Program or background process popup keeps appearing

Here is the screenshot of the error in Event Viewer. To make sure I got the right error, I cleared the events and waited for it to happen again. It never takes very long for it to repeat.

It's a little over my head but I'm wondering if it's virus/malware or a bad installation of Windows. The recent Windows feature update doesn't seem to have installed. I keep getting notices that it needs to be installed, I install it, but the notice comes back. Hence my belief that it's a bad Windows install.

Actually, there are lots of possible causes for this error. Could be due to a corrupted system component, a hardware compatibility, a malware infection or an issue with the system settings. Here are the suggestions that you may try. I based it on your description of the issue and the screen shot that you've provided. These may not be the actually fix but might help us isolate the issue.

Method 1 : Since you've mentioned that you were not able to install the latest update on your PC, the issue might be due to a corrupted update components**.Here are the possible fix.**

• Windows Update Troubleshooter
• Fix Windows Update errors
• Free up drive space in Windows 10

Method 2 : You also mentioned that you are getting error when running SFC and DISM. These are Microsoft utilities that allow users to scan for and restore corrupted Windows system files.

Run an elevated Command Prompt (CMD), then type net start **trustedinstaller.**Once the service is started, run the SFC again and see if it works.

Method 3 : Change which apps run automatically at startup in Windows 10

This is to isolate software conflict issues by disabling the auto startup programs. Please do not disable Microsoft related apps such as Windows updater, Windows Defender, video and sound card manager app, etc.

Method 4 : If you are using  a Solid State Drive (SSD), check if TRIM is enabled or not.

Run an elevated Command Prompt (CMD), then type fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify **.**If you see DisableDeleteNotify = 0 , TRIM is enabled. If enabled, try disabling it by running the fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 1 command in an elevated CMD.

Method 5 : Download and install all the latest device drivers for your device. Kindly go to the device manufacturer to check for any available updates.

Method 6 : In-place upgrade. This process will over write corrupted and missing system components by keeping your personal files, apps and settings intact.

Update us with the results.

I managed to get through the Windows Update Troubleshooter before a critical issue popped up.

I ran the Windows Update troubleshooter and found nothing wrong so I set everything up for a clean boot, restarted, and was immediately locked out of my user account. Windows refused to take my password to logon. I was able to logon to my second admin account, but for some reason was limited to what I could access. 

I concluded my problem was undetectable malware or a virus. Whatever it is, it took over my user account, making it inaccessible and useless. Since I'd backed up my data and use a second drive to store information, I reinstalled Windows, taking it back to factory to make sure nothing remained. 

So far I haven't had a repeat of that popup window and the system Is working fine. I'll keep monitoring everything.

Thanks for your help.

Hello Gemzon,

Can Microsoft fix this? It is popping up everywhere from the results I am seeing on my web searches for this issue and it has been going on since 2017 or so as far as what I can see from my web searches for this issue.

If it is Malware or a virus, it is a good one and is undetectable by my McAfee or Iolo software. I don't think it  is a worm, virus, or Malware because it does not seem to be doing anything or causing any crashes on my system that I am aware of. But who know what it can do if it is a worm or virus. For me, the issue started on 06/24/2018 and has been going on until today 8/18/18, per my latest Event Viewer read.

I ran SFC and DISM and net start trustedinstaller yesterday in Admin CMD prompt. This did seem to slow the frequency of the popup error but has not stopped it. Window Update Troubleshooter does not seem to have any issues. My maintenance reliability and problem history window show events that Window update is current as of 8/17/2016. Also my one month view window in reliability and problem history is definitely showing it being worse this week than last week or the previous weeks. 

If it is a worm, virus, or Malware, what is the best way to get rid of it? If it is not a bug, is MS aware of the issue and working on a solution?

Thanks, 

Norm Rivers