Problems with et.exe trying to execute

[Lois L.]

I am running Malwarebytes and HitmanPro Alert, but when booting up, I receive an blocking message regarding et.exe trying to make changes. I do not have any Kingsford software installed. How do I get rid of it?

 

[Wolfie]

I do not have any Kingsford software installed

Hi Lois,

did you ever have Kingsford software installed at any time?.

Assuming you can still boot into Windows 10, take a look at Task Manager (Processes and Start-Up) and see if there is anything referring to it and report back please!.

 

[Trouble]

Doesn't seem to be related to "Kingsford", but rather either.....
Kingsoft which I believe is a productivity suite of software similar to Open Office or one of the other Office type suites
OR
Enemy Territory which is associated with a game that has been around for decades called Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory developed and sold by a company called Activision.

Whichever or whatever is the case if it runs at startup as you have indicated you need to find where it has parked itself and get rid of it.
I have often found Autoruns quiet valuable when trying to sort something like this.

Autoruns - Sysinternals

See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you login.

docs.microsoft.com

 

[davehc]

It owns, or hosts, WPS also. Originally german company but I am prejudiced - it is now a Chinese company!! It says it is free to download, which is correct, but if you continue using it, you have to pay. They also own or distribute a few utilities, you might have accidentally picked something up from there?
Follow Trouble's suggestions and see if you can track it and be rid of it-

 

[ClippyBeer]

ET.EXE trying to phone home?

 

[Lois L.]

Hi Lois,

did you ever have Kingsford software installed at any time?.

Assuming you can still boot into Windows 10, take a look at Task Manager (Processes and Start-Up) and see if there is anything referring to it and report back please!.

I've never had any Kingsford software installed.

 

[Lois L.]

Doesn't seem to be related to "Kingsford", but rather either.....
Kingsoft which I believe is a productivity suite of software similar to Open Office or one of the other Office type suites
OR
Enemy Territory which is associated with a game that has been around for decades called Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory developed and sold by a company called Activision.

Whichever or whatever is the case if it runs at startup as you have indicated you need to find where it has parked itself and get rid of it.
I have often found Autoruns quiet valuable when trying to sort something like this.

Autoruns - Sysinternals

See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you login.

docs.microsoft.com

I'll try it

 

[Lois L.]

It owns, or hosts, WPS also. Originally german company but I am prejudiced - it is now a Chinese company!! It says it is free to download, which is correct, but if you continue using it, you have to pay. They also own or distribute a few utilities, you might have accidentally picked something up from there?
Follow Trouble's suggestions and see if you can track it and be rid of it-

OK--I do have WPS.

 

[Bighorn]

It owns, or hosts, WPS also. Originally german company but I am prejudiced - it is now a Chinese company!! It says it is free to download, which is correct, but if you continue using it, you have to pay. They also own or distribute a few utilities, you might have accidentally picked something up from there?

I generally hate that process of "free to download", the play of the wording is the same Try then Buy as when getting Shareware from bulletin boards some 25-30 years ago. Downside to the trial versions is they tend to leave a marker that they've been there and one can't simply reinstall to try again.

 

[BigFeet]

I would suggest getting rid of WPS and installing something like Libre Office, which is truly free and open source.

 

[Wolfie]

Agree with BigFeet, try LO, it is free and very stable with no spyware!.

Download LibreOffice | LibreOffice - Free and private office suite - Based on OpenOffice - Compatible with Microsoft

Download free office suite for Windows, macOS and Linux. Microsoft compatible, based on OpenOffice, and updated regularly.

www.libreoffice.org

You might want to run Disk Cleanup or something similar which may get rid of the offending remaining traces of WPS?.

How to use Disk Cleanup on Windows

Hi all, to clean up any or all old files that your system collects and stores, use "Disk Clean-up", a simple way to clear your computer of unnecessary files: Open Windows Start Menu by pressing the Windows symbol ( ) on your keyboard and type the word "disk", you will then be presented with...

www.windows10forums.com