A mysterious app with no name

Paultx · 28 Feb 2021

I was checking the installed apps here and found at the end of the list one that has no name and no size, it only has some sort of generic icon and the installation date.
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A mysterious app with no name-unknow_app_1.png

I went to good ol' Control Panel and found three programs installed on that date, but all identified.
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A mysterious app with no name-unknow_app_2.png

I have the free version of Soft Organizer installed and it shows only SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2020 on its main list (it shows the Microsoft Visual C++ stuff inside a folder on that main list).

I considered uninstalling it to see what info I could get, but Windows 10 says only that "This application and its related information will be uninstalled". I am afraid of uninstalling something that may be important somehow as part of other app or even the system itself. Or worse: it may be some sort of malware.

Do you guys know what I can do to identify that app? TIA.

Windows 10 Pro 20H2 19042.844

Berton · 28 Feb 2021

I have a shortcut on my desktop associated with gatherosstate.exe that appears to be the same icon. The properties of it show no way to change it so must be a default.

Paultx · 28 Feb 2021

Berton said:

I have a shortcut on my desktop associated with gatherosstate.exe that appears to be the same icon. The properties of it show no way to change it so must be a default.

You can see in the first image I posted that the XnView Shell Extension has the same icon. Because it's a shell extension and has that icon I wonder whether that unknown app could be some system component, a program extension, etc.

Bree · 28 Feb 2021

Paultx said:

... it only has some sort of generic icon...

That is Windows 10's generic icon for any executable that does not have an icon of its own, for example Chkdsk.exe.

treblefree · 28 Feb 2021

Hello Paultx,

Have you tried ShellMenuView: Disable / enable context menu items of Explorer

Download Shell Ex View ( it is free ) it shows what Shell Extensions are and may show what the mysterious icon is and does...i have used this utility on some occasions

Worth a try...

Bye

Paultx · 28 Feb 2021

treblefree said:

Hello Paultx,
Have you tried ShellMenuView: Disable / enable context menu items of Explorer

Download Shell Ex View ( it is free ) it shows what Shell Extensions are and may show what the mysterious icon is and does...i have used this utility on some occasions

Worth a try...

Bye

I have ShellMenuView here already. But that app/generic icon appears on the Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features list, not on the context menu.

Bree · 28 Feb 2021

Paultx said:

... that app/generic icon appears on the Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features list....

In Apps & Features click 'Programs and Features' under 'Related settings'. This opens the Control Panel's list of installed programs. Does it also appear there? If so, does it show any additional information?

@Paultx, You can right-click on the column titles in Programs and Features and add more columns, in particular there's one for 'Location'.

Paultx · 28 Feb 2021

Bree said:

In Apps & Features click 'Programs and Features' under 'Related settings'. This opens the Control Panel's list of installed programs. Does it also appear there? If so, does it show any additional information?

@Paultx, You can right-click on the column titles in Programs and Features and add more columns, in particular one for 'Location'.

The mysterious app doesn't show there (Control Panel > Programs and features). It should be there with the same date I mentioned before (02/01/2021).

I'm gonna install Revo Uninstall to see if it shows something about this app.

UPDATE
Revo also doesn't show that app as installed (on that date).
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A mysterious app with no name-unknow_app_3.png

MeAndMyComputer · 28 Feb 2021

Post #1: "I have the free version of Soft Organizer installed and it shows only SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2020 on its main list (it shows the Microsoft Visual C++ stuff inside a folder on that main list).

I considered uninstalling it to see what info I could get, but Windows 10 says only that "This application and its related information will be uninstalled". I am afraid of uninstalling something that may be important somehow as part of other app or even the system itself. Or worse: it may be some sort of malware."

See what you think about Soft Organizer as well as SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2020.
--- Personally I don't see why you need them unless you know if they are beneficial programs.

SOFT ORGANIZER 8.18 Free Unnecessary Programs Removal Tool
Soft Organizer 8.18 - Free Program Uninstallation Utility

SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2020
SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2021.R14g
SiSoftware Sandra is a benchmarking, system diagnostic and analyser tool. It provides most of the information you need to know about your hardware and software.
SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2021.R14g Download.

Use Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Run as administrator)
If you uninstall either or both of them, consider running SFC /SCANNOW afterward.
If you don't uninstall either one of them, run SFC SCANNOW.

Paultx · 28 Feb 2021

@MeAndMyComputer

Sorry I didn't express myself correctly. I was considering uninstalling not Sandra or Soft Organizer. I was considering to uninstall that unknown app. But since I don't know what it is and I fear uninstalling it can cause any harm, I'm waiting for a solution to identify it first.

I installed Soft Organizer as replacement for Revo Uninstaller Pro, of which I have a license but I can't renew it now, and the former I got as a giveaway somewhere.

As to Sandra, it was installed by an IT guy who is fixing some stuff on my old desktop PC.

BTW I installed and ran the latest version of Malwarebytes and according to it my PC is OK.