machines.
- Claims to enable automatic/manual removal of viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, adware and rootkits.
- Has no  signature definition update capability, thus should be considered a one-time scanner only.

I found it installed easily in less than a minute to a folder on my desktop, and opens to an intuitive and simple GUI. Help files are included.

This is not a quick scanner! It offers 3 levels of scanning: Low, Recommended, and High.

A Low level scan of my C drive (60 GB of files), including hidden startup objects, system memory and disk boot sectors (with my resident AV/AS disabled) took 35  minutes. As expected, it found nothing (and particularly no false positives). This is about how long an on-demand scan by my real-time NOD32 AV takes.

Upon closing the program, it self-uninstalls, requiring a re-boot. In my case, the re-boot froze my PC, requiring a manual shut-down.

My thoughts:

Kaspersky AV comes well-recommended, but as always I have no ability to assess its efficacy at detection or removal. This tool seems to be a free single-use download of KAV's currently  updated scanner.  For those possibly infected, who can't access various online scanners (including Kaspersky's), this might be of benefit. You would likely have to download the installer to an uninfected machine, transfer it to the infected PC, and run it in safe mode.
 
For those with suspected infection, a "High" level scan is recommended, and based on my limited experience, I would suspect this to take many hours.

I don't see this tool as a convenient utility for routine maintenance or a "second opinion" scan on a PC exhibiting no problems. (Frankly, I question the need for any 2nd opinion when all is apparently well). But for those who feel the need, I would stick with the various free online scanners available:

http://www.eset.com/onlinescan/
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml
http://uk.trendmicro-europe.com/enterprise/products/housecall_launch.php
http://usa.kaspersky.com/services/free-virus-scanner.php
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/