Windows 10: How to remove the MSN pop up permanently?

The mystery deepens....*sarc

 

Hi. Sorry, a bit busy this morning. So it showed on the first boot, then did not show on the second try? Can we try another shutdown now? I will confer with @essenbe.

 

I haven't ignored this thread. I have just been looking at some things.

 

@Arcadian,
Based on the scans run so far, it appears to me that you use several 3rd-party "cleaners" on this system. These "cleaners" are simply not necessary, and many times do much more damage that good. I can't tell you how many times I've seen messed up systems because of these "cleaners".

These are problems and/or not recommended:
simplitec
ByteFence
darwendlm
SearchScopes
WiseCare/Wise Turbo
(possibly others - I won't know until I see your list of installed programs.)

You said you use ZoneAlarm for the firewall, so that explains why Windows Firewall is turned off. I would like to see your list of installed programs now, as I have not been able to determine why Windows Defender is turned off.

Please go to Ccleaner and save the list of installed programs to a text file, and post that here.





Once I have seen the list, I will make recommendations of any other software which needs to be removed.

I understand that you've used some of this software since XP days, but I am telling you - you are now on Windows 10, and XP does not apply. ZoneAlarm is a good firewall, but this other stuff is simply not necessary, and just causes problems.

Regarding Edge: As far as I know, Microsoft Edge is a core part of the W10 OS, and cannot be "conventionally" removed. To attempt the many work-arounds that have been posted online, is to basically "bork" your machine.

Following the removal of unwanted software, I then suggest running the System File Checker to verify all Operating System files are intact.

So, in an Administrative Command Prompt, type: (right-click the Start button)
Code: sfc /scannow[/quote] Let it run - it takes a while. The response when it is finished that we are looking for is "No integrity violations found". If it says "found and fixed" or "could not be fixed", you need to reboot the computer and run it again, at least three times. If we still do not get the response that everything is good, we will have to move to dism commands to try and get the system in order. Failing that, a repair install using an in-place upgrade would be the next step. Failing all these, a clean install is next.

Another option (which I don't recommend at this point) would be to perform a Clean Boot, and see if the culprit can be identified that way.

But I really think the system needs to be put back in good order. A band-aid approach will only complicate things for you, especially when the Anniversary update comes through in July.

 

Many thanks for all this. Unfortunately I'm very busy right now and as everything's running fine and the original problem of the MSN pop up hasn't re-appeared I'll have to leave it for a few days anyway.

However as I'm nowhere near experienced enough to dare risk taking all this on by myself, nor have I the time nor the money if I get it wrong which is a cert, I'll definitely pass on all your recommendations to my local computer guru who's been repairing computers for over 30 years then if he makes any mistakes and lives only 20 minutes away I'm covered as I daren't be without it for too long.

One small point re "I understand that you've used some of this software since XP days....

I'm already using the very latest versions of all this software uploaded during the past 5/6 weeks or so which is already compatible with Win 10....

Again many thanks to you and everyone else but hope you understand it's now way, way out of my league anyway....*Smile

 

Okay, glad it's working for now. Good luck. Please go ahead and mark the thread as solved. Cheers!

 

I think this is what we were looking for which I nearly deleted....!

 

Everything still working fine then?

 

Yes fine thanks other than MSN appeared out of the blue again for some reason....?

 

That was Internet Explorer opening to an MSN page right?

Why don't you try just completely disabling Internet Explorer? See the tutorial here:
Windows Features - Turn On or Off in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

All you want to do is UNCHECK Internet Explorer, nothing else in there.

 

Thanks I've just unticked the box so hopefully that will do it ?

 

Let's hope so! *Smile