Clean Install

Cheech said:

@simric

Main page for the PC specs is below


http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/.../model/4011369

Hi.
Thanks for the link.
Just checking out your system specs - System Mechanic Pro is not an AntiVirus, and in fact, is really a system tune-up utility, of which we don't usually recommend using on a system, as generally, they tend to do more harm that good. I realize you're having problems with Defender and this was to replace it, but it doesn't actually replace an AV. I hope you're on the trial, and didn't purchase it. :)

(I haven't read your other posts yet...hoping a clean boot will help alleviate the problem temporarily.)

Cheech said:

@simrick

rkill log attached, looks ok to me.

Yes, looks fine. I think the missing service is a false positive.

Cheech said:

@simrick

As requested, the list of applications that are loaded onto my Win 10 system

Thanks.
One question: Do you want to make an image backup of the system the way it is now?

That way, it could be restored if need be. (I doubt it - just thought I'd ask). If so, we'd need to install Macrium Reflect Free now, before we do anything else. Actually, that would be a good way to backup your data; then we can use that image to copy the data back to the clean install. If so, please install Macrium Reflect Free and get your external hard drive ready for a backup. :) Unless, of course, you already have your data backed up...

(If we will make a backup image, please stop here. If not, please continue below.)

Please uninstall the following programs:

HP Support Assistant HP 4/1/2016 52.8 MB 8.3.34.7
HP Support Solutions Framework HP 4/1/2016 11.2 MB 12.5.32.37 (this may uninstall when you remove Support Assistant)
HP Update Hewlett-Packard 3/14/2015 8.08 MB 5.005.002.002
iolo technologies' System Mechanic Professional iolo technologies, LLC 7/30/2016 87.5 MB 15.5.0
Java 8 Update 73 Oracle Corporation 2/7/2016 177 MB 8.0.730.2
Java 8 Update 77 Oracle Corporation 3/24/2016 178 MB 8.0.770.3
(I believe the latest is J8U101)


Assuming you have a little better control over the system with a clean boot, please see if there are programs updates for these; if not, you might want to uninstall any you don't use:
(If it's difficult to open these and check for updates, you might just want to search on your W8 machine. You'll need the installers anyway for your clean install.)

AceMoney MechCAD Software 6/24/2015 20.7 MB
Electronic ACIM-V EACIM47ENU 3/17/2015 17.2 MB 4.20.000
Google Earth Google 6/12/2015 213 MB 7.1.5.1557
HP MediaSmart DVD Hewlett-Packard 3/16/2015 47.0 MB 4.2.4701
HP Update Hewlett-Packard 3/14/2015 8.08 MB 5.005.002.002
I.R.I.S. OCR HP 3/14/2015 27.1 MB 12.3.4.0
Microsoft Mathematics (64-bit) Microsoft Corporation 3/21/2015 30.3 MB 4.0
novaPDF 8 add-in for Microsoft Office (x64) Softland 6/13/2015 6.20 MB 8.3.933
novaPDF 8 add-in for Microsoft Office (x86) Softland 6/13/2015 4.72 MB 8.3.933
novaPDF 8 Printer Driver Softland 6/13/2015 56.1 MB 8.3.933
novaPDF 8 SDK COM (x64) Softland 6/13/2015 12.7 MB 8.3.933
novaPDF 8 SDK COM (x86) Softland 6/13/2015 4.05 MB 8.3.933
QlikView Desktop Documentation and Tutorial English QlikTech International AB 11/10/2015 41.5 MB 11.20.12904.0
QlikView x64 QlikTech International AB 11/9/2015 1.03 GB 11.20.12904.0
R for Windows 3.2.3 R Core Team 12/14/2015 150 MB 3.2.3
ShadowTraders7.0 Indicators 1.0.0.14 PureReason LLC. 3/16/2015 17.1 MB

Please install:
Malwarebytes Antiexploit Free
(This will help protect against browser exploits)

We also need to verify the health of your hard drive.
Crystal Disk Info
Download the Standard Edition (Installer EXE). Run the program and make sure your C drive is showing as "GOOD". If there are any problems, please post a screenshot using snipping tool.

Cheech said:

@simrick

Hi:

I realize it is a tune up utility but there is an AV component. I've used SMP for about 2 years now and really don't have any complaints about it's tune up capabilities. There may be better ones out there but at the time I purchased it I wasn't aware of what ones might have been better. It think I paid about $19 for it on a sale basis and could install it on my 3 systems so it didn't break the bank. I still have an XP system (think of it as using an old car to go to store that has a crowded parking lot rather than taking your BMW (not that I have one))) and it does a pretty good job of freeing up memory.

Yeah, I don't have a BMW either! :) As a rule, I would not use any tune-up anything on a machine, especially a W10 machine, but I understand your situation.

Cheech said:

As I stated I needed to isolate Defender because according to the Process Explorer it was way up there with resource consumption. I normally don't use SMP's AV software, it was purely a stop gap measure.

Yep. Understood.

Cheech said:

I didn't get to the clean boot process yet but will do that next. I have Malwarebyes Antimalware, I'll install the one you mentioned. I did check the status of the HD with 2 different software products and both came up negative. I can do it again with the one you mentioned if you like.

My W8 machine is a special purpose PC and I only have very specific and limited software installed on it. No junk.

Update: ran Crystal Disk; status was Good

Okay good.

Do you have Macrium installed and will we be making a complete hard drive image before we begin?

p.s. SMP has an anti-malware feature, not an AV - there's a difference. MBAM is an anti-malware too, not an AV.

Cheech said:

@simrick

I have Macriium on my W8 system but not W10. My backup process is a bit sloppy at this time and I need to get that under control first. I will install it. Presently I don't have any place to back up to other then using MS Cloud storage (which I never used) or getting a bunch of DVDs. I have a MS account that has I think 1TB of storage with it. How about using that. Does Macriium support it? I really want to get a network drive so I can back up from multiple PCs without having to move a standalone drive around.

I just checked and you are correct SMP has an Antimalware not an AV. I guess I need to address that asap as I am exposed. How about I install AVG?) I had Norton at one time but that is a beast.

Hmmm....I don't think Macrium supports cloud destinations (at least I haven't found that option anywhere).
Can you post a screenshot of your drive partition structure when in Macrium?
Don't do AVG - for now, use Avast Free AntiVirus, but do a custom install and only check the boxes for the three web shields - nothing else.



You could upload all your data to your OneDrive, but that doesn't give us an image of your entire hard drive, which could then be restored if necessary (including your recovery partition from the OEM, although I doubt you'd ever want to do that).

Really, we should have an external hard drive, because, even if we didn't do the image before starting the clean install, you'd want to do an image right after the clean install, then another after the software is installed, and keep those safe in case they're needed in the future. So, perhaps a drive dedicated for this procedure would be a good idea. Keep in mind, each image is about 60-70% of currently used space, so three images add up space-wise. I know some people go out and grab a 1TB drive, and then find out it's not quite big enough, and wish they had bought a 2Tb drive (I've done it myself).

It's up to you. I like to err on the side of caution, and make backups whenever I can. If we keep the HP Recovery partition on an image, and you find thatW10 just isn't going to cut it, ever, then it's possible to restore the entire hard drive, access the HP Tools partition, and restore the machine to W7. The clean install will wipe all partitions (for best results), so that option will be gone. Just want you to be fully aware of things. :)