By Kristopher

How to Remove Malware Doctor

Updated Oct 1, 2009

Malware Doctor screenshot Malware Doctor, or Malware Doc, is a fake registry cleaner. Like other scam- and scareware, Malware Doctor pops up spoof system alerts to trick you into wasting dough on Malware Doctor.

If a Malware Doctor alert makes you want to throw your PC out the window, the only system issue you have is Malware Doctor.

I’ll show you how to remove Malware Doctor for free.

Do You Have Malware Doctor?

When you’re infected with badware — whether it’s Malware Doctor, spyware, adware, a Trojan, or a virus — there are a few key symptoms. Have you noticed…

  • Slow computer performance: It just takes one parasite like Malware Doctor to slow your computer dramatically. If your PC takes longer than usual to reboot, or if your Internet connection is unusually slow, you may be infected with Malware Doctor.
  • New desktop shortcuts or switched homepage: Badware like Malware Doctor may change your Internet settings to redirect your homepage to another site. Badware can even add desktop shortcuts to your PC.
  • Annoying popups: Badware can bombard your computer with popup ads, even when you’re not online. Through these popups, you may be tricked into downloading more spyware.

How to Remove Malware Doctor Manually

Malware Doctor warning Before we get started, you should backup your system and your registry, so it’ll be easy to restore your computer if anything goes wrong.

To remove Malware Doctor manually, you need to delete Malware Doctor files. Not sure how to delete Malware Doctor files? Click here, and I’ll show you. Otherwise, go ahead and…

Stop Malware Doctor processes:

Malware Doctor.exe
MDsetup.exe
%ProgramFiles%\Malware Doctor\Malware Doctor.exe
%ProgramFiles%\Malware Doctor\unins000.exe

Delete Malware Doctor DLLs:

%ProgramFiles%\Malware Doctor\htmlayout.dll
%ProgramFiles%\Malware Doctor\Validation.dll

Remove Malware Doctor files:

%\Documents and Settings%\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Malware Doctor\Malware Doctor.lnk
%ProgramFiles%\Malware Doctor\maincfg.xml
%ProgramFiles%\Malware Doctor\unins000.dat
help.htm
index.htm
main.css
options.htm
protect.htm
r_index.htm
r_protect.htm
r_support.htm
register.htm
status.htm
support.htm
update.htm
images
about.png
banner.png
button-back.png
button-back-active.png
button-back-hover.png
focusled.png
greenpoint.png
header.jpg
header.png
header_right.jpg
header-hover.png
help.ico
noconnection.png
ok.png
options.ico
options.png
progress-back.png
progress-body.png
progress-body-dark.png
protect.png
protection.ico
redpoint.png
regicon.png
register.png
scan.ico
sectionheader.png
sectionheaderred.png
shield.png
status.ico
stripback.png
support.png
tab.png
tabback.png
tab-hover.png
thanx.png
toolbarback.png
update.ico
update.png
warning.png
warningicon.png
Malware Doctor.lnk
maincfg.xml
unins000.dat

Uninstall Malware Doctor folders:

%\Documents and Settings%\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Malware Doctor\
%ProgramFiles%\Malware Doctor\
%ProgramFiles%\Malware Doctor\GUI\

Get rid of Malware Doctor registry keys:

HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\MenuOrder\Start Menu2\Programs\Malware Doctor
HKEY_USERS\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Doctor
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Malware Doctor
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Malware Doctor\AntiSpy Knight
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Malware Doctor
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Malware Doctor_is1
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “Alcmtr”

Note: In any Malware Doctor files I mention above, “%UserProfile%” is a variable referring to your current user’s profile folder. If you’re using Windows NT/2000/XP, by default this is “C:\Documents and Settings\[CURRENT USER]” (e.g., “C:\Documents and Settings\JoeSmith”). If you have any questions about manual Malware Doctor removal, go ahead and leave a comment.

How Do You Remove Malware Doctor Files?

Need help figuring out how to delete Malware Doctor files? While there’s some risk involved, and you should only manually remove Malware Doctor files if you’re comfortable editing your system, you’ll find it’s fairly easy to delete Malware Doctor files in Windows.

How to delete Malware Doctor files in Windows XP and Vista:

  1. Click your Windows Start menu, and then click “Search.”
  2. A speech bubble will pop up asking you, “What do you want to search for?” Click “All files and folders.”
  3. Type a Malware Doctor file in the search box, and select “Local Hard Drives.”
  4. Click “Search.” Once the file is found, delete it.

How to stop Malware Doctor processes:

  1. Click the Start menu, select Run.
  2. Type taskmgr.exe into the the Run command box, and click “OK.” You can also launch the Task Manager by pressing keys CTRL + Shift + ESC.
  3. Click Processes tab, and find Malware Doctor processes.
  4. Once you’ve found the Malware Doctor processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill Malware Doctor.

How to remove Malware Doctor registry keys:

Malware Doctor warning Because your registry is such a key piece of your Windows system, you should always backup your registry before you edit it. Editing your registry can be intimidating if you’re not a computer expert, and when you change or a delete a critical registry key or value, there’s a chance you may need to reinstall your entire system. Make sure your backup your registry before editing it.

  1. Select your Windows menu “Start,” and click “Run.” An “Open” field will appear. Type “regedit” and click “OK” to open up your Registry Editor.
  2. Registry Editor will open as a window with two panes. The left side Registry Editor’s window lets you select various registry keys, and the right side displays the registry values of the registry key you select.
  3. To find a registry key, such as any Malware Doctor registry keys, select “Edit,” then select “Find,” and in the search bar type any of Malware Doctor’s registry keys.
  4. As soon as Malware Doctor registry key appears, you can delete the Malware Doctor registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “Modify,” then clicking “Delete.”

How to delete Malware Doctor DLL files:

  1. First locate Malware Doctor DLL files you want to delete. Open your Windows Start menu, then click “Run.” Type “cmd” in Run, and click “OK.”
  2. To change your current directory, type “cd” in the command box, press your “Space” key, and enter the full directory where the Malware Doctor DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the Malware Doctor DLL file is located in a particular directory, enter “dir” in the command box to display a directory’s contents. To go one directory back, enter “cd ..” in the command box and press “Enter.”
  3. When you’ve located the Malware Doctor DLL file you want to remove, type “regsvr32 /u SampleDLLName.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 /u jl27script.dll”) and press your “Enter” key.

That’s it. If you want to restore any Malware Doctor DLL file you removed, type “regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 jl27script.dll”) into your command box, and press your “Enter” key.

Did Malware Doctor change your homepage?

  1. Click Windows Start menu > Control Panel > Internet Options.
  2. Under Home Page, select the General > Use Default.
  3. Type in the URL you want as your home page (e.g., “http://www.homepage.com”).
  4. Select Apply > OK.
  5. You’ll want to open a fresh web page and make sure that your new default home page pops up.

Malware Doctor Removal Tip

Is your computer acting funny after deleting any Malware Doctor files? I recommend using a program like File Recover from PC Tools. File Recover saves deleted files that otherwise can’t be recovered by Windows operating sytem.

Want to save time finding Malware Doctor files? Download Spyware Doctor, let it find the Malware Doctor files for you, and then manually delete Malware Doctor files.

How Did You Get Malware Doctor?

Wondering how Malware Doctor ended up on your PC? If you’re infected with Malware Doctor or other badware, perhaps you were using…

  • Freeware or shareware: Did you download and install shareware or freeware? These low-cost or free software applications may come bundled with spyware, adware, or programs like Malware Doctor. Sometimes adware is attached to the free software to “pay” developers for the cost of creating the software, and more often spyware is secretly attached to free software to harm your computer and steal your personal and financial information.
  • Peer-to-peer software: Do you use a peer-to-peer (P2P) program or other application with a shared network? When you use these applications, you put your system at risk for unknowingly downloading an infected file, including applications like Malware Doctor.
  • Questionable websites: Did you visit a website that’s of questionable nature? When you visit malicious sites that are fishy and phishy, badware may be automatically downloaded and installed onto your computer, sometimes including applications like Malware Doctor. I recommend you use Firefox web browser, if you don’t already.

Understanding Malware Doctor

If you’re infected with Malware Doctor, you should know what you’re fighting. I’ll explain some definitions related to Malware Doctor.

Malware Doctor May Be Rogue Registry Cleaner

Rogue registry cleaners are registry cleaner software of questionable value. Rogue registry cleaners may not be proven to repair your PC’s registry issues, may popup fake alerts or create many false positives about your PC being damaged, or may use scare tactics to try to get you to purchase the application. Rogue registry repair software may be installed by a Trojan, come bundled with other software, or install itself through web browser security holes. You may have also downloaded the rogue registry cleaner from its own site.

Rogue Registry Cleaner Tactics

Typically, a rogue registry cleaner like Malware Doctor has one or more of the qualities listed below, which is why rogue registry cleaners are considered registry cleaning software of questionable value.

  • False positives/fake alerts: Rogue registry cleaner may produce a large number of false positives or use fake alerts, noting that your computer has registry errors that don’t really exist.
  • Copycat looks: Rogue registry cleaners may copy the look and feel of other legitimate registry cleaners. Often, rogue registry cleaners may appear as close clones of other rogue registry cleaner software.
  • High pressure marketing: Rogue registry cleaners may use scare tactics or other aggressive advertising and marketing tactics to try to trick you into buying the rogue registry cleaner application. Often, rogue registry cleaners may produce false positives and fake alerts about your system being damaged.
  • Poor detection/scan reporting: Rogue registry cleaner software may produce poor reports when it scans your PC. For example, a rogue registry cleaner may say your computer has 12 registry errors, but not specify which what types of errors. Rogue registry cleaners may also report that your PC has Fake Error #20, but not tell you which files or registry keys are specifically damaged.
  • Weak scanning/detection: Rogue registry cleaner applications may not only poorly report on registry errors, but rogue registry cleaners may also poorly scan your PC. Rogue registry cleaner applications may skip over important folders and files of your computer that should be scanned to detect errors.

Did Malware Doctor use these tactics to trick you into buying Malware Doctor?