One Thing Led to Another

I updated my CCleaner.

When I clicked on the shortcut icon on the taskbar, I got a notice the shortcut was not valid, and did I want to remove it? So, I went looking for the program to re-add it to the taskbar, but Windows didn’t list it. (I know, I know I should have gone to C:\Windows\Program Files, but I didn’t and paid for not doing that!)

I went to Piriform and downloaded CCleaner and then installed it. I know better to just click install without reading, but that is exactly what I did. I was lulled by the fact I downloaded from Piriform and not some of the download sites that add unwanted extras.

Horrors! Piriform has joined the unwanted extra downloaders! I got Avast because I just wasn’t paying attention!



Now I had to uninstall Avast. I am sure it is a good program, but I don’t need it or want it. I fired up Revo Uninstaller and Revo did its job but was unable to remove everything for Avast.

I ran Regedit and when I tried to delete the offending keys got this!



Apparently the avast key contained an embedded null character.

I downloaded the uninstaller from Avast and saved it to my Desktop per instructions and booted to Safe Mode. Should have done this before I ran Revo uninstaller but I didn’t because Revo has always cleaned everything before now.

The instructions:



Safe mode came up asking for my password.

The (not so) fun began. I tried my pin, no way. Tried my Microsoft password, nope. I finally figured out it wanted the local password, I had no idea what the local password was or where it would be located. I searched a long-time hunting for all those Post it Notes where I jot down stuff and finally found a note with random characters and numbers and tried them one by one.

Finally, I tried one that worked! I got to the Desktop and ran the uninstaller from Avast. Then I rebooted, and everything was back to normal.

Three things I did wrong. I should have reset the shortcut by looking for the executable on C: Programs.

If for some reason I did need to reinstall CCleaner, I should have paid more attention to the install and just unchecked the box to install Avast. (I don't remember Piriform adding unwanted stuff before but never assume anything about downloads because things change!)

When I first set up this PC I should have documented; what the local password is, put it in a safer place and named it. For what it’s worth, it is now located in my password keeper in notes.

All of this because I wasn't really thinking before trying to 'fix' and I didn't apply my golden rule, "If ain't broke don't fix it."