HardDriveGuard Threat Level:

HardDriveGuard may be another rogue registry repair application. HardDriveGuard may be installed onto your computer through Trojans that launch fake security alerts. HardDriveGuard may give you exaggerated security scans and/or popup error alerts to try to scare you into buying HardDriveGuard.

The only thing HardDriveGuard fixes is your wondering what you’d waste $30 on. Send your hate e-mail to www.HardDriveGuard.com.

Do You Have HardDriveGuard?

When you’re infected with badware — whether it’s HardDriveGuard, 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 HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard.
• New desktop shortcuts or switched homepage: Badware like HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard Manually

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

Stop HardDriveGuard processes:

Remove HardDriveGuard registry values:

Delete HardDriveGuard DLLs:

Get rid of HardDriveGuard files:

Note: In any HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard removal, go ahead and leave a comment.

How Do You Remove HardDriveGuard Files?

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

How to delete HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard file in the search box, and select “Local Hard Drives.”
4. Click “Search.” Once the file is found, delete it.

How to stop HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard processes.
4. Once you’ve found the HardDriveGuard processes, right-click them and select “End Process” to kill HardDriveGuard.

How to remove HardDriveGuard registry keys:

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 HardDriveGuard registry keys, select “Edit,” then select “Find,” and in the search bar type any of HardDriveGuard’s registry keys.
4. As soon as HardDriveGuard registry key appears, you can delete the HardDriveGuard registry key by right-clicking it and selecting “Modify,” then clicking “Delete.”

How to delete HardDriveGuard DLL files:

1. First locate HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard DLL file is located. If you’re not sure if the HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard DLL file you removed, type “regsvr32 DLLJustDeleted.dll” (e.g., “regsvr32 jl27script.dll”) into your command box, and press your “Enter” key.

Did HardDriveGuard 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.

HardDriveGuard Removal Tip

Is your computer acting funny after deleting any HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard files? Download Spyware Doctor, let it find the HardDriveGuard files for you, and then manually delete HardDriveGuard files.

How Did You Get HardDriveGuard?

Wondering how HardDriveGuard ended up on your PC? If you’re infected with HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard. 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 HardDriveGuard.
• 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 HardDriveGuard. I recommend you use Firefox web browser, if you don’t already.

Understanding HardDriveGuard

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

HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard 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 HardDriveGuard use these tactics to trick you into buying HardDriveGuard?

HardDriveGuard May Be a Trojan

Trojans install themselves secretly onto your computer, most often through your downloading a simple email attachment (often Trojans pose as harmless pictures). Most Trojans are able to gain complete control over your PC after installation. With this control, the Trojan and the hacker behind it may change your system settings, delete important files, steal your passwords, and watch your computer acitivity.

Infection Methods of HardDriveGuard and Other Trojans

Most Trojans infect your computer by tricking you into launching an infected file. This poisoned file could disguised as a small file, such as a jpeg or other email attachment, or it might be downloaded via a website or FTP.

• Email: Your PC may be infected with a Trojan when you download infected email attachments, or sometimes even when you simply open an email. Many Trojans exploit security holes in Microsoft Outlook. You may be able to reduce your chances of getting infected by a Trojan by using a spam-blocking software.
• Websites: Your PC may be infected with a Trojan when you visit a rogue site. Many Trojans exploit security holes in Internet Explorer web browser so that by simply visiting a website you may unknowingly download a Trojan.
• Open ports: If your computer runs programs that provide file-sharing functions – such as AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger, and more – you may open your computer up to vulnerabilities. Using file sharing through these applications may create a network that gives attackers the opportunity to remotely access your computer.