Updater.exe

Question

Every time I restart my PC, a window pops up that says "Windows cannot find 'Updater.exe'.  Make sure you typed the name corrrectly, and then try again.  I've checked the Registry and Task Manager, but can't find what is trying to pull up the program.  Some attempts to fix (Windows Installer Cleanup Utlitilty) tell me they can't run because I'm not an admistrator - but I am - I'm the only profile on the PC.   I've run antivirus software, and uninstalled/reinstalled Adobe Acrobat, which was not running correctly.  Is this a virus or an error?

Answer 1

See if you get this message in Safe Mode at Startup?  If you do not try isolating the cause via these.

310560 - How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/929135

Even though you are an Administrator on your machine, by design all users run with Standard User privileges.  To get extra privileges, if you are not offered them via a User Access Control prompt, you may have to right-click on the .exe and look for the "Run As Administrator" option.  This is referred to as running with elevated privileges.

I see lots of recommendations  for programs like the following if you suspect malware as a cause.

SuperAntispyware

http://superantispyware.com/

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Answer 2

updater.exe is such a generic name, it could be malware, or a genuine program.

Answer 3

Every time I restart my PC, a window pops up that says "Windows cannot find 'Updater.exe'.  Make sure you typed the name corrrectly, and then try again.  I've checked the Registry and Task Manager, but can't find what is trying to pull up the program.  Some attempts to fix (Windows Installer Cleanup Utlitilty) tell me they can't run because I'm not an admistrator - but I am - I'm the only profile on the PC.   I've run antivirus software, and uninstalled/reinstalled Adobe Acrobat, which was not running correctly.  Is this a virus or an error?

 On my Win XP OS it is a Skype update utility.

Answer 4

When this Updater.exe is active on your machine can you use the Task Manager to see what software is responsible for it?

Windows Vista's Task Manager (or Windows 7): The harder-to-detect changes

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6161050.html

Updater.exe doesn't sound like a Windows program to me.  Are you running any Google applications or Toolbars that might be responsible? Mind you it could be anything however.

When Updater.exe is on your machine where is it located and found?

Answer 5

The updater.exe error pops up occasionally in one of our  computers.

We close out the Microsoft Notification Message and the machine does

not shut down, as it is indicated it will do so. I also delete the noted file

Updater.exe whenever this occurs;  however, some WIndows function or

other program in the computer continues to reinstall it frequently. The

Microsoft error message does not indicate which program or service is

adding the file to the computer. Perhaps it is derived from more than one

source. While comments on various internet sites note that this files can

potentially damage computer files , to date , as stated, it has neither shut

down our comuper or noticiably interfered with our usage. The program

malwarebytes does not find the file to be an infected one via either a quick

 scan or a full scan nor does our anti-virus program. We have also tried to clear

it our using CC Cleaner, and a registry cleaner. But it just re-appears. So to us

at this point , it is just a nuisance which does not seem to hurt our computer.

We would like to elminate its return at such time as anyone can offer the

proper guidance. Than kyou.