Windows 10: autoruns reports missing files

I fear this thread has gotten clogged up and now nobody is helping. Bottom line:

Autoruns lists these 4 missing codec files:

Autorun entry: VIDC.l420 Image Path: File not found: emYUV.dll
Autorun entry: VIDC.YUY2 Image Path: File not found: emYUV.dll
Autorun entry: VIDC.VP80 Image Path: File not found: vp8vfw.dll
Autorun entry: vidc.XVID Image Path: File not found: xvidvfw.dll

HIjackthis lists these missing files (Checked and indeed missing):

C:\Windows\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\NisSrv.exe
C:\Windows\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\Windows\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe
SDWinLogon.dll missing from Spybot Program Files directory

I just want to know if these missing files can be easily replaced, or what software would replace them, or if these files are even needed.

 

Have a read at the options here ...

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade - Windows 10 Forums

this should allow you to fully refresh your system, and add any actual missing Windows 10 files, without losing all the work you have put in installing and setting up your applications *Smile

In addition have a look at Macrium Reflect Free to image your system before you start *Wink ...

Macrium Reflect - Backup Restore - Windows 10 Forums

 

I know how to do a repair installation. The whole point is this seems a risky thing to do for a few missing codec files and wmp and defender files. I have not yet had anybody even confirm if these files are necessary or even belong on the system normally. Maybe they were put there by some media software that I have removed?

I do not want to do a repair install and risk breaking some of my installed software (registry keys. etc.) only to discover that these files are not installed with Windows anyways. That would be ridiculous to do a repair installation if these files aren't even going to get re-installed, because this PC is brand new and working fine other than a few missing file entries.

Are these files I listed on your PC?

C:\Windows\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\NisSrv.exe
C:\Windows\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\Windows\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe

How about the 4 codec files? Why would I do a repair install if these files aren't even going to be installed as part of the repair? How do I know they will? As I stated earlier, I already did a sfc /scannow and it reported no problems. Can't I just re-install windows media player and/or defender if I want to replace those files? A repair install sounds like overkill for a PC that works fine. I just went through a major Windows update yesterday that took an hour.

 

Windows Media player is available ...

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...s-media-player

But have not found any downloads from Microsoft ( they assume your system will include it ), there are some download locations offering the full installer such as softronic etc but i do not recommend these sites due to the addition of other software, you may be happy to try these oof course

This page ...

Windows 10 – Windows Defender - Microsoft

includes a checker for defender which could be of use to you

I have checked the old control panel and the Add Remove windows Features sub menu and this does not include Defender so the old trick of disabling and then re-enabling will not work, (it may help with the Media Player as this is still included) type control panel when the start menu is present to get to the old Control Panel

 

I add and remove software regularly and get similar errors in autoruns, I've always just removed the entry, and I've never had any issues ( I leave them for a few weeks to ensure no issues arise before removing them )

 

Forgot to say, the files are not on my system

 

Thanks for these tips, Barman58. This is what I need - a specific fix for a few missing files, not a sledgehammer approach.

I went into add/remove programs, disabled Windows Media Player, and rebooted. It uninstalled the Windows Media Player folder from Program Files (x86). I then re-enabled Windows Media Player the same way, then rebooted, and it re-installed Windows Media Player in Program Files (x86). The file wmpnetwk.exe is still not in there. So I'm guessing whatever file this is, it isn't needed? Does anyone have that file in their Windows Media Player folder?

As far as Defender, I clicked the link you posted, and all it does it tell me I'm already protected if I have Windows 10. The site says to uninstall other virus programs and Windows Defender will automatically be enabled. I checked my settings and Windows Defender is off - it says real-time protection is "handled by another AV program". I have Avast free installed because I like the interface and I'm used to it. I guess if a 3rd party AV is installed and running, Defender is automatically turned off. I didn't know that.

So then should I just ignore the 2 missing Defender files? Currently I'm not using Defender anyways so I guess it's unimportant but I'd still like to know what happened to them or if they are normally there.

 

Thanks for checking this. So I'm wondering if these files are even required or normally part of the system? For some reason hijackthis lists them as missing and I don't know why but you don't have those files either so I'm thinking this isn't a major issue?

Also, are those 4 codec files on your system or did you check those too already?

 

Also wanted to add - I just checked my Program Files folder and those missing files are there:

C:\Windows\Program Files\Windows Defender\NisSrv.exe
C:\Windows\Program Files\Windows Defender\MsMpEng.exe
C:\Windows\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe

They aren't in the "Program Files (x86)" folder but they are there in the Program Files folder. Sounds like hijackthis is just raising an alarm for no reason then since they are present in the Program Files folder.

 

Windows has always been designed to be "all things to all men " and files are not always installed if they are not needed by the hardware and/or software installed. Also "I believe" they remove some files when the hardware or software is removed which would account for the errors you are seeing.

I am assuming that you are running a 64Bit OS - this would mean that the files would not normally be in the Program Files (x86),

 

Yup - I'm running 64-bit for the first time so I'm unfamiliar with some of these issues between the Program Files (x86)/Program Files/System32/sysWOW64 folders.

This is why I was very hesitant to just blindly do a repair install for no reason and possibly open myself up to a bunch of new headaches with 3rd party software getting broken and losing all my updates when there was absolutely no reason to.

I also found the emYUV.dll file in my sysWOW64 folder. The other 2 codec files autoruns lists are not anywhere in my Windows folder - I searched the main directory. I'm still thinking those codec files were removed when I was trying out a couple 3rd party converter/media player tools.