HJT Questions

[rjbinney]

Ad-Aware, Malware Bytes scans all A-OK.

I'm attaching the log from Security Check and Hijack This.

My question is - should I be concerned about any of the "missing files"?
(Ex: O23 - Service: @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\MsSense.exe,-1001 (Sense) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection\MsSense.exe (file missing))

[BC_Programmer]

I'd bet it does exist- it is just in C:\Program Files by default. That is where I found it on my machine.

Since Hijackthis is a 32-bit program, it will expand the Program Files Environment variable to C:\Program Files (x86)\ and look in there. And the file isn't in there so it figures it must be missing.

[rjbinney]

Interesting. In a similar vein, it's showing other stuff that's missing in \system32, but I can find it.

So that's just a trick of HJT, and nothing to be concerned about?

(I was trying so many different disk diagnostics over the weekend I wanted to make sure I didn't gum up the works, so I was Working the Steps...)

[BC_Programmer]

Not a trick of HJT, but a trick of Windows. Since Hijackthis is a 32-bit program, and windows is 64-bit, Windows will redirect access to certain folders.

trying to access the Program Files folder goes to the Program Files (x86) folder, as I mentioned. so to hijackthis, C:\Program Files\etc... is always inside C:\Program files (x86).

Same for system32 in fact. C:\Windows\System32 redirects to C:\Windows\SysWOW64\, so there are probably registry settings referencing locations in C:\Windows\System32 which HJT cannot access so it assumes they are missing.

[rjbinney]

Got it. (Not really).

Thanks for the help. (Really.)

[SuperDave]

Hello and welcome to Computer Hope Forum. My name is Dave. I will be helping you out with your particular problem on your computer.

1. I will be working on your Malware issues. This may or may not solve other issues you have with your machine.
2. The fixes are specific to your problem and should only be used for this issue on this machine.
3. If you don't know or understand something, please don't hesitate to ask.
4. Please DO NOT run any other tools or scans while I am helping you.
5. It is important that you reply to this thread. Do not start a new topic.
*************************************************************************
Hijackthis is ancient technology and should not be used. Do you have any other problems?

[rjbinney]

Thanks. I was just following the steps on this forum's Sticky.

[SuperDave]

Okay. I have removed those instructions.

[rjbinney]

And just to confirm, Steps Two and Three are now the same (it appears that the same MB download is for both?).