Malwarebytes Troubles

originally posted by: LookingAtMars
a reply to: Maxatoria

Sometimes the only solution is the nuke from orbit approach as once somethings got its panties twisted it can cause a creeping death situation where something uses a value from somewhere thats out of whack and writes another value thats daft and by the time it reaches the point where the user can see it then its too late.

That's why I gave up on Windows years ago.

Not sure why more people are not using Linux in this day and age.

We are, on our cell phones.

Seriously, I've tried a lot of different Linux and even tried Xenix back in the day. The friendliest Linux I've used was Lindows and their Click'N-Run software installer was really nice. I was a member of their Insider program for years. Sadly they didn't take MS seriously when it came to their name and they fizzled out.

Linux Mint is the second-easiest version I've used but I stopped using it several years ago. My job was too dependent on MS Office and Open Office just wasn't keeping up with formatting so I went back. Honestly, I haven't had any real issues with Win10 and probably should update both of my Win7 laptops to it soon.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Register the Edit... I mean... Edit the Registry....

- You can get rid of key components by deleting data related to MBAM in the registry but unfortunately, you can really mess some stuff up in there if you're not careful. You can mess some stuff up in there even if you are careful.

The reason is, when virus scanners install, they don't like to be uninstalled and many types of virus scanners will not even let your computer run well or at all if the scanner is turned off or uninstalled without going through the actual uninstall process. Even then, some can be stubborn as hell.

- You might be able to uninstall it easier while in safe mode. This would be ideal.

- Go back to a previous backup if you have one (always do this when you first install all of the software and hardware you need on your computer before you start playing around on the internet. Makes a much easier solid backup that will take you back to pre-junkware. I know Dell systems to this for you from the start. You may have a backup 'drive' holding this information that was created at the very beginning.

- Reimage.... Sometimes you just have to. Backup all of your pictures, music and movies on another drive if you can then simply reimage Windows.


This part is just my personal opinion. I don't expect anyone to agree but it works for me and has so for as many years as I've owned a computer.

- I don't install virus scanners on my computers for many reasons. Resources, speed, restrictions and so forth. Virus scanners are just a mess and they'll always come back and try to sell you the update or the latest version every year. Screw that.

- I install Spybot Search and Destroy: It's not really a virus scanner but it works very well with an ability to protect you. ....and it's FREE. It basically keeps you from getting infected by preventing 3rd party potential junk from messing up your computer when you're browsing the internet. The internet is full of viri and it's really easy to get infected just by going to an infected website. S&D does a great job of keeping that from happening. It updates very often. When you update, the scans are quick. It makes your browser watch out for the bad touch.

It does also have a system scanner that works just fine, should you need it. It has many other tools but unless you know your way around computers, I would stay in basic mode because you can do some damage to your system by poking around with stuff you know nothing about..... kind of like how most people get a virus.


- If I feel that I might have a virus, I'll go to something like MicroTrend Housecall for a free online virus scan. No need having a virus scanner slowing me down and locking up my system when something breaks in it.... The less stuff running in the background on my rig, the better. Nothing really installed except a browser extension to do the work.

- Stay away from sites that you know you shouldn't be on. If you're looking for a virus proggie to plant on your buddy's or your X's computer... You're probably going to get one yourself. That's how it works.

- Porn sites are the worst (especially random noname porn sites). I've gotten rid of so many viri from people doing this exact thing. They swear otherwise but they tend to overlook deleting their history.




Clean out your history from time to time. All those cookies in there - something bad could be brewing. Keyloggers will ruin your day when it comes to passwords. I don't know about you but I hate having 100 passwords to remember at all times. I don't trust software to 'hold' them for me until I need them. Sure you'll have to re-log in to everything again after you delete the history and cookies but your browser and your rig will thank you for it.

Junk in - Junk out


Unless you do risky stuff and have a lot to chance at getting lost or corrupted, screw virus scanners. Just be mindful of your computer. It's like taking your car to the bad part of town. Never know what you'll get in your tire, or your back seat.

Finally - as a major rule of thumb, as in all things... If it's too good to be true - It's a virus or a scam. Don't click unknown buttons on unknown websites. Those little X's can be a hidden trap that can do various things to you. When in doubt, close the whole browser and click nothing on the inside of the page - Especially when you get a warning that your computer is infected by a web page... It's trying to make you "Click Here" so it CAN infect you with something. Just close the whole browser. ALT F4.

No.. Microsoft, the Prince of Nigeria, Google, Amazon - none of those guys are going to give you money or gift cards free. No free ticket to disney land, no clicking that link will not get you that whatever free... It'll only lead you down a viri/spam/trojan patch of destruction.


Someone who is also tech savvy may conflict with my information but like I said - my advice isn't for everyone. If you have half a knowledge nugget about computers, this might work for you. I do this every day for a living on hundreds and hundreds of drilling rigs and I've been a computer nerd since I received my first Tandy as a kid. I even ran a BBS back in the day on a Commie 64 and a 128 back in the day on a 1 meg hard drive and two 300bps modems... ahh the good olde days.


Hope any of this helps even a little.

originally posted by: LookingAtMars
a reply to: Maxatoria

Sometimes the only solution is the nuke from orbit approach as once somethings got its panties twisted it can cause a creeping death situation where something uses a value from somewhere thats out of whack and writes another value thats daft and by the time it reaches the point where the user can see it then its too late.

That's why I gave up on Windows years ago.

Not sure why more people are not using Linux in this day and age.

I run both but there is minimal support for Linux software when it first comes out. Games, software, lots of stuff you can not run on Linux. You can use other software to assist but for pretty much a wide open field of compatibility, you may as well stick with something that most distributors support - Windows

Unfortunately, Windows is the standard for everything now and I hate it with a passion because easy to find, simple bugs I've had years ago in Win98, I still have in Win10. Especially with the file explorer. Sadly, much of the software and hardware I have will not work with Linux.

a reply to: SimpleIdea

The Media Creation tool will create a bootable USB drive without having to mess with Rufus.
Also the reset function for windows 10 may be a good step first as you have the option to keep your files. Obviously back them up anyway.

Nuke from orbit is a little drastic for just one problem with a program. I would first run MSCONFIG and prevent malwarebytes from running at startup. Then manually uninstall. Just delete the Crogram FilesMalwarebytes folder. Then regedit.exe and search for everything "Malwarebytes" and delete it.
Reboot a few times and then reinstall Malwarebytes like normal.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Perhaps you could use system restore?

Failing that, try booting on other media and then deleting/renaming the MBAM program files. Be aware that some stuff probably is also stored in the ProgramData folder, too.

Usually, one AV is better than two, but even I like to run the free online scans from ESET and Adlice, just to be sure.

Hope you are back up in no time.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

You have computer problems? The hell you say.

Yes, it's really me again
YOu all should be proud this forum is pretty much my go-to place.

The one time I go elsewhere, I get solutions that do not work.

a reply to: DontTreadOnMe

Hell, this place is where I learned of malwarebytes and ccleaner.

a reply to: DrumsRfun

I think I had malwarebytes so long I have a grandfathered license.
But yeah, I am sure I learned of CCleaner here...as well as Webroot.

a reply to: chr0naut

I thought about System Restore....but I am unsure it could restore something that now may be corrupted.
And I thought I read System Restore in Win10 is not like previous versions of Sys Restore.

Run the troubleshooter for uninstalling apps?

originally posted by: staple
a reply to: SimpleIdea

The Media Creation tool will create a bootable USB drive without having to mess with Rufus.
Also the reset function for windows 10 may be a good step first as you have the option to keep your files. Obviously back them up anyway.

Nuke from orbit is a little drastic for just one problem with a program. I would first run MSCONFIG and prevent malwarebytes from running at startup. Then manually uninstall. Just delete the C

rogram FilesMalwarebytes folder. Then regedit.exe and search for everything "Malwarebytes" and delete it.
Reboot a few times and then reinstall Malwarebytes like normal.

Rufus is much better than what Windows offers. That's why you want to download the ISO and not just have Windows create the bootable USB drive for you. Among other things you can chose between MRB and GPT partition types. This is especially important if the OS is installed on a HDD larger than 2TB as you cannot install Windows OS on a 2TB HDD or larger if not of GPT partition type.

And when installing fresh from bootable USB unless you format the C drive first, it will automatically create a windows.old folder where all previous information from old install is stored. Windows will even automatically go in and move it all over to the new install if you want.

Speaking of HDDs, I would recommend always ONLY putting the Windows OS on the main C: drive. All other things, apps, games, pictures, music, video, etc, store on other drives other than C. If you only have one HDD partition it first with about 50 or 100 gigs of space. Enough to install OS and have room for other things. Other than that fresh install of OS will not affect most other things.

It's what I do. I fresh install every new major update of Windows from USB, download the ISO create USB boot drive using Rufus, which I keep only for Windows OS boot, use Rufus to create bootable Windows USB drive. As all my drives are over 2TB, need the partition type to be in the GPT format (and you also need to have UEFI on the Mobo, not legacy BIOS.)

Cheers.

originally posted by: LookingAtMars
a reply to: Maxatoria

Sometimes the only solution is the nuke from orbit approach as once somethings got its panties twisted it can cause a creeping death situation where something uses a value from somewhere thats out of whack and writes another value thats daft and by the time it reaches the point where the user can see it then its too late.

That's why I gave up on Windows years ago.

Not sure why more people are not using Linux in this day and age.

Lack of familiar software support, is my issue. Won't run my cctv software as I need it, can't run the same things I use to make videos (think after effects), won't run the games i like, compiler errors for various off the wall applications I need, generally a pita for everything else but if all you do is web browsing, youtube, email and play music/videos, sure, it's ok for grandma..

Op, try revo uninstaller to remove it. Then a fresh install. Revo goes through everything to remove all traces of a thing.

A reinstall of Windows seems overkill for one application.. if it were multiple issues then I'd agree.. but not one application.. there are other ways.

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
a reply to: DrumsRfun

I think I had malwarebytes so long I have a grandfathered license.
But yeah, I am sure I learned of CCleaner here...as well as Webroot.

CCleaner also has a force uninstall section. Don't reinstall Windows unless it's a last resort.. you'll regret it as everything you use needs reinstalling, reconfiguring, site logins, passwords, etc.. loads of trouble you neglect to remember till it's done..

I personally create symlinks for my programs, not the program files or program files (x86) folders directly, just things I use often and have setup. Point them to a different drive/partition, then after a reinstall of Windows, reinstall the apps, then manually delete the install and recreate the symlinks.

Nothing worse than losing stored emails and logins, app data and configs you spent ages getting right.

Or forgetting you set up shares and being away, unable to get back to your files remotely.. just a pita. But sometimes, yes, a necessity, just not for one application...

a reply to: SimpleIdea

I have a 500gb m2 drive and I use legacy?

Ahh tb not gb..

Never needed that much space for the system.. it'd be a waste, imo..

You forgot Wise registry cleaner , didn't you ?
Make a backup and run it.
Tsk , tsk , tsk
Why are words of wisdom so easily forgotten ?

a reply to: Gothmog
Getting older, not necessarily wiser

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
a reply to: Gothmog
Getting older, not necessarily wiser

Uninstall MalewareBytes as good as possible.
Make a registry back up in Wise
Run Basic Scan

originally posted by: DontTreadOnMe
Any ideas how to fix MBAM?

MYES.

MSPANNER PERHAPS.

a reply to: Gothmog

It won't uninstall...so far.

And Registry cleaners scare me, TBH

Seems like since it's such a PITA to go to Safe Mode, I'll skip that option and go right to an alternative uninstaller.
I'll try the Malwarebytes tool tomorrow....I also heard about Revo Uninstaller