Uninstalling Conduit SearchProtect deletes NTLDR making Windows XP Unbootable

[Starbuck]

A common adware called Conduit SearchProtect, which changes your browser's homepage to Conduit.com, is causing major problems for users of Windows XP who uninstall it.

When users uninstall Conduit SearchProtect from Add or Remove Programs in Windows XP, they find on reboot that Windows XP is no longer able to start. Instead they will be greeted with a message stating "NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart".

 

This problem occurs because the Conduit uninstall program not only removes it's own Conduit SearchProtect files, but also removes all the files found in the root of the C: drive. In Windows XP the C:\ folder contains two required programs called NTLDR and ntdetect.com that when deleted prevent Windows from starting. As Windows Vista and newer versions do not contain any files in the C:\ folder that are required to start Windows, Windows is able to start normally.

 

If you have Conduit SearchProtect installed on your computer, do not uninstall it via the Add or Remove Programs control panel. Instead use a program like AdwCleaner or Junkware Removal Tool to remove Conduit SearchProtect. These tools remove the software using their own uninstall routine and are not affected by Conduit's buggy uninstaller.

 

 

 

Source:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/522327/uninstalling-conduit-searchprotect-deletes-ntldr-making-windows-xp-unbootable/

[KenB]

Thanks for the heads up Starbuck - I still have an XP system :)

[Ray1000]

Thank you Starbuck,

 

This happened to me only last week but I didn't realise until now ... I had been removing extraneous items from the newly acquired XP tower all evening including Conduit and the next morning it wouldn't boot up ... NTLDR missing ... in the event I reformatted the machine.

 

Having done it, I can confirm it appears in Add & Remove programs and un-installs like any other, there may have been one of those web pages pop up asking why you were leaving!

 

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

Thanks also from me, though it is seldom used these days I also have an old XP machine.

One thing springs to mind here also, folks like myself and no doubt many more will have Revo uninstaller, or similar software installed. Considering that Revo, and no doubt other uninstaller software, first uses the programs own uninstaller, then searches for left over files and folders to uninstall a program.

Due to the Conduits own uninstaller removing the wrong files, I must give a warning to not use Revo or other uininstaller software for that reason.

 

As Starbuck said, use ADW cleaner or Junkware Removal tool. They can be downloaded from the links in Starbucks original post.

 

Nev.

[Starbuck]

Considering that Revo, and no doubt other uninstaller software, first uses the programs own uninstaller, then searches for left over files and folders to uninstall a program.

That's a good point Nev.