lockedsticky [EN] - AdwCleaner documentation

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AdwCleaner v6 documentation.

Valid only for AdwCleaner v6.x

AdwCleaner interface

 

Description

AdwCleaner is a tool aiming to remove adware (ads software), PUP/LPIs (Potentially Undesirable Program), toolbar, hijacker (hijack of the browser's homepage), ...

It's compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, each of them in both 32 & 64 bits.

This documentation aims to details how to use the software.

 

Download

AdwCleaner can be downloaded from this page on ToolsLib: https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/

 

Location

AdwCleaner creates a folder "AdwCleaner" on the system root (i.e "C:\AdwCleaner"). It fallbacks in the current directory if the System Root is not accessible.

 

Eula

In order to use AdwCleaner, you have to agree the Eula:

EULA

 

Menus

  • File:
    • Quit
    • Uninstall
  • Tools
    • Options
    • Log Manager
    • Quarantine Manager
  • Language
  • Help
    • About windows with non-exhaustive list of contributors

 

Options

All settings can be changed in this window. Once this window is closed, options are saved.

Options

The available options are:

  • Reset
    • Proxy : Remove every proxies.
    • Winsock settings : Reset every Winsock settings to fix connections troubles. (On by Default)
    • TCP/IP settings : Reset TCP/IP settings : correct settings will be automatically restored if the network uses DHCP. Otherwise the reset must made manually.
    • Firewall settings : Reset every firewall rules.
    • IPSec settings : Reset IPSec settings. It's a protocol used to established encrypted connection between hosts. It can cause connection troubles due to specific malicious software.
    • BITS queue : Empty the "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" queue. It's used to transfer files (like software or signatures updates) between hosts, but it can cause connection troubles.
    • IE policies : Delete every Internet Explorer policies and set the ones by default.
    • Chrome policies : Delete every Google Chrome policies and set the ones by default.
    • Chrome preferences : Reset each profile preferences.
    • Hosts file : Remove the Hosts file and replace it by an empty Hosts file.
  • Delete
    • Tracing" keys : Delete all Tracing keys. They are used by several malwares.
    • Image File Execution Options : Delete all subkeys from HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
    • Prefetch files : Delete all *.pf files from C:\Windows\Prefetch
  • Mode
    • Normal: Run in normal mode (On by Default)
    • Debug: Generate an additional logfile C:\AdwCleaner\AdwCleaner_Debug.log with useful informations in case of troubles. It's useful to give this report on the support section when you face a crash.
  • Database
    • Local: Enforce the use of the local database.
    • Server: Try to use the latest defintions from the server. (On by Default)

Settings file

Alongside the Options window, the options can be specified with the configuration file. Its location is wether at the System Root\AdwCleaner (i.e C:\AdwCleaner) or in the same folder than AdwCleaner has been launched. The file is called "settings.ini" and follow the usual INI format.

By default, its content is as follow:

[Properties]
Language=en
EulaAccepted=1

[Options]
DeleteTracing=1
ResetWinsock=1
DeleteIFEO=0
DeletePrefetch=0
ResetProxy=0
ResetTCPIP=0
ResetFirewall=0
ResetIPSec=0
ResetBITS=0
ResetIEPolicies=0
ResetChromePolicies=0
ResetChromePreferences=0
ResetHostFile=0
DebugMode=0
UseLocalDatabase=0

You can activate options by setting "1" as value. Same, to deactivate an option, simply set a "0" as value.

 

Log Manager

Log Manager

The Log Manager is used to give an easy access to all previous logs, including the debug one (which is only shown if the Debug mode is On).

Log files are stored in C:\AdwCleaner\ and the naming format is as follow:

  • Scan: AdwCleaner[Sxxx].txt
  • Clean: AdwCleaner[Cxxx].txt
  • Debug: AdwCleaner_Debug.log

xxx is starting from 0.

The Scan and Clean log files use this convention:

!! Missing file : <file path> !! : This element is missing and will be restored when cleaning

[-] : This element has been deleted,

[+] : ACL had to be reseted before the deletion,

[#] : This element has been removed on reboot,

[!] : This element has not been removed,

[x] : This element has not been marked for deletion.

[-] Restored File : This element was missing and has been restored.

The Debug log file stores all debugging sessions in the same file.

 

Quarantine Manager

Quarantine Manager

Each deleted element (including registry entries and those on reboot) are saved in quarantine and can be restored if needed. To restore an element, simply select it and click on [Restore].

 

Language

The list of supported languages. Simply click on one to switch.

If you see a mistake, or if you would like to help for the translations, please take a look at this page.

 

Results

  • Services : if checked, the service will be desactivated and then deleted.
  • Folders : if checked, the folder and its content will be deleted.
  • Files : if checked, the file will be deleted.
  • DLLs : if checked, the dynamic libraries will be replaced with a clean version installed on the system,
  • Shortcuts : if checked, the shortcut will be resetted.
  • Scheduled Tasks : if checked, the scheduled task will be desactivated and then deleted.
  • Registry : if checked, the key, value and or data will be deleted or resetted. Elements related to Internet Explorer are also listed in this tab.
  • Firefox : if checked, preferences will be resetted and malicious addons deleted. Browsers which are based on Mozilla Firefox are also listed in this tab.

 

Canned Speech

Lines prefixed by "//" are not required.

  • Scan
* Download AdwCleaner from this page: https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/
* Execute it, then read the EULA and click on "I agree" if you agree it.
//* Click on "Tools" > "Options", and check the following options:
//    * Option 1
//    * Option 2
* Click on [Scan] and wait until it ends.
* When the scan is over, click on [Logfile]. Go to the "Scan" tab and open the first logfile (it should be in blue) by a double click on it.
* Copy/Paste it in your answer.
//* Go to the "Debug" tab, click on the button "Copy to clipboard", and paste the content in your answer too.
  • Clean
* Download AdwCleaner from this page: https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/
* Execute it, then read the EULA and click on "I agree" if you agree it.
//* Click on "Tools" > "Options", and check the following options:
//    * Option 1
//    * Option 2
//* Untick the followings elemnts from the tab xx:
//    * FP 1
//    * FP 1
* Click on [Clean], read the informative message. If you have any questions about it, please ask.
* All unrequired programs will be closed during the cleaning process, so be sure to save your work before.
* When the clean is over, the computer may reboot and shows the logfile
* Copy/Paste it in your answer.
//* Go to the "Debug" tab, click on the button "Copy to clipboard", and paste the content in your answer too.
//* If the logfiles doesn't appear, relaunch AdwCleaner, click on [Logfile]. Go to the "Clean" tab and open the first logfile (it should be in blue) by a double click on it.
* Copy/Paste it in your answer.
  • Uninstall
/!\ Warning: the quarantined files will be erased. Do not proceed if your computer is unstable /!\

* Launch AdwCleaner
* Click on "File" > "Uninstall"

 

Support

As written in log files, we are available on the support section for any feedback (bug, suggestions...) or any help.

But you can also support us: contributions and donations are welcome!

This thread is closed. Therefore, you can no longer contribute to it.
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