To me it sounds like something is on the system that is doing some form of automatic restoration, I haven't a clue what it would be though. I wouldn't imagine it being System Restore because in all it's glory it has very limited functionality and it doesn't have the ability to fully restore 3rd party installed programs. I don't know of malware that would reinstate legitimate software either, especially security related software such as Avast Antivirus that would likely detect it and neutralize it.
More News on the front.
I had uninstalled AVAST free antivirus the other day, and today I find AVAST has been reinstalled but no icon in the tray.
So I uninstalled it again, made sure I could not find any remnants.
I also just tried to run Malwarebytes Premium, and the first time it just sat there and did nothing. No icon in the tray either.
So I closed it and reopened it and hit scan. I am updated but it won't get out of "Update".
Every day it seems like something different. I will reboot again and see what happens.
Could memory malware be causing the problem? I hear it is difficult to find. Do you know much about it?
pos
I'll give it one last try:
- You say that your Windows 7 machine is offline.
- You say that you restore a System Image backup. - Restoring a full system image will completely overwrite whatever was there before.
- You say that you don't go online but now have CCleaner v6.11 on the machine.
If you are doing what you say, and only what you say, then the CCleaner v6.11 MUST be in the System Image that you just restored.
It is the only place that it could be because restoring a System Image will overwrite everything already on the OS drive.</strong>
There is one other slight possiblity - you have another drive in the machine and CCleaner v6.11 is installed on that drive rather than on the OS drive.
In the end though if you don't want CCleaner simply uninstall it.
Check inside the 5.8 installation folder.
I will respond using >> for clarity.
I have asked more than once if you would provide a program(s) that could find and delete hidden malware in my computer, but you have decline my requests.
pos
>> That was in response to CAD, not anyone else. J
CCleaner is not a malware removal tool.
>> No need to become defensive Hazel. I am an electronics engineer and obviously understands the difference.
You are using tools already for that (malwarebytes etc)
>>Absolutely, many many programs Including AVAST, Win Def, Malwarebytes premium.
I doubt you have malware.
>> That is an impossibility as I have previously posted and CAD concurred by his own words in a previous post. If disconnected from the internet, one cannot download information. I will try a simpler way to explain.
>> Updates have been blocked in the product itself, task scheduler, the firewall, both in and out bound.
>> The computer is completely disconnected from the internet.
>> One cannot find any form of Ccleaner in the computer itself, and only version 5.8 is found in the external backups.
>> installed version 5.8 from a backup into the computer and open with 5.8. It works.
>> Now, I reboot my computer, and open Ccleaner. However, version 6.11.10455 is now the version, not 5.8. (I have performed this experiment several times this past week, since the problems started.)
You may never be able to work out how CCleaner updated on your machine. I suspect there may be no exe file as versions as old as yours were autoupdated.
>> Please Reread my posts on page 1, as the answer has been explained more than once. See my later, simpler response that might help as well.
Read from here
It made a lot of people unhappy as you can see. Nobody (including us moderators) agreed with what was done.
So, there will be no hidden file I suspect and it may be time to accept this thing happened to you as well .
Take care.
>> Then you would be breaking the laws of science Hazel. You see, a program cannot be downloaded and/or updated when the computer is Not connected to the internet and deemed clean by several programs. Not unless the update is hidden in the computer and we just can’t find it.
So upgrade version 6.11.10455 is in the computer, but where? Did someone hijack the upgrade and release it on the internet? Are you willing to help by suggesting a program to find and delete it Hazel? If this is going to happen to other individuals, don't you think you should have a solution?
pos
54 minutes ago, positron7 said:<div class="ipsQuote_contents ipsClearfix" data-gramm="false"> <p> </p> <p> I have asked more than once if you would provide a program(s) that could find and delete hidden malware </p> <p> in my computer, but you have decline my requests. </p> <p> pos </p> </div>
CCleaner is not a malware removal tool.
You are using tools already for that (malwarebytes etc)
I doubt you have malware.
You may never be able to work out how CCleaner updated on your machine. I suspect there may be no exe file as versions as old as yours were autoupdated
Read from here
It made a lot of people unhappy as you can see. Nobody (including us moderators) agreed with what was done.
So, there will be no hidden file I suspect and it may be time to accept this thing happened to you as well .
Take care.
It obviously occurred at some point in time. I doubt it was a zero day bomb though. What is amazing
is that it is still hiding in my computer system somewhere, so I am forced to delete the entire program altogether
to prevent help from other sites (ex. Malwarebytes).
I liked using 5.8 along with my Glary Utility program.
I am sorry cad that you cannot follow basic classroom points that I outlined. You might give it a day
or two, and reread again. Time has a way of helping one understand, at least sometimes.
I have asked more than once if you would provide a program(s) that could find and delete hidden malware
in my computer, but you have decline my requests.
pos
It was probably already downloaded ("pre-loaded") when there was an active/working Internet connection, and then sat there and at whatever point it chose it "dumped it's payload" and upgraded itself.
Other software does that too completely unannounced, one in particular that I use on an old PC is Panda Dome ("Panda Free Antivirus") which immediately breaks/bricks itself every time when upgrading.
Your post, including that last one, are ambiguous.
If you no longer wish me to try try and help you then I will respect that wish.
8 hours ago, nukecad said:<div class="ipsQuote_contents"> <p> So you are connecting it to the net at times then? </p> <p> As you say if the machine is not connected to the internet at all than I do not see how <em>anything</em> could be downloaded to that computer while not connected. (I have a Win98 machine that is <em>never</em> connected to the net, I doesn't even have a network card in it. I do have the card for it, it's in a bag in a drawer). </p> <p> The only way any new software could get onto such a disconnected machine would be from a drive that was plugged into it. </p> <p> However you seem to be saying that your machine <em>is connected to the net at times</em>. If so then during those times something could be downloaded. That v6.11 update was first pushed out in May 2023, that's 15 months during which it might have been pushed to your machine when connected. </p> <p> Can you give us a screenshot of your desktop with CCleaner open on it? If not then how/where are you seeing that CCleaner is on that machine? </p> <p> </p> <p> PS. I'm not sure what you mean there by "<em>performing my experiments.</em>" ? </p> </div>
I used >> indicating my reply.
>> First, cad, please Reread my previous posts until you understand, as my posts answer your questions more than once.
So you are connecting it to the net at times then?
>> ?? I already posted, using my computer to contact you/this forum, Malware Antimalware forum, downloading professional programs to check and find Ccleaner 6.11.10455 on my computer.
As you say if the machine is not connected to the internet at all than I do not see how anything could be downloaded to that computer while not connected.
(I have a Win98 machine that is never connected to the net, I doesn't even have a network card in it. I do have the card for it, it's in a bag in a drawer).
>> That is correct. Please Reread my previous posts as my experiments occurred after version 6.11.10455 popped up on my screen last weekend. I had to check to see if version 6.11.10455 was hidden in my computer, which it is.
The only way any new software could get onto such a disconnected machine would be from a drive that was plugged into it.
>> Please Reread my last posts until you understand them. Besides that, the three external backups and C: drive do not have Ccleaner 6.11.10455 upgrade listed/found. Neither is 6.11.10455 listed/found in the C: drive. So the problem of 6.11.10455 being hidden still remains. Although not listed anywhere, version 6.11.10455 still upgrades version 5.8. to version 6.11.10455. It is hidden and needs to be found and destroyed. Again, I ask do you wish to help:
>> 1. Do you know of a program to find this hidden upgrade?
>> 2. Do you know of a program that can delete the upgrade?
However you seem to be saying that your machine is connected to the net at times.
If so then during those times something could be downloaded.
>> One way mentioned are individuals, who posted above, stating that it did download and installed without their permission granted. Same here. Please list other ways so we can all learn.
PS. I'm not sure what you mean there by "performing my experiments." ?
Could it have been one of those <em>"experiments"</em> that was the cause of your computer locking up?
Of course that still doesn't explain your seemingly phantom CCleaner installation, so lets try to get to the bottom of that..
>> Please Reread all my previous posts as multiple times the posts explain the timing. Are you going to help, or simply argue?
pos
4 hours ago, positron7 said:<div class="ipsQuote_contents ipsClearfix" data-gramm="false"> <p> </p> <p> ... my computer is completely disconnected from the internet </p> <p> <strong>when performing my experiments.</strong> </p> <p> </p> </div>
So you are connecting it to the net at times then?
As you say if the machine is not connected to the internet at all than I do not see how anything could be downloaded to that computer while not connected.
(I have a Win98 machine that is <em>never</em> connected to the net, I doesn't even have a network card in it. I do have the card for it, it's in a bag in a drawer).
The only way any new software could get onto such a disconnected machine would be from a drive that was plugged into it.
However you seem to be saying that your machine is connected to the net at times.
If so then during those times something could be downloaded.
That v6.11 update was first pushed out in May 2023, that's 15 months during which it might have been pushed to your machine when connected.
Can you give us a screenshot of your desktop with CCleaner open on it?
If not then how/where are you seeing that CCleaner is on that machine?
PS. I'm not sure what you mean there by "performing my experiments." ?
Could it have been one of those <em>"experiments"</em> that was the cause of your computer locking up?
Of course that still doesn't explain your seemingly phantom CCleaner installation, so lets try to get to the bottom of that..
Yes, I am the only user, live alone.
Checking task scheduler over the days, just checked again, no mention of ccleaner.
pos
Have a look in Windows Task Scheduler and see if CCleaner is mentioned.
Are you the only user listed on the machine?
20 hours ago, nukecad said:<div class="ipsQuote_contents"> <p> To start with I have not pushed anything to you. I am a user myself, not an employee of CCleaner. </p> <p> However I think that I may now have worked out what has happened here. </p> <p> As noted at the very start of this thread in <a href="<___base_url___>/topic/64668-ccleaner-update-installed-on-my-pc-without-my-consent/#comment-342195" rel="">This Post</a> in May 2023 CCleaner versions 5.## reached End-of-Life and there was an automatic update for <em>all users</em> to v6.11 That happened over a year ago. </p> <p> Nobody now should have a CCleaner that is older than v6.11, (except on XP/Vista machines because those will not run later versions than v5.64). </p> <p> If you had v5.8 at that time then it should have been automatically updated to v6.11 - but it appears that you were firewalling the update. </p> <p> With an important all-user update like that they will check again periodically for any that got missed previously for whatever reason. </p> <p> If you were using a firewall to block that update to v6.11 back in May 2023 it's possible that they have checked again and this time your firewall didn't block it - because the servers have changed since then and you were not firewalling the new server. </p> <p> <strong>Being practical:</strong> If you believe that CCleaner v6.11 is causing issues with your old Win 7 then simply uninstall CCleaner, you always have that choice. </p> <p> I do note that you say that <em>"I still cannot get Ccleaner 6.11.10445 out of my computer."</em> Why not? What is preventing you from simply uninstalling it? </p> <p> TBH though I still think that your problem lies elsewhere in Windows 7 and that CCleaner 6.11 is just highlighting that problem. Windows 7 has been End-of-Life since January 2020, and while you can keep using it many softwares will stop working properly with it over time, (I saw the same happening with my EoL XP machine before it finally gave up the ghost and expired). </p> <p> </p> </div>
Thanks for your reply cad,
However, you completely missed my point that I underlined in my previous post. I will explain from a classroom format.
My mouse, keyboard, display etc are physically connected by cables, nothing else.
My computer ethernet cable is disconnected from the router, so my computer is completely disconnected from the internet
when performing my experiments.
With Ccleaner deleted/uninstalled, cannot find it, and my computer NOT connected to the internet, how could version 5.8 be
upgraded to 6.11.10455 from the internet? It cannot. The Star Trek transporter has not yet been invented. (Just a little classroom humor.)
I hope I am clear so far.
I will repeat, one cannot upgrade a program from the internet if one is NOT connected to the internet.
So...........
The only way version 5.8 could have been upgraded is if upgrade version 6.11.10455 is already/still in my computer.
Yet we cannot find any form/version of Ccleaner in the HD, and only version 5.8 in the backups. So upgrade
version 6.11.10455 is hidden somewhere in the computer.
As mentioned earlier, I have tried several Windows System Image Restores with no positive results. Yet
upgrade version 6.11.10455 still exists in the computer.
A couple of questions are:
1. Where is update Ccleaner version 6.11.10455 hidden?
2. How do we delete update version 6.11.10455 from my computer?
Got any ideas, programs that could find the hidden version 6.11.10455, and a way to delete it?
pos
To start with I have not pushed anything to you.
I am a user myself, not an employee of CCleaner.
However I think that I may now have worked out what has happened here.
As noted at the very start of this thread in This Post in May 2023 CCleaner versions 5.## reached End-of-Life and there was an automatic update for all users to v6.11
That happened over a year ago.
Nobody now should have a CCleaner that is older than v6.11, (except on XP/Vista machines because those will not run later versions than v5.64).
If you had v5.8 at that time then it should have been automatically updated to v6.11 - but it appears that you were firewalling the update.
With an important all-user update like that they will check again periodically for any that got missed previously for whatever reason.
If you were using a firewall to block that update to v6.11 back in May 2023 it's possible that they have checked again and this time your firewall didn't block it - because the servers have changed since then and you were not firewalling the new server.
Being practical:
If you believe that CCleaner v6.11 is causing issues with your old Win 7 then simply uninstall CCleaner, you always have that choice.
I do note that you say that "I still cannot get Ccleaner 6.11.10445 out of my computer."
Why not? What is preventing you from simply uninstalling it?
TBH though I still think that your problem lies elsewhere in Windows 7 and that CCleaner 6.11 is just highlighting that problem.
Windows 7 has been End-of-Life since January 2020, and while you can keep using it many softwares will stop working properly with it over time, (I saw the same happening with my EoL XP machine before it finally gave up the ghost and expired).
15 hours ago, nukecad said:<div class="ipsQuote_contents"> <p> </p> <p> I will attempt to keep this in order for clarity sake for all. </p> <p> By the way, I am using my Windows 7 ultimate computer, still with software problems right now, and still working on it since last weekend, checking, discussing with others, including professionals. </p> <p> You have <u>no</u> right in any way to “upgrade” my computer with Ccleaner 6.11.10455, <u>without my permission</u>. And it is still happening even today to my computer, continue to read all my post folks. First, here is a list of programs checking for any sort of abnormalities in my Windows 7 computer. The computer has to be working to perform these checks. </p> <p> ADWCleaner.exe 08921byn.exe </p> <p> Malware Antimalware.exe Premium </p> <p> FRST.exe </p> <p> FRST English.exe </p> <p> Cureit.exe </p> <p> Windows Disk Cleaner </p> <p> Windows Disk Repair, including Boot repair </p> <p> Windows Defender </p> <p> Glary Utilities </p> <p> And probably more that I have forgotten. </p> <p> Since the unauthorized “upgrade” of Ccleaner 6.11, I have used my Windows 7 System Image Backups, back to 2018, and the backups did succeed reinstalling previous versions of programs, of Windows 7 Ultimate etc, and it works, but problems with Windows 7 still exist as before the backups. I had performed the 'Stop the Upgrades' using multiple techniques the uncheck blocks, Firewalls etc. </p> <p> Besides that, Ccleaner 6.11.10455 is still in my computer’s HD, even after many System Image Backups that also cleanup. </p> <p> I am forced to keep Ccleaner 6.11 against my will, unless I do a complete format of the hard drive. (I have the key, but the reinstallation disk has been lost.) I uninstalled ccleaner version 6.11, and 5.8 multiple times from my computer, <u>with the internet disconnected</u>. I then reinstalled ccleaner 5.8 version from my 2 different thumb drives, <u>including an attempt today</u>, and from my large backup drive. In each case, when I rebooted my computer, version 5.8 was upgraded to ccleaner 6.11 <u>without my permission, again without the internet connected</u>. </p> <p> I only developed <u>multiple</u> problems after unauthorized Ccleaner 6.11.10445 popped up, and locked my computer. As one can see, my Windows 7 computer works as I am able to boot up, open windows 7, perform on the internet, daily tasks, and perform multiple backups during all this week. However, I still cannot get Ccleaner 6.11.10445 out of my computer. So I will never reinstall Ccleaner 5.8 or any other version again. (I am an Electronics Engineer.) </p> <p> pos </p> <p> </p> <p> ------------------------------------------------------ </p> <p> Nothing that you say there supports your thought that CCleaner had somehow 'pushed' an unwanted update on you by an 'unusual' method. If they where doing that then I have no doubt that we would have many complaints here about it from other users, and there aren't any such complaints. </p> <p> What you describe there sounds more like something, some hardware, in your old Windows 7 machine simply died of old age. My condolences on your loss of an old friend. </p> <p> CCleaner filling the screen of the expiring computer being a symptom of that death, not the cause of that death. It could have been any app that filled the screen like that when the machine broke and froze, it just happened to be CCleaner for you. Whilst a blank screen is more common on a dead machine, a frozen one is not that unusual on a dying machine. </p> <p> The fact that you were unable to reload any backup System image supports that something in the computers hardware has died. The image(s) cannot be restored because the hardware they need is no longer working. </p> <p> Old computers do breakdown and die suddenly, I've had a few do it on me, and when a computer dies then it's time to fix it or get a new one. </p> <p> Whatever component it is that gave up the ghost may have been replacable, but as Win 7 is well past End-of-Life that's probably not the best way to spend your money. (Unless you really, really, NEED to keep running Win 7 say to drive an old CNC machine). </p> <p> PS. You your new Windows 11 machine will be faster in use, and better protected online. Once you have got familiar with Windows 11 you'll probably wonder why you stayed with Windows 7 for 4+ years after it had become EOL and unsupported. </p> <p> PPS. As you have your old Win 7 system images then depending what software you used to create those images you <em>may</em> be able to extract the data (not system) files from one of them and copy those files onto your new machine. Read your imaging softwares' help/documentation for how to do that. eg If you used Macrium Reflect to make the image then: <a href="http://reflect.macrium.com/help/v5/how_to/restore/browse_files_in_backups.htm" rel="external nofollow">http://reflect.macrium.com/help/v5/how_to/restore/browse_files_in_backups.htm</a> </p> </div>
Nothing that you say there supports your thought that CCleaner had somehow 'pushed' an unwanted update on you by an 'unusual' method.
If they where doing that then I have no doubt that we would have many complaints here about it from other users, and there aren't any such complaints.
What you describe there sounds more like something, some hardware, in your old Windows 7 machine simply died of old age.
My condolences on your loss of an old friend.
CCleaner filling the screen of the expiring computer being a symptom of that death, not the cause of that death.
It could have been any app that filled the screen like that when the machine broke and froze, it just happened to be CCleaner for you.
Whilst a blank screen is more common on a dead machine, a frozen one is not that unusual on a dying machine.
The fact that you were unable to reload any backup System image supports that something in the computers hardware has died.
The image(s) cannot be restored because the hardware they need is no longer working.
Old computers do breakdown and die suddenly, I've had a few do it on me, and when a computer dies then it's time to fix it or get a new one.
Whatever component it is that gave up the ghost may have been replacable, but as Win 7 is well past End-of-Life that's probably not the best way to spend your money.
(Unless you really, really, NEED to keep running Win 7 say to drive an old CNC machine).
PS. You your new Windows 11 machine will be faster in use, and better protected online.
Once you have got familiar with Windows 11 you'll probably wonder why you stayed with Windows 7 for 4+ years after it had become EOL and unsupported.
PPS. As you have your old Win 7 system images then depending what software you used to create those images you may be able to extract the data (not system) files from one of them and copy those files onto your new machine. Read your imaging softwares' help/documentation for how to do that.
eg If you used Macrium Reflect to make the image then: <a href="http://reflect.macrium.com/help/v5/how_to/restore/browse_files_in_backups.htm" ipsnoembed="true" rel="external nofollow">http://reflect.macrium.com/help/v5/how_to/restore/browse_files_in_backups.htm</a>
I just wanted to thank Ccleaner for upgrading my internet experience by upgrading my win 7 ultimate
computer without my permission last weekend.
In fact, I tried every method of preventing the upgrade, including firewall both in and out rules but somehow you
"upgraded" my ccleaner in seemingly a most unusual way. Other programs, no problem fire walling etc.
I powered on my computer and Ccleaner filled the entire screen, locking my computer, and causing considerable damage,
costing me all week's work, running all sorts of antivirus, frst, frst english, and many other programs trying to get it fixed,
repeating my win 7 System Images back to 2018, but to no avail, and literally costing me hundreds of dollars in my labor
since last weekend, and forcing me to upgrade to a windows 11 computer, even though my win 7 was working just fine.
Thanks again for your contribution to improving my internet experience.
positron7