Windows stripped naked by Uninstaller or AV program

[ecbritz]

I recently experimented with the well-known Advanced Uninstaller Pro and with 360 Total Security. Both the uninstaller and the AV program have cleaning and optimizing functions. After being repeatedly cleaned of all unnecessary or slowing-down data and files, and repeatedly optimized, Windows 7 had a surprize in store for me.

Firstly, I could not connect to my wifi router any longer. Secondly, my whole Windows update history had been wiped away. Windows seemed to be fully updated but a message "Has never been updated" was displayed. Thirdly, I could not restore the system to any earlier date. The necessary data or files had apparently been swept away. I ended up desperately trying to salvage my data in Safe Mode.

Another surprize was that Windows 7 started recovering from its stripped-down, semi-crashed state the next day, so that I eventually postponed my decision to re-install it.

What really happened? Which program (Advanced Uninstaller Pro or 360 Total Security) should I avoid in future? Could anybody shed light on this incident?

 

[Layback Bear]

Welcome to our forum ecbritz.

My money is on this.

Advanced Uninstaller

You maybe be able to out of the mess your in by doing this tutorial by Brink.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

 

[gregrocker]

We see nothing problems with optimizing tools and Registry Cleaners which are often sales scams. Win7 does everything needed to uninstall most any program so it's also not worth the risk to use an Uninstaller like Revo which I've seen brick several Systems.

These all are not tolerated by a featherlight OS which needs no system modifications or enhancements if you have a perfect install as compiled in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 which is based on what's work best in tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here. Over a million users have followed that tutorial without a single complaint or anyone returning with problems if they stick with the recommended tools and methods only.

Compare the install you have to the one in that tutorial as now may be a good time to get the best.

Otherwise if System Restore cannot help you can try Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start but I would not waste much time trying to fix a system that badly ruined, instead skip to the steps to rescue your files and do a perfect reinstall.

 

[Layback Bear]

I agree Greg if system Restore doesn't work a Clean Reinstall is the next best option.
Their is no way of knowing what such a program does. One could be fixing things one at a time for ever.

 

[ecbritz]

I have no idea why, but Win 7 seems to be repairing itself at this point. This is good because I have lost my System Restore Points, due to the deep cleaning of all "unimportant" system files done by Advanced Uninstaller Pro. (Or, less likely, by 360 Total Security). I have to wait for new system restore points to be created now.

I'm afraid I do need Malwarebytes Premium and 360 Internet Security (or the more advanced 360 Total Security) -- known as a non-conflicting "killer combination" -- because they are blocking or putting into quarantine viruses and spyware on a regular basis. It is very reassuring for me to see Malwarebytes Premium preventing a message containing information on my computer from being sent to an unknown recipient.

Also, my computer slows done after a while, due to the heavy load of programs I use, and the different kinds of data I produce. So its rather nice to see 360 Total Security quicken the pace by means of a simple cleanup and optimizing routine. The question remains if it leaves Win 7 operating smoothly or whether it degrades the O/S.

 

[gregrocker]

I do not recommend Norton and have only seen problems with it here, class it as bloatware. I would uninstall it temporarily to run Panda Cloud free AV which is more aggressive to the highly recommended MSE but also allows best performance which Norton is not familiar with. Both of those also work well with MBAM Real Time protection for those who get infected.

Have you tried running only a Clean Boot with the AV since nothing else needs to start with WIn7 unless you have real time sync or gadgets? I'd also run SFC and do the other Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 which goes over and optimizes the System usually uncovering any problems.