Help - wuauclt.exe encountered a problem and needs to close

[useless1]

just started gettin this error wuault.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close can anyone help

cheers

 

[BeeCeeBee]

It would appear that wuault.exe is very likely a trojan and consitutes an infection. If you have good anti malware protection you should run a scan now. The best practice would be to follow the instructions below which should identify and remove any malware that you may have encountered.

Your computer is probably infected with Malware.

• Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.
  It is a combination of the words malicious and software.
  The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.

• Required Cleanup Steps
  1. Disable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled
  2. Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF)
  3. Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below)
  4. Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below)
  5. Clear out old System Restore points
  6. If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested.

The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something.
The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed.
Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes.
The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours.
In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer.
Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean.

For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page
To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below.
From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range"
click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware.


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STEP 1

• Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)
  1. Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode.
  2. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode"
  3. On the left hand side, Click on Tools
  4. Then click on the Resident Icon in the List
  5. Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts.
  6. Restart your computer.

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STEP 2

• Follow these instructions carefully.
• Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware.
• You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com
• When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main.
• For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox
• NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored
• Then click on "Empty Selected".

.

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STEP 3

• Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com
  • Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files.
  • You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next.
  • You can leave the automated check for updates on.
  • You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information.
  • DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings.
  • On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button.
  • Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives.
  • Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so.

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STEP 4

• Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes - (direct download)
  • Accept all defaults for the installer
  • Allow the program to update the definitions
  • Click on the Quick Scan and click Next.
  • If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer.

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STEP 5

• Run an online scan with ESET from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner
  • You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan.
  • If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you must first start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select "Run as administrator" from the popup context menu.
  • Accept the terms and click "Start".
  • Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications".
  • Click "Start" to begin the scan.
  • When completed restart your computer

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Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.
At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted.

If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™
Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool.

Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one.
Please follow the instructions here
How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP
How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

 

[Goku]

Hello Usel. Can you please confirm the file name and see if it is wuauclt.exe or wuault.exe. It might be that you have an infestation of Malware as Barry suspects, so it would be better if you run through our disinfection procedure and then see if the error is resolved or not.

Hope that helps.

-- Goku

 

[BeeCeeBee]

Correct me if I'm wrong Goku but either spelling seems to be malware.

 

[Goku]

wuauclt.exe is a genuine file that is essential for the proper working of Windows. It can be found in "C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe" where C is the drive letter on which Windows is installed. If you do not believe me, you can upload the file from your computer on NoVirusThanks and test if for any malicious codes. The file plays an important role in Windows Update and can cause the described error under certain circumstances.

Hope that clears your doubt.

-- Goku

 

[BeeCeeBee]

I did say correct me if i'm wrong! And you did. Which only proves that there is a lot of bad information out there. Be careful what one googles!!!

 

[useless1]

the name of the file is wuauclt.exe and yes done all the steps as beeceebee said and still the same error .. and thanks for the help so far

 

[BeeCeeBee]

Now that it has been pointed out that wuaclt.exe is an essential file I will leave it to Goku or someone else more knowledgeable then me to sort out for you. The malware check can do you no harm though!

 

[Goku]

OK Usel, it seems that the Windows Update Agent is corrupted due to some reason. Please follow the instructions from here to download and install the latest version. Install the update and reboot the computer. Does the error persist? Also, when exactly do you get the error message?

Hope that helps.

-- Goku

 

[useless1]

well found it much easier to just format and lose everything again .. and it seems that once you get a problem there is only one way to sort it out and that to format .. theres to many problems having a computer in the house so next time theres a problem with it I'm just going to KILL it because theres never a solution to it but to format and lose everything again and how annoying is that .. but thanks for your help in trying to sort it out

 

[Goku]

Well, that was a bit extreme way of resolving the problem but it suits you, then I will not comment on it. Just one thing, there are solutions to most problems out there so don't lose hope and we will keep trying to help you.

I think I will mark your problem Solved.

-- Goku

 

[useless1]

wish i had your faith in computers but sadly i have not .. after losing all my pics of my family and my first grandson that i now have lost as the problem i had didn't let me open anything in the end just same error .. so couldn't back anything up

 

[Goku]

I understand your concerns and losses and I feel sorry for them Usel. However, there is a faint hope of recovery. Many people have come for help so that they can recover their lost pictures / documents and they have often been successful. The magic tool is Recovery My Files. Please search the Forums for the keywords "Recover Files" and I am sure you will find some of the success stories. They might even recover your pictures if you still want them.

Well, feel free to ask any more questions or doubts you may have.

-- Goku