To resolve this problem, try to identify and remove deceptive software from your computer. To do this, use one or all the following methods. Note Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

There are different ways to remove apps and programs, so if you can't find the one you're looking for, you can try another location. Note that some apps and programs are built into Windows and can't be uninstalled. You can try to repair a program first, if it's just not running correctly.

Learn how to optimize system performance by managing startup applications in Windows.

When you open a file in Windows, such as an .exe, .cmd, .reg, .regedit, .secfile, .com, or .bat file, a different program or file may start. Additionally, the icon for the file may not appear as expected.

After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11. Learn more. Note: Use these steps for Windows programs.

Get Help has troubleshooters you can run for many common scenarios. These often help resolve issues without the need to contact support. If a troubleshooter is available for your issue, select Run to start that troubleshooter.

Use this tool to find and remove specific prevalent threats and reverse the changes that they made (see the "Covered malware families" list in the "Release information" section of KB 890830). For comprehensive malware detection and removal, consider using Windows Defender Offline or Microsoft Safety Scanner.

Regsvr32 is a command-line utility to register and unregister OLE controls, such as DLLs and ActiveX controls in the Windows Registry. Regsvr32.exe is installed in the %systemroot%\System32 folder in Windows XP and later versions of Windows. The 64-bit version is %systemroot%\System32\regsvr32.exe.

One way to separate data and logic is by using the Access Database command (on the Database Tools tab, in the Move Data group). This command splits your database application into two Access files: one for logic (a front-end) and one for data (a back-end).

This article describes how to start the Disk Cleanup tool and specify the hard disk to be cleaned by using the command line. To start the Disk Cleanup tool and specify the hard disk to be cleaned by using the command line, follow these steps: Click Start, and then click Run.