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Taskbar not responding at start & Windows Defender Antivirus missing

Mier30
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Mier30

Mier30

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Lately, every time I turned on my laptop, the taskbar is not responding. I tried restarting Windows Explorer but it doesn't change anything. And every time I clicked multiple times at the taskbar, it acts similar to restarting Windows Explorer. However, I found out that after a quick restart, everything came back to normal. It become very inconvenient and worrying me as I need to repeat these steps every time I turned on my laptop. 

Just now, I started my laptop as usual, then I get a notification saying that antivirus is disabled and I need to contact my IT admin. After checking Windows Defender, I found out that the antivirus is gone. I tried googling for solutions but none of them actually worked. I hope someone can help me with this as I just bought my laptop for a couple months ago, so I don't think its a hardware issue.

Does my laptop get infected by malware? Someone pls help me fix this :(

LAPTOP.jpg

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kevinf80

kevinf80

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Hello Mier30 and welcome to Malwarebytes,

Lets grab some logs and see whats going on, continue with the following:

If you do not have Malwarebytes installed do the following:

Download Malwarebytes version 4 from the following link:

https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/thankyou/

Double click on the installer and follow the prompts.

When the install completes or Malwarebytes is already installed do the following:

Open Malwarebytes, select > small cog wheel top right hand corner, that will open "settings" from there select "Security" tab.

Scroll down to "Scan Options" ensure Scan for Rootkits and Scan within Archives are both on....

Close out the settings window, this will take you back to "DashBoard" select the Blue "Scan Now" tab......

When the scan completes quarantine any found entries...

To get the log from Malwarebytes do the following:
 
  • Click on the Detection History tab > from main interface.
  • Then click on "History" that will open to a historical list
  • Double click on the Scan log which shows the Date and time of the scan just performed.
  • Click Export > From export you have two options:
    Copy to Clipboard - if seleted right click to your reply and select "Paste" log will be pasted to your reply
    Text file (*.txt) - if selected you will have to name the file and save to a place of choice, recommend "Desktop" then attach to reply

     
  • Please use "Copy to Clipboard, then Right click to your reply > select "Paste" that will copy the log to your reply…


Next,

Download AdwCleaner by Malwarebytes onto your Desktop.

Or from this Mirror
 
  • Right-click on AdwCleaner.exe and select http://i.imgur.com/Spcusrh.pngRun as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users)
  • Accept the EULA (I accept), then click on Scan
  • Let the scan complete. Once it's done, make sure that every item listed in the different tabs is checked and click on the Quarantine button. This will kill all the active processes
  • Once the cleaning process is complete, AdwCleaner will ask to restart your computer, do it
  • After the restart, a log will open when logging in. Please copy/paste the content of that log in your next reply


Next,

Download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Alternative download option: http://www.techspot.com/downloads/6731-farbar-recovery-scan-tool.html

Note: You need to run the version compatible with your system (32 bit or 64 bit). If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them. Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.

If your security alerts to FRST either, accept the alert or turn your security off to allow FRST to run. It is not malicious or infected in any way...

Be aware FRST must be run from an account with Administrator status... If English is not your primary language Right click on FRST/FRST64 and rename FRSTEnglish/FRST64English

 
  • Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.(Windows 8/10 users will be prompted about Windows SmartScreen protection - click More information and Run.)
  • Make sure Addition.txt is checkmarked under "Optional scans"
    user posted image
     
  • Press Scan button to run the tool....
  • It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
  • The tool will also make a log named (Addition.txt) Please attach that log to your reply.


Let me see those logs in your reply...

Thank you,

Kevin....
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kevinf80

kevinf80

Posted
Posted

Hiya Mier30,

Thanks for those logs, continue:

Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop or location where you ran FRST from.

NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRSTEnglish, and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system that cannot be undone.

Run FRST or FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or wherever you ran FRST from. Please attach or post it to your next reply.

Note: If the tool warned you about an outdated version please download and run the updated version.

NOTE-1: This fix will run a scan to check that all Microsoft operating system files are valid and not corrupt and attempt to correct any invalid files.

NOTE-2: As part of this fix all temporary files will be removed. If you have any open web pages that have not been bookmarked please make sure you bookmark them now as all open applications will be automatically closed. Also, make sure you know the passwords for all websites as cookies will also be removed.

The following directories are emptied:
 
  • Windows Temp
  • Users Temp folders
  • Edge, IE, FF, Chrome and Opera caches, HTML5 storages, Cookies and History
  • Recently opened files cache
  • Flash Player cache
  • Java cache
  • Steam HTML cache
  • Explorer thumbnail and icon cache
  • BITS transfer queue (qmgr*.dat files)
  • Recycle Bin


Important: items are permanently deleted. They are not moved to quarantine. If you have any questions or concerns please ask before running this fix.

user posted image

The system will be rebooted after the fix has run.

Next,

Download "Microsoft's Safety Scanner" and save direct to the desktop

Ensure to get the correct version for your system....

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-protection/intelligence/safety-scanner-download


Right click on the Tool, select Run as Administrator the tool will expand to the options Window
In the "Scan Type" window, select Quick Scan
Perform a scan and Click Finish when the scan is done.


Retrieve the MSRT log as follows, and post it in your next reply:

1) Select the Windows key and R key together to open the "Run" function
2) Type or Copy/Paste the following command to the "Run Line" and Press Enter:

notepad c:\windows\debug\msert.log

The log will include log details for each time MSRT has run, we only need the most recent log by date and time....

Let me see those logs in your reply...

Thank you,

Kevin..

fixlist.txt

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kevinf80

kevinf80

Posted
Posted

Hiya Mier30,

Open Malwarebytes, open Settings (small cog wheel) , Select the “Security” tab, disable the “Always register Malwarebytes in the Windows Security Center” option.

With this option disabled, Malwarebytes won’t register itself as the system’s security application and both Malwarebytes and Windows Defender will run at the same time.

Does Windows Defender now work...

Thank you,

Kevin..

WD.JPG

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Mier30

Mier30

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  • Author
Posted

Hi Kevin.

Right after disabling Malwarebytes, my Windows Defender Antivirus is there and working normally. However, after shut down and turned on the laptop again, things getting worse. Now, both antivirus and firewall are missing (shown in picture below). How to fix this?

Latest.jpg

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kevinf80

kevinf80

Posted
Posted

Hiya Mier30,

From the logs the Firewall is showing as active, as is Windows Defender. However there is a restriction listed for Defender. Run the following to clear the restriction...

Download attached fixlist.txt file (end of reply) and save it to the Desktop, or the folder you saved FRST into. "Do not open that file when running FRST fix"
NOTE. It's important that both FRST and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

Open FRST and press the Fix button just once and wait.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt) or the folder it was ran from. Please post it to your reply.

user posted image
 
reboot your system when complete, are Windows Firewall and Defender still active....
 
Thank you,
 
Kevin...
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Mier30

Mier30

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Hi Kevin,

I'm glad now Windows Defender is working. But still, the taskbar hangs/not responding after start and I need to restart every time to return the taskbar back to normal.

Can you fix this issue? Is that related to virus/malware?

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kevinf80

kevinf80

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Posted

Try the following fixes taken from Microsoft Community help forum:

Method 1: Use Powershell

Use the Powershell command to unfreeze the frozen taskbar by following the steps below:

1.  Press and hold the Windows logo key + R.

2.  Type powershell in the Run dialog box.

3.  Hit Enter.

4.  Type or copy/paste the following command line:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml”}.

5.  Hit Enter.

 

1.  Open Task Manager.

2.  Click More Details.

3.  Select the Services tab.

4.  Make sure that MpsSvc, also described as Windows Firewall, is running.

 

Method 2: Enable the User Manager.

 

A disabled User Manager sometimes results in a frozen Windows taskbar. To re-enable the User Manager, follow these steps:

 

1.  Press and hold Windows logo key + R.

2.  Type services.msc.

3.  Double-click the User Manager.

4.  Set the Startup type to Automatic.

5.  Hit OK.

6.  Restart the computer.

 

Method 3: Disable Recently Opened Items.

 

Disabling the recently opened items helps to speed up the list launch. To disable items that are recently opened, follow the instruction below:

1.  Go to Settings.

2.  Select Personalization.

3.  Click Start.

4.  Slide the toggle button beside Show recently opened items in Jump Lists on Star or the taskbar to turn it off.

 

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kevinf80

kevinf80

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Posted

Due to the lack of feedback, this topic is closed to prevent others from posting here.

If you need this topic reopened, please send a Private Message to any one of the moderating team members. Please include a link to this topic with your request.

This applies only to the originator of this topic. Other members who need assistance please start your own topic in a new thread.

Tips to help protect from infection

Thanks

 

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