SOLVED: KillerNetworkManagerLauncher error on every boot — not in Apps & Features, not in Task Scheduler UI

Question

The Problem

After every Windows 11 boot, approximately 50 seconds after the desktop loaded, a popup error appeared referencing KillerNetworkManagerLauncher. Clicking the link opened the Microsoft Store, which showed 'No app available'. The laptop had no Intel Killer network hardware.

 

Why Standard Fixes Fail

Most guides tell you to uninstall via Apps & Features or disable it in Task Manager Startup Apps. These do not work because the Killer software leaves behind:

1.     A registered AppX/UWP package (RivetNetworks.KillerControlCenter) with no visible installer entry

2.     A scheduled task called 'Killer Startup Task' hidden in the root of Task Scheduler, invisible through the normal UI

 

The Fix

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run all of the following:

 

Remove the AppX packages:

3.     Get-AppxPackage KillerControlCenter | Remove-AppxPackage

4.     Get-AppxPackage Killer | Remove-AppxPackage

5.     Get-AppxPackage RivetNetworks -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

 

Delete the hidden scheduled task:

6.     Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "Killer Startup Task" -Confirm:$false

 

Verify removal:

7.     Get-ScheduledTask -TaskName "Killer Startup Task"

If you see 'No MSFT_ScheduledTask objects found' the task is gone.

 

Reboot.

 

Result

After rebooting the KillerNetworkManagerLauncher error did not appear. The fix has held through multiple reboots. The critical step most guides miss is the 'Killer Startup Task' in PowerShell — it simply cannot be seen or deleted through the Task Scheduler UI.

 

Environment: Dell laptop, Windows 11, no Intel Killer network hardware present.

Answer 1

The described fix is valid and consistent with known behavior where Killer (RivetNetworks) components cause network or startup issues on Windows 10/11, even when the system has no Killer hardware.

Removing the Killer/RivetNetworks AppX packages and the associated scheduled task is an effective remediation when standard uninstall methods fail or when the software does not appear in Apps & Features or visible Task Scheduler entries.

However, before using PowerShell to remove components, it is generally recommended to try safer, UI-based approaches first (for example, uninstalling the Killer software from Apps & Features or the vendor’s uninstaller). When those fail or the entries are missing, using PowerShell to remove leftover packages and scheduled tasks is a reasonable next step.

For users who experience similar issues but are not comfortable with PowerShell, or if problems persist after removal, performing a clean boot can help determine whether other third-party services or startup apps are contributing to the problem:

1. Sign in as an administrator.
2. Open System Configuration (msconfig) via Search.
3. On the Services tab, select Hide all Microsoft services, then select Disable all and apply.
4. On the Startup tab, select Open Task Manager, then disable all enabled startup items.
5. Restart the computer to enter a clean boot environment and verify whether the error still appears.
6. If the problem disappears, re-enable services and startup items in batches to isolate any remaining problematic software, as described in the clean boot guidance.
7. After troubleshooting, reset the computer to normal startup using the documented steps (set Normal Startup in System Configuration, re-enable services and startup apps, and restart).

This approach is useful if other residual networking or startup components besides Killer/RivetNetworks are involved.

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References:

• How to perform a clean boot in Windows