Another Windows Not Genuine thread Error 0x8004fe21

NoelDP · 12 Nov 2012

As for the SPLDR problem - please run these commands again....

REG QUERY HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\spldr /S
REG QUERY HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_SPLDR /S

Nobletruths · 12 Nov 2012

NoelDP said:

The error relates to IOBit software.
If it's still installed, uninstall it immediately - it will break your OS! (Uninstall ALL IOBit software - most of it is cheap back-engineered ripoffs, or phony registry tweaks)

Alrighty, will do! Funny thing is, I have used it since I can remember without any problems.
I used iobit malware, advanced systemcare as well as smartdefrag.

I guess I shouldn't download programs based off of CNET reviews?

NoelDP · 12 Nov 2012

CNET reviews aren't worth the paper they are (not) written on, unfortunately - they are designed to draw traffic to the site, and are mostly written by the publishers, as far as I can tell.
IOBit's Anti-Malware was/is a direct ripoff of Malwarebytes
Advanced System Care is known to cause problems with Windows 7
Who they ripped the defragger from is anyone's guess - but it could simply be an interface into the Windows one (wouldn't put it past them)

I would not be at all surprised to find that the non-genuine problem was caused by one or other of these things.

Nobletruths · 12 Nov 2012

I used to use malwarebytes, just downloaded it again. Are there any trustworthy programs akin to advancesystemcare? I also run hijack this, and ad aware anti ad ware. Hopefully you don't say those are poor programs, too lol.

BTW. A big thank you for all the help! I am your normal 28 year old who has been on a computer since age 10, and I do all the troubleshooting for my parents, but I am definitely not this advanced. Since doing what you said I haven't had the error code pop up yet, we shall see if it goes away completely. I was on the phone with windows tech support a month back and after over an hour, subsequent to him doing things on my computer he told me to just backup and reformat. Maybe you should be the one working there!

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>REG QUERY HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\spldr /S

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\spldr
    DisplayName    REG_SZ    Security Processor Loader Driver
    ErrorControl    REG_DWORD    0x3
    Start    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Type    REG_DWORD    0x1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\spldr\Enum
    0    REG_SZ    Root\LEGACY_SPLDR\0000
    Count    REG_DWORD    0x1
    NextInstance    REG_DWORD    0x1

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>REG QUERY HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_SPL
DR /S

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_SPLDR
    NextInstance    REG_DWORD    0x1

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_SPLDR\0000
    Service    REG_SZ    spldr
    Legacy    REG_DWORD    0x1
    ConfigFlags    REG_DWORD    0x400
    Class    REG_SZ    LegacyDriver
    ClassGUID    REG_SZ    {8ECC055D-047F-11D1-A537-0000F8753ED1}
    DeviceDesc    REG_SZ    Security Processor Loader Driver
    Capabilities    REG_DWORD    0x0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root\LEGACY_SPLDR\0000\Control
    ActiveService    REG_SZ    spldr

NoelDP · 12 Nov 2012

HiJackThis is ONLY suitable for 32-bit Wndows - there is no real support for 64-bit - and it really is only for expert users anyhow.
Malwarebytes is current best-of-breed for malware scanners so far as I know.
From what little I know of ASC (mostly from the mess it leaves behind it) it's a fancy registry cleaner/tweaker, and there are no 'good' ones, except the Mk1 human eyball backed by a lot of knowledge.

What are you using as a resident AV?

NoelDP · 12 Nov 2012

....SPLDR looks happy now :)

Nobletruths · 12 Nov 2012

Ad aware anti virus. I also use spybot, but if thats also mainly for 32 bit, meh. At least it alerts me of registry changes!

What AV would you recommend?

NoelDP · 12 Nov 2012

The general recommendation in this forum (and I agree) is for MSE - it's lightweight, and minimally intrusive, and requies almost no maintenance (not to mention - it's free!)
I don't know anything about AdAware nowadays - it used to hold the best-of-breed crown as a malware scanner, but it got bloated, and then they added the AV. I know at about that time it was considered to be mediocre at everything (but that was years ago). Check VirusBulletin and the other AV comparison/test sites for their verdicts.

Nobletruths · 13 Nov 2012

Hmmm. I still can't install windows updates, nor update windows firewall, or install MSE. I have a fast 30mbps cable connection, and it has been downloading for 30+ minutes.

NoelDP · 14 Nov 2012

What error message do you get when you attempt to install MSE?
What error messages do you get with Wndows Updates?

The MSE download is only about 10 MB - most of the install is done via the first update. It sounds as if you have smething interfering.