Adware.Dware - Removal

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Note: Removing this adware component from the system will likely cause the program that installed it to not function as intended. The uninstaller generally identifies the programs that will not work after uninstallation.

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1. Update the definitions.
2. Uninstall DownloadWare using the Add/Remove Programs utility.
3. Delete the value and key that was added to the registry and restart the computer.
4. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as Adware.Dware.
   

For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To update the definitions
To obtain the most recent definitions, start your Symantec program and run LiveUpdate.

2. To uninstall the Adware

1. Do one of the following:
   • On the Windows 98 taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
        
        
   • On the Windows Me taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
        If you do not see the Add/Remove Programs icon, click "...view all Control Panel options."
        
        
   • On the Windows 2000 taskbar:
     By default, Windows 2000 is set up the same as Windows 98. In that case, follow the instructions for Windows 98. Otherwise, click Start, point to Settings, point to Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.
     
     
   • On the Windows XP taskbar:
     1. Click Start > Control Panel.
     2. In the Control Panel window, double-click Add or Remove Programs.
        
        
2. Click DownloadWare.
   
   

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   Note: You may need to use the scroll bar to view the whole list.

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3. Click Add/Remove, Change/Remove, or Remove (this varies with the operating system). Follow the prompts.

3. To delete the value and key from the registry

CAUTION: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified keys only. Read the document, "How to make a backup of the Windows registry," for instructions.

1. Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
2. Type regedit
   
   Then click OK. (The Registry Editor opens.)
   
   
3. Navigate to the key:
   
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
   
   
4. In the right pane, delete the value:
   
   "Downloadware"="[path]\dw.exe /H"
   
   
5. Navigate to and delete the key:
   
   HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\DownloadWare
   
   
6. Exit the Registry Editor.
7. Restart the computer.

4. To scan for and delete the files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program, and then run a full system scan.
2. If any files are detected as Adware.Dware, click Delete.
   
   

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   Notes:

• If your Symantec antivirus product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, write down the path and file name. Then use Windows Explorer to locate and delete the file.
• If you ran the Add/Remove programs applet as described in the previous section, all the files may have been removed, and thus none of them will be detected.

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Technical Details