Family Safety Is Blocking Numerous Windows Files


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
       #1

    Family Safety Is Blocking Numerous Windows Files


    Gateway NV55C Laptop
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Service Pack 1
    ___________________________

    (Note: I am inquiring about the following issue using a desktop pc, not from the laptop that I'm having problems with.)

    There are 5 user accounts on the laptop, 2 of those accounts (belonging to my 2 children) are monitored with Microsoft Family Safety, the other 3 are set up as Administrators. Both of the monitored accounts were set up with slightly different settings, one being more tight than the other. They both have time limits set, web filtering, and game and app restrictions. The app restrictions on the tightly monitored account, (I'll call it #1), restricted from using Skype, Yahoo Messenger and Windows Live Messenger, and the less tightly monitored one, (I'll call it #2), allowed those programs.

    Those 2 accounts have been monitored for about 3 months with no issues until 5 days ago. At that time, the #1 account became unstable. Either it begins to log on to the account, then immediately logs off by itself before it ever shows the desktop; it logs on all the way, but the entire screen is white; or it logs on all the way, shows the desktop, and pops up numerous notifications that certain files have been blocked. (I've listed some of those files below.) When you click the link at the bottom of the notifications to ask permission to allow the file, another blocked file notification pops up. Every once in a while, the pop-up will appear where an administrator can sign in and either allow or deny the permission request, but even after doing that, more blocked file notifications keep popping up. Then, after about a minute, it logs off the account by itself.

    When this began to happen, I tightened the parental controls on the #2 monitored account so that they were the same as the parental controls on the #1 account. This would make it possible for both children to use the #2 account until I could figure out what was wrong with #1. After I did that, it started popping up the same blocked file notifications as #1.

    Some of the files that it says are blocked are:

    explorer.exe
    dllhost.exe (c:\windows\syswow64)
    rundll32.exe (c:\windows\system32)
    atbroker.exe (c:\windows\system32)
    IAStorIcon.exe
    net.exe (c:\windows\syswow64)
    net1.exe (c:\windows\syswow64)
    conhost.exe (c:\windows\system32)
    wininit.ext (c:\windows\system32)

    I have used the following programs on the laptop for the 2 years that we have had it, with no compatibility problems. All of the scans were performed 2 days ago in Safe Mode and no malware was found:

    Webroot SecureAnywhere (v 8.0.1.193)
    Webroot Anti-Virus with Spy Sweeper
    rkill.exe
    MalwareBytes
    Spybot Search & Destroy
    Windows Defender (I get an error when I try to update this. I ran the "fix" that was suggested on the website I was directed to, then retried the update, but still got an error.)

    I even disabled the parental controls, but I'm still having the same problems. I also tried the "repair" function found by pressing F8 when restarting the laptop. Nothing was shown to have been repaired. And as a last resort, I set the system back to a previous restore point, but the only point available was 3 days ago. (That was no help because I needed to restore it back to a week ago.)

    Also, when I go to the Task Manager from any of the 3 Administrator accounts, it shows that 50% of the memory is being used at all times.

    At this point, I'm at a loss as to what to do next. If you need any more information about anything, please let me know.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,167
    Windows 7 Pro with SP1 32bit
       #2

    Welcome to the Seven Forums, angiekae68.

    Perhaps make both accounts with the same restrictions as #2. The child for which #1 was created is now two years older.

    This does not solve your problem per se but is a practical work-around.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for your reply, wanchoo, but your suggestion isn't a practical work-around in my particular situation. My children are twins, aged 14, and one of them is more trustworthy and responsible than the other one, therefore it wouldn't be a good idea to make both accounts have the same limitations. Although, I did set the #2 account to have the same limitations as the #1 account had, but after doing that, as I stated, the #2 account starting having the same issues as the #1 account. So now both accounts are unusable.

    Having said that, my problem isn't with deciding what limits should be set for each of my children, but that I'm concerned there may be some type of malware that has hijacked (for lack of a better word) the Family Safety program.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #4

    And no problems whatsoever with the 3 admin accounts? Sounds as though the user accounts got corrupted. Have you tried adding another user account and applying the same restrictions (I've not used the app and am not aware of the effort it would take to set it up)?

    It can't hurt to follow this tutorial: SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

    How long have you used those security apps that you've listed? I've not used Spybot on w7 PC's, but have heard of others encountering troubles when using it. At least some of Spybot's (v1.62 and prior) functionality was account based, rather than global. Not sure if it's still that way. And I'm not sure about Webroot software on w7.

    And based on the info in your last post, you might consider running an online Eset scan: http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thank you for your reply and suggestions, F5ing. The only problem I'm having with the 3 Administrator accounts is just the fact that I can't update the Windows Defender due to an error message. No other problems. I haven't tried adding another user account with the same restrictions, yet. The Family Safety app doesn't take very long to set up, but I was hoping I could somehow fix the 2 affected accounts so that my kids wouldn't have to lose their personal files and photos.

    As for the security apps I spoke of, I installed them on the laptop when I got it 2 years ago and haven't had any problems with them. Actually, the Webroot software was already installed on the laptop when I bought it, then I purchased the full version after the trial period was up.

    I will run both the System File Checker and the Eset scan you suggested tomorrow and let you know the results.

    Thank you again.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,171
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    angiekae68 said:
    Thank you for your reply and suggestions, F5ing. The only problem I'm having with the 3 Administrator accounts is just the fact that I can't update the Windows Defender due to an error message. No other problems. I haven't tried adding another user account with the same restrictions, yet. The Family Safety app doesn't take very long to set up, but I was hoping I could somehow fix the 2 affected accounts so that my kids wouldn't have to lose their personal files and photos.

    As for the security apps I spoke of, I installed them on the laptop when I got it 2 years ago and haven't had any problems with them. Actually, the Webroot software was already installed on the laptop when I bought it, then I purchased the full version after the trial period was up.

    I will run both the System File Checker and the Eset scan you suggested tomorrow and let you know the results.

    Thank you again.
    You're quite welcome. (And by the way, welcome to the forums!)

    Might be helpful for you to post a screenshot of the error message you get when trying to update Windows Defender.

    You might consider dumping Webroot if you're paying by subscription. I think most on the forum would recommend keeping your MalwareBytes, using the Windows Firewall, and adding MSE: Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows. All freeware.

    There was a relatively easy way to fix corrupt profiles in XP. I'll have to check around to see if it holds true in w7/Vista. But I do wonder if this is truly a problem with corrupt user profiles or the Family Safety app. If you disable Family Safety for the profile does the profile then load okay?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Professional 32 bit, and Windies 7 Premium 32 bit
       #7

    I am having this exact same issue on both of my computers ever since we had to factory reset one of them a few days ago. Was there ever any resolution?
      My Computer


 

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