Does anyone know how to get rid of the little box that keeps popping up that says "Windows Installer"?

Question

I don't know where it came from...it doesn't try to install anything...just sits there and slows my computer down. Thanks.

Answer 1

There is a yellow symbol in your tray that looks like a badge and that symbol is part of Microsoft platform. It will show in the tray as yellow when there is a critical update if you have auto updates checked off for Microsoft. It will turn red if you have turned off any of your security.

If you are talking about a different box saying "Windows Installer", you have a virus in your system.

Hope that you use an antivirus program. If so run the program and see if it will go away. If not "restore your system".

If you have no antivirus at all, you can download an excellent free antivirus program from http://www.avast.com They are out of Prague. And they have an excellent background scanner that really works and would catch any virus embedded in a webpage in real time and destroy it before the virus can enter your system. Plus you get auto updates two or three times per day.

This program for sure will remove the virus you have described.

Just remember that you can only run one antivirus program, or you wil have serious conflict with your system. You can run three or four antispyware programs without any conflict.

I use this progam an never had one virus in over nine years.

Some one suggested you use SpyBot Search & Destroy. The owner is a personal friend out of Germany. Friend or no friend I would not use this antispyware program. Not because he and his students in their University designed the program, because it finds nothing but a few cookies and always "NOS". Plus the scanner likes to freeze up on you.

Clinical Psychiatrist, France.

Answer 2

You have spyware on your PC. Scan your PC with these to remove it.

All of these are ones that I personally use and all are free.

I-Worm/Stration · BackDoor.Generic3.GBB and .GBC · Worm/Generic.FX · Exploit.WMF
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven't intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been "hijacked" (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware. Even if you don't see the symptoms, your computer may be infected, because more and more spyware is emerging. Spybot-S&D is free, so there's no harm giving it a try to see if something has invaded your computer.
http://www.safer-networking.org/

http://superantispyware.com/
SUPERAntiSpyware is the most thorough scanner on the market. Our Multi-Dimensional Scanning and Process Interrogation Technology will detect spyware that other products miss! SUPERAntiSpyware will remove ALL the Spyware, NOT just the easy ones!
Easily remove over 100,000 pests such as SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins and thousands more!
Make sure after you download any of these, that you update them.

Answer 3

Be careful removing spyware from your computer! I managed to really damage my boyfriend's computer when I decided to be helpful and attempt getting rid of malicious software with a common spyware removal tool. I might enlist the help of a professional and once they get it cleaned up, buy yourself a good antivirus program and firewall.

One other thought... It may not actually be spyware. If you're on Windows, you can set your computer to receive regular updates from Microsoft. It's not a bad idea to make sure that you're up-to-date on all the security patches and service packs. If you use Internet Explorer, click on Tools > Windows Update to determine how you are currently notified of Microsoft updates...

You can also look in your Windows Control Panel. Look for "Security Center" and check out the setting for "Automatic Updates"

Answer 4

My previous computing gadget died on internet Explorer. My computing gadget technician instructed me to no longer use internet Explorer. He counseled Mozilla Firefox. and that i've got in no way had any issues on account that.

Answer 5

Use some free spyware program and that should take it out. If you need help go here http://www.basicspywaretips.com/getridofspyware.html