Solved "Spyware and unwanted software protection" issue

[Larnika3511]

Every day, on my action center page, I receive the following two messages:

My Avast program says that it is is up to date and shields are active.

I tried to run my system specs using the file above, but got this error:


*Background*
For several weeks, each day my computer tried unsuccessfully to load
"Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1 on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 for x64-based Systems (KB2894844)".
Today I using instructions on this forum, I downloaded and ran the SUR and scannow. After running those, it loaded successfully. I rebooted, but I am still having the issue above.

Can anyone help me please? I appreciate any input. I am new to this forum, so please excuse my unfamiliarity... If you need additional information, please let me know what to attach. (Does this need to be in the "Update" section?)

 

[Tookeri]

Disable Windows Defender. You can't have both active.

Can't see any "file above" but assume you mean SystemInfo.exe It's probably a bug in the program or your system is missing something that is assumed to exist in all systems. If you click on the Details button you'll get information that can be useful to identify the problem. Post a new screenshot of that info.
You should be able to click the Continue button and hopefully the rest of the program will work so you can see the system specs.

 

[Larnika3511]

Yes, it was systeminfo.exe. When I click continue, none of the fields are populated. Here are the details to the error message, and the screen shot of the results. Thanks for your help.

 

[Tookeri]

It seems to be related with getting info about the processor. Thanks for the info.
You can try to click each of the 10 images: CPU, Motherboard etc. Maybe you can get the info from there even though it's not populated directly from start.

How's the action center message? Did you disable Windows Defender?

 

[Larnika3511]

I have not disabled Windows Defender. Do I need to? I have Avast (the free version) and although the action center reports it closed, the avast program itself shows "active".

Also, I tried clicking on each individual image, but none populated. I'm not sure how to get the information without this program, manually. Do you think it's related to the security issue?

 

[Tookeri]

Try and disable it to see if that makes Avast report that it's working. It that doesn't help you could try to uninstall and reinstall Avast.

When you click the images a new smaller window should open and from there you can copy the information. I don't think doing that will populate the main window.
Don't know why you get that error. What processor do you have? Look in Control Panel - System

 

[Tookeri]

Another thing you can try: What to do when Windows Action Center says avast! Antivirus is turned off | /jdrch

 

[Larnika3511]

Thanks! I'll give these a try and post the results.

 

[andrew129260]

Disable Windows Defender. You can't have both active.

That is wrong-you most certainly can use both at the same time. Windows 8 and above windows defender is an antivirus, so then you would not want to use both. But in windows 7 and below it is just antispyware. You can certainly use both at the same time with no problems.

I am concerned at the messages you are receiving, it is especially odd that avast says everything is fine.

First,

I would uninstall avast as normal trough control panel uninstall a program; and then use the removal utility outlined here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/343783-avast-uninstall-completely.html

Once this is done, reinstall avast antivirus.

Then restart and check windows security center.

If you are still having problems after doing the above, please post these logs:

* Download the Farbar Service Scanner.

* Once download, right click the fss.exe file, and choose run as administrator.

*Checkmark the following boxes:

-Internet services
-Windows firewall
-System Restore
-Security center/action center
-Windows Update
-Windows defender

*Click Scan. A notepad window will appear with your log file. Save it to the desktop. Then upload the log here in your next reply using the paperclip on the reply box.

___________________________________________________________________________________


1.) Download security check below.

This will show me what security software you use and what the status is of them:

Downloading SecurityCheck

Open and run: SecurityCheck.exe
Follow the instructions inside the window that appears.

When done, a Notepad report opens automatically, called: checkup.txt

Please post the checkup.txt in your reply using the paperclip:

 

[Tookeri]

Thanks for helping Andrew, good suggestions. My mistake, confused it with Defender in Win 8 and the fact that both were reported as off for Spyware protection.

 

[Larnika3511]

YAY! Thank you SO much! No more action center messages! I REALLY appreciate the time you both gave to help me resolve this issue. I am forever grateful. Have a good day!

 

[Tookeri]

Great! Please also inform what you did to solve it as that may help others that find this thread in the future.

 

[andrew129260]

Great! Please also inform what you did to solve it as that may help others that find this thread in the future.

Disable Windows Defender. You can't have both active.

That is wrong-you most certainly can use both at the same time. Windows 8 and above windows defender is an antivirus, so then you would not want to use both. But in windows 7 and below it is just antispyware. You can certainly use both at the same time with no problems.

I am concerned at the messages you are receiving, it is especially odd that avast says everything is fine.

First,

I would uninstall avast as normal trough control panel uninstall a program; and then use the removal utility outlined here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/343783-avast-uninstall-completely.html

Once this is done, reinstall avast antivirus.

Then restart and check windows security center.

If you are still having problems after doing the above, please post these logs:

since they did not post the logs, I believed the above fixed it.

 

[Larnika3511]

Correct. For the action center security messages, I followed Andrew's instructions:
First,

I would uninstall avast as normal trough control panel uninstall a program; and then use the removal utility outlined here:

Avast - Uninstall Completely
Once this is done, reinstall avast antivirus.
Then restart and check windows security center.​

Since that corrected the issue, I did not go any farther in the post.

I was not able to repair the SysInfo program, but since my issue was solved, I decided not to keep pursuing it.

Thanks for all the help. This is my first time on this forum, so i am just learning the protocol. Thanks for the guidance!

 

[Tookeri]

Thanks for updating!

 

[andrew129260]

@Larnika3511

As an added precaution, you might want to consider running a boot scan with avast to make sure your system is clean as well.

 

[Larnika3511]

Thanks, Andrew. I definitely will run the boot scan. I really appreciate your assistance in getting this solved!

 

[andrew129260]

No problem, its what we do here. Work together help others. And hopefully people learn some things in the process.