Recurring Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool installation problem

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  1. Posts : 204
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (Service Pack 1)
       #1

    Recurring Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool installation problem


    Before I begin, I apologise if this is in the wrong section.

    This may be a bad thing, but when Patch Tuesday comes around, I don't think to install the updates right away. Rather, I just keep using my PC as usual until the updates install themselves when I shut my PC down. Last month, the malware removal tool wouldn't install itself. I had to open Windows Update and install it myself. The same thing happened today. My spare laptop doesn't have any problems installing it on shutdown. The problem is only occurring on the PC I use every day.

    I'm starting to worry that some sort of malware has crept onto my PC and is preventing the update from installing itself. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #2

    What happens if you try to use Windows Update to check for new updates?
    Do you get any error messages? If so post a snip of them.

    This is the preferred, best way to upload an image or a file to a post. Press the ALT and PrntScrn keys at the same time, this will capture only the active window to use in Paint or your preferred graphics editor.

    Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums
    You may also upload a photo or image you already have as you would a file, without using the Snipping tool.

    Option 2 here may help.
    Windows Update - Reset
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 1,025
    Linux Lite 3.2 x64; Windows 7, 8.1
       #3

    I would first run a full scan using Malwarebytes to eliminate the possibility of malware intrusion. After that you've got a Windows problem on your hands if nothing changes.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 204
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (Service Pack 1)
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks for the replies. Britton, I don't get any error messages when checking for new updates. Paul, I'll run an MBAM scan later today and let you know if it finds anything, but I'm pretty sure I've run a full scan sometime over the last four weeks and didn't find anything.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #5

    I'm very confused, if there's no error, how can you be sure the MRT didn't install? If you don't run a daily scan, you may well be infected with something. You could have picked up something 3 weeks ago.

    In the future I strongly recommend installing updates right away. It takes minutes.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 204
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (Service Pack 1)
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Sorry, let me see if I can explain the problem better. Basically, if I don't install the updates right away, Windows Update eventually selects, downloads and installs them by itself when I shut my PC down. Yesterday, I had thirteen important updates selected to install (I checked this before going to bed), but when I switched it off, I saw that only twelve were downloaded and installed. I switched the PC back on and saw that the malware removal tool wasn't installed despite having been selected when I switched it off. I had to open Windows Update and install it from there.

    It may not be enough, but I run a scan with Avira at the end of each week. I did accidentally visit a dodgy site a couple of months ago and made a thread about it here.

    Redirected to url4short.info when trying to visit a certain site

    I wonder if that has anything to do with it.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #7

    Again I strongly recommend installing updates right away. I do it because I control what goes on my PC, not MS. If I forget and the "Shut down to Install Updates" appears on the shut down options, I will run Windows Update manually instead.

    Did you ever uninstall the Ask toolbar? Did you do all the scans that were suggested in the other thread? I asked cottonball to look in again.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 204
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (Service Pack 1)
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thanks for the advice on the updates. Like I said in that thread, I didn't agree to install the Ask toolbar when installing Avira, and I can't find said toolbar on either Firefox or Internet Explorer. It's been a while, but I think I did all of the recommended scans.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 8,608
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit SP1
       #9

    Since you abandoned your topic from January, please delete/remove the old version of AdwCleaner ... It's way outdated!


    Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool again. Click on the Uninstall button.
    Click Yes when asked are you sure you want to uninstall.
    Both AdwCleaner.exe, its folder and all logs will be removed.



    Next, download the "current" version of AdwCleanerAdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.
    • Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
      Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
    • Click on the Scan button.
    • AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
    • After the scan has finished, click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R#].txt) will open in Notepad for review (where the largest value of # represents the most recent report).
    • The contents of the log file may be confusing. Unless you see a program name that you know should not be removed, don't worry about it. If you see an entry you want to keep, let me know about it.
    • Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
    • A copy of all logfiles are saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder which was created when running the tool.


    Do not, click on the "clean" button until I look at the log. :)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 204
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit (Service Pack 1)
    Thread Starter
       #10

    # AdwCleaner v3.022 - Report created 14/03/2014 at 07:22:11
    # Updated 13/03/2014 by Xplode
    # Operating System : Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1 (64 bits)
    # Username : Anthony Powell - ANTHONYPOWELL
    # Running from : C:\Users\Anthony Powell\Desktop\AdwCleaner.exe
    # Option : Scan

    ***** [ Services ] *****


    ***** [ Files / Folders ] *****


    ***** [ Shortcuts ] *****


    ***** [ Registry ] *****


    ***** [ Browsers ] *****

    -\\ Internet Explorer v11.0.9600.16521

    Setting Found : HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main [Start Page] - hxxps://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox

    -\\ Mozilla Firefox v27.0 (en-US)

    [ File : C:\Users\Anthony Powell\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\fkzr39hx.default\prefs.js ]

    Line Found : user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "hxxps://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox");

    *************************

    AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [886 octets] - [14/03/2014 07:22:11]

    ########## EOF - C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner[R0].txt - [945 octets] ##########
      My Computer


 
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