Free Registry Fix placed a folder in my Control Panel that can’t be opened or deleted. It is linked to “shell32.dll” in the folder C:\windows\system32\. Is there any way to delete this entire folder from Control Panel? Right clicking does not bring up any way of deleting it and there is nothing in the drop down menu of the toolbar that will allow this as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Malware Program Disguised as Registry Fix
The most immediate concern in your case is that the free registry fix program you downloaded is actually a malware program. Hackers and malware developers know that computer users are likely to download free applications that look like helpful programs like registry cures, so they use them to package and disseminate malware and viruses.
Update and Run Full System Virus Scans
The first thing you should do is update your legitimate malware/computer security programs and run full system scans. These scans will find any suspicious or dangerous software and isolate it, offering you instructions to remove or quarantine potential problems. First, go to the website of the antivirus software manufacturer and look for any available updates. Even if you have a paid subscription to a program like Norton, you might consider adding a malware program like Malwarebytes, which offers a free version. As with many free antivirus programs, you should routinely check for updates manually, rather than depending on automatic updates. Run the scans and deal with any problems by following the advice offered by the program. Once you deal with the issues, run the scans again, until they come back clean. Reboot the computer and check on the registry fix folder.
Remove Programs with Windows Add/Remove or with a Registry Edit
If the folder is still there, then there are a few ways to go after it. There are several registry programs available online that advertise as Free Registry Fix, so without knowing the manufacturer of the program I can’t know for sure what the registry entry would be. We can remove the program using Windows Add/Remove, which you may have already done, but if it has left stuff behind then you will need to edit the registry to manually delete the entries. For this, I would suggest that you contact a remote technical assistant. At Filetonic, we recommend the services available here. Registry editing is tricky business, and mistakes can be disastrous, so be sure that you are comfortable and know what you’re doing. To use Add/Remove:
- Click Start, then All Programs
- Scroll the list and find any and all entries related to Free Registry Fix
- Click to highlight the entries, then click Remove
If the folder remains, get in touch with a technician who can help you through the steps to edit your registry manually. Hope this helps, good luck!
Kate Dubensky | June 14th, 2009
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