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Tray application appears as process in alt-tab window

thewestwings
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Malwarebytes

Malwarebytes

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***This is an automated reply***

Hi,

Thanks for posting in the Malwarebytes for Windows Help forum.

If you are having technical issues with our Windows product, please do the following:

Malwarebytes Support Tool - Advanced Options

This feature is designed for the following reasons:

  • For use when you are on the forums and need to provide logs for assistance
  • For use when you don't need or want to create a ticket with Malwarebytes
  • For use when you want to perform local troubleshooting on your own

How to use the Advanced Options:

Spoiler
  1. Download Malwarebytes Support Tool
  2. Double-click mb-support-X.X.X.XXXX.exe to run the program
    • You may be prompted by User Account Control (UAC) to allow changes to be made to your computer. Click Yes to consent.
  3. Place a checkmark next to Accept License Agreement and click Next
  4. Navigate to the Advanced tab
  5. The Advanced menu page contains four categories:
    • Gather Logs: Collects troubleshooting information from the computer. As part of this process, Farbar Recovery Scan Tool (FRST) is run to perform a complete diagnosis. The information is saved to a file on the Desktop named mbst-grab-results.zip and can be added as an email attachment or uploaded to a forum post to assist with troubleshooting the issue at hand.
    • Clean: Performs an automated uninstallation of all Malwarebytes products installed to the computer and prompts to install the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows afterwards. The Premium license key is backed up and reinstated. All user configurations and other data are removed. This process requires a reboot.
    •  Repair System: Includes various system-related repairs in case a Windows service is not functioning correctly that Malwarebytes for Windows is dependent on. It is not recommended to use any Repair System options unless instructed by a Malwarebytes Support agent.
    • Anonymously help the community by providing usage and threat statistics: Unchecking this option will prevent Malwarebytes Support Tool from sending anonymous telemetry data on usage of the program.
  6. To provide logs for review click the Gather Logs button
  7. Upon completion, click OK
  8. A file named mbst-grab-results.zip will be saved to your Desktop
  9. Please attach the file in your next reply.
  10. To uninstall all Malwarebytes Products, click the Clean button.
  11. Click the Yes button to proceed. 
  12. Save all your work and click OK when you are ready to reboot.
  13. After the reboot, you will have the option to re-install the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows.
  14. Select Yes to install Malwarebytes.
  15. Malwarebytes for Windows will open once the installation completes successfully.

Screenshots:

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If you are having licensing issues, please do the following: 

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For any of these issues:

  • Renewals
  • Refunds (including double billing)
  • Cancellations
  • Update Billing Info
  • Multiple Transactions
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  • Transaction Receipt

Please contact our support team at https://support.malwarebytes.com/hc/en-us/requests/new to get help

If you need help looking up your license details, please head here: Find my premium license key

 

 

Thanks in advance for your patience.

-The Malwarebytes Forum Team

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Firefox

Firefox

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I'm sorry the software isn't working properly but we'll do our best to help.
To begin, please do the following so that we may take a closer look at your installation for troubleshooting:
NOTE: The tools and the information obtained are safe and not harmful to your privacy or your computer, please allow the programs to run if blocked by your system.
  • In your Downloads folder, open the mb-support-x.x.x.xxx.exe file
  • In the User Account Control pop-up window, click Yes to continue the installation
  • Run the MBST Support Tool
  • In the left navigation pane of the Malwarebytes Support Tool, click Advanced
  • In the Advanced Options, click Gather Logs. A status diagram displays the tool is Getting logs from your machine
  • A zip file named mbst-grab-results.zip will be saved to your desktop, please upload that file on your next reply
Thank you
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AdvancedSetup

AdvancedSetup

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Hello @thewestwings

Before we dig in too deep, please try the following

 

Can you please do the following?

  • Download the Malwarebytes Support Tool
  • In your Downloads folder, open the mb-support-x.x.x.xxx.exe file
  • In the User Account Control pop-up window, click Yes to continue the installation
  • Run the MBST Support Tool
  • In the left navigation pane of the Malwarebytes Support Tool, click Advanced
  • In the Advanced Options, click the CLEAN button and follow the onscreen instructions to reinstall Malwarebytes
  • NOTE: Please have patience as it can take a while to remove and reinstall. The computer will restart to complete, if not make sure you RESTART the computer manually.

 

After the restart please do the following if you're STILL having an issue.

  • Run the MBST Support Tool
  • In the left navigation pane of the Malwarebytes Support Tool, click Advanced
  • In the Advanced Options, click Gather Logs. A status diagram displays the tool is Getting logs from your machine
  • A zip file named mbst-grab-results.zip will be saved to your desktop, please upload that file on your next reply

Thank you

 

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AdvancedSetup

AdvancedSetup

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Please run the following fix.
Once the fix has been completed, please attach the FIXLOG.TXT file to your next reply.

 

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 FRST64, and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

Please make sure you disable any real-time antivirus or security software before running this script. Once completed, make sure you re-enable it.

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. It will also run a disk check on the restart to ensure disk integrity. Depending on the speed of your computer this fix may take 30 minutes or more.

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 use of an external password manager is highly recommended instead of using your browser to store passwords.

NOTE-3: As part of this fix it will also reset the network to default settings including the firewall. If you have custom firewall rules you need to save please export or save them first before running this fix.

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
  • Discord 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.

The system will be rebooted after the fix has run.

fixlist.txt

 

 

After the restart, please run the following Windows Update.

You're currently running:  19044.1889
The latest version is:        19044.2075

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/release-information

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Click on START and type in "Check for updates" and have Windows scan for and install any updates found.

 

 

After Windows updates, and you've restarted the computer. Then download and run the following, please to find and update other software applications on your system.

Patch My PC Home Updater
https://patchmypc.com/home-updater

 

Once all of the above has been completed, let me know if you're still seeing the same issue or not.

 

Thank you

 

 

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thewestwings

thewestwings

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Hello again,

I’ve never run “FRST” before. No such program is on my computer. The script supplied is goes deeper into my computer’s operations that seems appropriate to diagnose or resolve the problem. Please, let’s reset & restate the issue I’m having before such drastic measures are taken.

  • The latest version of Malwarebytes is loaded on this Windows 10 computer and runs PERFECTLY. Never had an issue with it running nor with it doing its job
  • I see Malwarebytes in the Taskbar. If I right click on the icon, the menu pops up and I can open the program. No issues
  • The only problem I have is when I tap the ALT-TAB Shortcut to switch between apps, a “Malwarebytes Tray Application” shows up in the list of “open” apps. This app in the Tray should not appear in the ALT-TAB list when it’s not open. When Malwarebytes is actually open/running, then selecting ALT-TAB gives me both the running Malwarebytes App plus the Tray App.
  • This problem was reported in this forum for Malwarebytes versions circa 2017, 3.2.2. It was “fixed” by a minor program update. This computer is only a year old and never had that earlier version of Malwarebytes installed.

What I’m looking for is:

  • Is there a way to make the Tray App stop appearing in the ALT-TAB list?
  • Or, can Malwarebytes run in the background without being in the Windows Tray?

Thanks for your help.

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AdvancedSetup

AdvancedSetup

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7 hours ago, thewestwings said:

Hello again,

I’ve never run “FRST” before. No such program is on my computer.

The Farbar program is located here on your computer:   C:\Users\Jim\Downloads\FRSTEnglish.exe 
 

7 hours ago, thewestwings said:
  • The latest version of Malwarebytes is loaded on this Windows 10 computer and runs PERFECTLY. Never had an issue with it running nor with it doing its job
  • I see Malwarebytes in the Taskbar. If I right click on the icon, the menu pops up and I can open the program. No issues
  • The only problem I have is when I tap the ALT-TAB Shortcut to switch between apps, a “Malwarebytes Tray Application” shows up in the list of “open” apps. This app in the Tray should not appear in the ALT-TAB list when it’s not open. When Malwarebytes is actually open/running, then selecting ALT-TAB gives me both the running Malwarebytes App plus the Tray App.
  • This problem was reported in this forum for Malwarebytes versions circa 2017, 3.2.2. It was “fixed” by a minor program update. This computer is only a year old and never had that earlier version of Malwarebytes installed.

What I’m looking for is:

  • Is there a way to make the Tray App stop appearing in the ALT-TAB list?
  • Or, can Malwarebytes run in the background without being in the Windows Tray?

Thanks for your help.

You're absolutely correct. We did have the issue years ago because of how the program was loading. That was fixed and has not been an issue ever since.

You are the first person I've seen with this issue now for many years. I myself have several computers with different hardware and software setups and I cannot duplicate this issue on my system.

I cannot promise the FIX will in fact fix it. It is a generic clean up script that hundreds of users have run and to date not a single person has had any failures from running it.

If you wish to leave it as is, we can do that, it's up to you. We have millions of users and if someone else was having this issue we should probably be seeing it either here on the Forums or on our Help desk, but I'm only aware of your post so far.

I've run this very similar script on my own system more than once, so I know it does not do any damage to the system. it checks, cleans, etc.

Thanks @thewestwings

 

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thewestwings

thewestwings

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Hi,

The only time is Doesn't happen is when there is no other program running on the desktop. To confirm your question, I just opened a program that closes to the Task Bar (on the right) where it sits as a background process. When it's open on the desktop, Alt-Tab gives me the Malwarebytes icon with the program icon. Close to the Task Bar, Alt-Tab and nothing pops up at all. The Malwarebytes icon is otherwise always there when any other program(s) are open or opened in any order.

For your reference, see the screen shot of the Task Manager. It shows the Tray Application as "active" while the program "Access Manager" is minimized to the tray as a background process.

For your reference, this website from 2020 consolidates methods to hide this problem. None were appealing to me: https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/malwarebytes-tray-app-alt-tab-switch-window-mbtray/

I found the file you referenced earlier, however I need to make an image of my disk before running it. I'll get back to you with the results afterward.

Thanks again

Screenshot 2022-10-04 140926.png

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thewestwings

thewestwings

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OK, that Registry parameter was switched from 0 to 1 to enable the classic, less busy, Windows Alt-Tab screen.

I switched it back to 0 and restarted Explorer. Now it switches between the open apps in standard Win 10 style. There isn’t a Malwarebytes open screen, so it isn’t displayed. Keeping the Registry parameter at 0, it’s possible to call the classic Windows Alt-Tab switching screen by this keyboard shortcut:

  • Press and hold Left Alt key
  • Press and release the Right Alt key
  • While holding the Left Alt key, press Tab key to switch between apps

Even in this case, the Malwarebytes icon is still there.

Let me know if this reveals anything. I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to run and get you results from FRSTEnglish.

Thanks for sticking with this,

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AdvancedSetup

AdvancedSetup

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Okay, I have confirmed. That non-standard setting is the cause.

With it enabled I too see the Malwarebytes Tray icon on Windows 10 Pro x64

image.png

With that registry setting disabled or removed (it is not there by default) it goes back to normal and is not seen.

If you need or want that setting then it's up to you. It is not a flaw or design defect to be fixed. It is designed to restore an old classic view that Microsoft moved away from a long time ago.

Thank you

 

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thewestwings

thewestwings

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Following your suggestion, I deleted the non-standard Windows 10 setting. Now using the built-in Windows 10 keyboard shortcut (Left Alt hold, right Alt tap, Tab), I still see the same problem with the Malwarebytes Tray icon showing up. Please see the screen shot.

This appears to be the same problem as was documented and eliminated in Malwarebytes 3.2.2 and has reemerged in the standard Windows 10 configuration. It’s the only application I know that’s misbehaving this way. As before, it's annoying and distracting on an everyday basis.

Earlier you said, “We did have the issue years ago [2017] because of how the program was loading. That was fixed and has not been an issue ever since.” However there are those like me who still see this problem and go to great lengths to hide it as seen in this website from 2020: https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/malwarebytes-tray-app-alt-tab-switch-window-mbtray/. The problem has returned sometime after it was fixed.

It would be nice to have this problem looked at again.

Thanks

Screenshot 2022-10-05 062945.png

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  • 2 weeks later...
thewestwings

thewestwings

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Have tried on several Windows 10 computers switching between open windows with the built-in Windows 10 keyboard shortcut: Left Alt - hold, Right Alt - tap, Tab. On all machines "Malwarebytes Tray Application" shows up as an option. Selecting Malwarebytes does not open the application. There is no way to make this go away short of closing Malwarebytes.

There is something wrong with Malwarebytes. A stray process running. This did not exist in prior releases of Malwarebytes and doesn't exist on an old Window 7 machine running the current version of Malwarebytes. Besides being an anoyance, it could be a very visible indication of a flaw with Malwarebytes running processes.

Is there any progress on finding the root cause of this bug?

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