Getting pidc.txt error box on startup

highstream · 23 Dec 2016

Win 10 Pro x64. Right after upgrading Comodo's CIS (free) from 8.x to 10.x last night and uninstalling a couple of the programs they forcibly included (Geek Buddy and Dragon browser), I started getting an Error box at the very end of each computer startup, as follows:
"The file C:\Windows\temp\pidc.txt could not be opened. The system could not find the file specified."
On Comodo forums, someone suggested the following TechNet page that has been archived as applicable: Windows Setup Edition Configuration and Product ID Files (EI.cfg and PID.txt). That page says, "The PID.txt file contained the product key for the edition of Windows that you are installing." I wasn't installing Windows and the pid.txt file is there in C:\Windows\temp, so I'm not sure what to make of this or do about it. Any ideas? Thanks,

Getting pidc.txt error box on startup-comodo-possible-error.jpg

Caledon Ken · 23 Dec 2016

Sounds like you have a realhandle on what should and shouldn't be on machine.

Have you checked the Start-Up tab in task manager to see if they added something there for Geek Buddy, Dragon Browser or any other thing you did not ask for.

highstream · 23 Dec 2016

No, but checking now they aren't there and I recognize everything in Task Mgr. I uninstalled both Geek Buddy and Dragon with Revo Pro even before CIS has finished its install (before rebooting).

pepanee · 23 Dec 2016

1) Create an empty text file in that location with that file name.
2) Restart the computer
3) Does it open up after a restart?
4) Try to delete that newly created file you made and restart the computer again
5) What happen?

highstream · 24 Dec 2016

Yes, same error after opening, whether as a blank file or using the same or different text as pic.txt. It is in the Temp directory, if that's the key. Someone else is getting it:
Getting pidc.txt error message ? Windows 10 | Windows 10 Forums

In addition, computer startup through the Windows screens is very much slower after creating that pidc.txt file.

Btw, the pic.txt file has the following:
NumberOfCores
4

Not sure what cores that refers to, as I'm using an i7-4790K cpu, which is 8 core.

alphanumeric · 24 Dec 2016

PID.txt is used to auto enter a product code when installing Windows. It's not used on an active install as far as I know. I add one to my install media, it goes in the sources folder. Your screen shot refers to a pidc.txt file, not the same thing as far as I know?

Caledon Ken · 24 Dec 2016

My belief is something is in start-up. I would audit the list. Is there anything in there for Comodo? If so disable as a test.

ComputerGeek · 24 Dec 2016

Download and run autoruns

Watch lower left corner. When it say Ready, Save As a .arn file. Zip the file and attach to next post.

highstream · 24 Dec 2016

It's Comodo - and with an additional odd problem.

After disabling all Comodo entries in Autoruns - Startup wasn't enough - two things happened in two tests with Comodo reenabled in-between:

- no pidc.txt error message
- no keyboard

How would Comodo be tied to the keyboard? Autoruns.zip attached.

ComputerGeek · 24 Dec 2016

I can't explain any connection between Comodo and keyboard issues. Did you use the Filter to display Comodo entries? There are lots of entries. Possible you disabled something else?

I'd do a Revo Uninstall of Comodo and then reinstall. If you do image backups (you should) I'd also be cautious and do an image backup before the uninstall as well for safe measure.

Unrelated but fyi:
All those Yellow entries that say "File not found" are stale registry entries. The registry entry refers to a file on disk that was deleted but the registry entry wasn't also removed for some reason (Iwould guess the fault of an uninstaller. Don't know why but not uncommon to see this occur. That's why autoruns highlights it for you!). I periodically delete them (right click delete) but up to you. Create a System Restore point before hand (tho i've never yet had issue in deleting stale File Not Found registry entries)