Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) by Malwarebytes

Anonymous
2015-09-27T21:48:34+00:00

So, in research for a BHO remover for another poster here, I downloaded & ran Malwarebyte's JRT - just to see what it might offer. I thought I'd trust them. I do gratefully use their Anti-virus scanner on demand to supplement Defender, after all. And I've sworn to pay up should it ever catch a thing Defender missed.

To my shock, JRT found stuff & just went ahead & deleted them - w/o asking permission! Either it - or Windows - did make a restore point, however. Who can analyze this report & help decide whether I should revert? My own rerearch...

(1) PCDoctor appears to be part of Dell. But it won't be long before I attack lots of Dell stuff in here.

(2) That searchscopes entry was part of McAfee (I think), called Secure Search...

...but I've uninstalled McAfee. Now, Secure Search is gone, & BING is the default. (Honestly, I'm not sure it was actually still working.)

(3) The folder "pc drivers headquarters" was part of Driver Detective, which I did once try when still Win 8.1. It said it wanted to replace two - but I never pursued that.

I think I've talked myself into keeping the deletions - but does anyone disagree? Here's the report...


Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) by Malwarebytes

Version: 7.6.3 (09.21.2015:1)

OS: Windows 10 Home x64

Ran by PCR on Sun 09/27/2015 at 1:10:58.32



~~~ Tasks

Successfully deleted: [Task] C:\WINDOWS\system32\tasks\PCDEventLauncherTask

Successfully deleted: [Task] C:\WINDOWS\system32\tasks\PCDoctorBackgroundMonitorTask

~~~ Registry Values

~~~ Registry Keys

Successfully deleted: [Registry Key] HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{EBD4B3CF-DD1C-4303-88AF-0FD62ABD0CBE}

~~~ Files

~~~ Folders

Successfully deleted: [Folder] C:\ProgramData\pc drivers headquarters

Scan was completed on Sun 09/27/2015 at 1:12:36.30

End of JRT log

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Security and privacy

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-03-03T00:12:40+00:00

    <<<Installing drivers unnecessarily can, in some rare cases, create new problems. Review the Criticality information listed on the driver download page for more information.>>>

    Yes, this is what concerns me.  This is a brand new Win10 computer.  It is possible that I had files from before, that were backed up.  It seems the past few months I have been on "damage control" vs. just enjoying the computer.  It started to be a hassle right after the force to 8.1 previously.  Then it ran good after that, then it had issues.  I am going to keep a journal of things like the Win10 updating drivers etc... but this is one reason I get tired of dealing with this.  That was an easy fix.  The force upgrade to 8.1 was a nightmare.  The computer should be more fun, than work.  I don't know how people with busy lives keep up with all of this.  If it weren't for people who are willing to help others, using a computer would not be worth the hassle.  Some days it's great.  Then other days you could pull your hair out.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-03-02T05:00:21+00:00

    OK. I know of a Dell article that says to update drivers both before & after the Win 10 upgrade, because the upgrade just did a migration - meaning the Win 8.1 drivers were moved into Win 10...

    http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN297955

    Windows 10 upgrade walkthrough

    But yours came with Win 10 pre-installed, you said; so, perhaps no migration took place. See what you've got in Device Manager compared to the site.

    And here is another article that gives you some wiggle room...

    http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/SLN128938/en

    FAQs- Drivers and Downloads

    === Quote ===

    When to Update the Driver?

    Dell Support now has the ability to scan some Dell computers for Driver Updates. On the Drivers and Download page, if you see Scan Your System for Updates click on it to scan your system. The device drivers and firmware on a computer should be updated for numerous reasons some of which include:

    Increased system performance

    Patch security risks

    Expanded compatibility

    Additional features

    To fix problems

    As directed by a Dell article

    However, if your computer is working fine and the driver is not listed as an Urgent or Recommended download, there may be no reason to update your drivers. Installing drivers unnecessarily can, in some rare cases, create new problems. Review the Criticality information listed on the driver download page for more information.

    === EOQ ===

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-02T03:14:45+00:00

    Thank you for that info.  I had no idea that it would install drivers besides WINDOWS.  I disabled that via control panel, devices and printers, right click,  device installation settings, then clicked NO.  That could've caused me a world of hurt.  I don't know why in the world they had that as the default.  This is the bad thing about Win10, automatic updates.  It is one reason I almost didn't buy this computer.  If it just notifies me, I could check it out.  Then let ME decide if I want them or not.  One good thing about Win10 though, they finally got it right with the notification window.  +10 on that one!

    Thank you PCR.  I will look into it.  You both have really went above and beyond.  I am very grateful.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-03-02T00:00:38+00:00

    I'm not a perfect wizard behind my curtain. But I believe one shouldn't take drivers for devices one doesn't have. And I do know not all Dell computers of the same name are equipped with the same devices. So, I've found this...

    http://www.mysoft.hu/docs/Dell/Dell_Inspiron_3847.pdf

    Dell Inspiron 3847 Specs

    ...but I still don't know what's in your machine. Your purchase is recent enough to contact Dell, actually, for advice on whether to update drivers & how to determine which devices you've got. I did that early on & was cautioned against 1704 & nVidia. But I believe you may also just look in Device Manager to see what is already there. R-Clk START, & select Device Manager...

    Double click it for Properties, to see its version at the Driver tab...

    I don't want Dell Update in here again, because none of my drivers were Win 10 versions except 2 that Windows Update did. Dell Update was a pretense, for me. If you discover in Device Manager that all your drivers actually do match what you see at the Dell site - then disregard my complaint. Regarding Dell Foundation Services, I'm just not sure what it means to do. Further research is warranted.

    But the glitches I reported were all minor. Every update I took from Dell's Drivers & Downloads site installed very well with just one click after the download. They do a version check. One of them uninstalled its predecessor before installing itself. I'm pleased. But you may decide not to do it, especially if you've got no problem to fix.

    It did fix a problem I had, I think. At boot, my touchpad would work, but - after a while - its gestures would no longer work. (This was true in Win 8.1 too.) Also, its pointer became erratic. At the time, I already had a driver for the touchpad greater than the one at the Dell site - Windows Update supplied it. After updating the other 12 drivers - that touchpad problem disappeared. I guess one of the 12 was interfering with the touchpad. (Subsequently, the site had even a later touchpad driver which I've also taken. The problem still is gone.)

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