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What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?



 
 
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  #1  
Old October 8th 06, 12:47 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
lisa harkema
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 71
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove Programs
of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or Remove Programs)?

mIWA
mIWCA
mLogView
mMHouse
mPfMgr
mPfWiz
mProSafe
mSSO
mToolkit
mWlsSafe
mXML
mDrWiFi
mHlpDell
etc.

Can I just delete these 'm' programs?
Are they known security or virus programs?
Or are they Dell specific tools that we really need?

Note they do not show up in the 'normal' Windows XP add/remove
programs (which lies) but they show up in the CCleaner and X-Setup Pro
add/remove programs (which I believe tell more of the truth).

Do you know what these programs are?
Lisa
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  #2  
Old October 8th 06, 12:59 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
Malke
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 6,933
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

lisa harkema wrote:

What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove Programs
of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or Remove Programs)?

mIWA
mIWCA
mLogView
mMHouse
mPfMgr
mPfWiz
mProSafe
mSSO
mToolkit
mWlsSafe
mXML
mDrWiFi
mHlpDell
etc.

Can I just delete these 'm' programs?
Are they known security or virus programs?
Or are they Dell specific tools that we really need?

Note they do not show up in the 'normal' Windows XP add/remove
programs (which lies) but they show up in the CCleaner and X-Setup Pro
add/remove programs (which I believe tell more of the truth).


Where are the programs on your hard drive? Give the fully qualified
path; e.g., c:\Program Files\name-of-program\executable or
c:\Windows\System32\executable.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
  #3  
Old October 8th 06, 01:18 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
lisa harkema
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 71
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 16:59:35 -0700, Malke
wrote:
What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove Programs
of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or Remove Programs)?
mIWA mIWCA mLogView mMHouse mPfMgr mPfWiz mProSafe
mSSO mToolkit mWlsSafe mXML mDrWiFi mHlpDell etc.


Where are the programs on your hard drive?


Hi Malke,
I do not know where they are on my hard drive.
When I run a Windows XP search, they're not found.
They are only in the Add/Remove Programs applications.

Is there another way to find out how/why these 'm' programs are
installed but hidden from the 'normal' WinXP add/remove programs?

Lisa
  #4  
Old October 8th 06, 01:40 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
lisa harkema
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 71
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove Programs
of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or Remove Programs)?
mIWA mIWCA mLogView mMHouse mPfMgr mPfWiz mProSafe
mSSO mToolkit mWlsSafe mXML mDrWiFi mHlpDell etc.


Interestingly, I find absolutely no mention of these 'm' programs in
the google groups (search just run) but the following references in
Google web searches show that others are as perplexed as I with the
same programs showing up in the true add remove programs listings.

http://www.short-media.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50237
http://forum.ccleaner.com/lofiversio...php/t5940.html
http://forums.pcpitstop.com/lofivers...p/t124518.html
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index...#entry8 04529
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfor...ssage.id=45484
http://forum.malwareremoval.com/view...3de b2df1b2d8
http://forums.spybot.info/archive/index.php/t-2800.html
etc.

While it's gratifying to know I'm not the only one in the world with a
score of 'm' programs running (when you really look at the real
add/remove programs) ... none of these sites actually tell us WHAT
these m programs are and if they should be deleted or not.

Do YOU know what these 'm' programs are?

Lisa

  #5  
Old October 8th 06, 01:43 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
antioch
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 750
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?


"Malke" wrote in message
...
lisa harkema wrote:

What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove Programs
of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or Remove Programs)?

mIWA
mIWCA
mLogView
mMHouse
mPfMgr
mPfWiz
mProSafe
mSSO
mToolkit
mWlsSafe
mXML
mDrWiFi
mHlpDell
etc.

Can I just delete these 'm' programs?
Are they known security or virus programs?
Or are they Dell specific tools that we really need?

Note they do not show up in the 'normal' Windows XP add/remove
programs (which lies) but they show up in the CCleaner and X-Setup Pro
add/remove programs (which I believe tell more of the truth).


Where are the programs on your hard drive? Give the fully qualified
path; e.g., c:\Program Files\name-of-program\executable or
c:\Windows\System32\executable.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User



Hi Malke
These look like the sort of items listed in part of a 'hijackthis' log?
Antioch


  #6  
Old October 8th 06, 02:02 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
shplink
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I justremove them?)?

lisa harkema wrote:
What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove Programs
of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or Remove Programs)?

mIWA
mIWCA
mLogView
mMHouse
mPfMgr
mPfWiz
mProSafe
mSSO
mToolkit
mWlsSafe
mXML
mDrWiFi
mHlpDell
etc.

Can I just delete these 'm' programs?
Are they known security or virus programs?
Or are they Dell specific tools that we really need?

Note they do not show up in the 'normal' Windows XP add/remove
programs (which lies) but they show up in the CCleaner and X-Setup Pro
add/remove programs (which I believe tell more of the truth).

Do you know what these programs are?
Lisa

Is your computer a brand name (if so, what?), or a put-it-together job?

--
the alt.privacy.spyware FAQ:
http://shplink.com/misc/FAQ.htm
  #7  
Old October 8th 06, 02:25 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
Tom Willett
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 791
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

If you looked at subject, you would see 'dell'

"
--
the alt.privacy.spyware FAQ:
http://shplink.com/misc/FAQ.htm



  #8  
Old October 8th 06, 03:17 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
Ze Muffinman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

Professional way: Ask a qualified computer expert. Patience way: Look
at every single program on Add and Remove, look up the required files
for those programs online, and if it's not in anyone, delete it.

My Personal Favorite way: Jus' delete 'em. It's only 1500 dollars for a
new one, and 800 dollars if you don't mind a slow one.
lisa harkema wrote:
What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove Programs
of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or Remove Programs)?

mIWA
mIWCA
mLogView
mMHouse
mPfMgr
mPfWiz
mProSafe
mSSO
mToolkit
mWlsSafe
mXML
mDrWiFi
mHlpDell
etc.

Can I just delete these 'm' programs?
Are they known security or virus programs?
Or are they Dell specific tools that we really need?

Note they do not show up in the 'normal' Windows XP add/remove
programs (which lies) but they show up in the CCleaner and X-Setup Pro
add/remove programs (which I believe tell more of the truth).

Do you know what these programs are?
Lisa


  #9  
Old October 8th 06, 03:18 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
shplink
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

Tom Willett wrote:

If you looked at subject, you would see 'dell'

"
--
the alt.privacy.spyware FAQ:
http://shplink.com/misc/FAQ.htm


Sorry, my bad. I have my columns sized down and got careless.

Doing some searches with the parameters "dell" and some of the m whatsises
might help the OP. She probably already did, so I'll be quiet now.
;-)

--
the alt.privacy.spyware FAQ:
http://shplink.com/misc/FAQ.htm
  #10  
Old October 8th 06, 03:40 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
Shenan Stanley
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 10,523
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

lisa harkema wrote:
What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove
Programs of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or
Remove Programs)?
mIWA
mIWCA
mLogView
mMHouse
mPfMgr
mPfWiz
mProSafe
mSSO
mToolkit
mWlsSafe
mXML
mDrWiFi
mHlpDell
etc.

Can I just delete these 'm' programs?
Are they known security or virus programs?
Or are they Dell specific tools that we really need?

Note they do not show up in the 'normal' Windows XP add/remove
programs (which lies) but they show up in the CCleaner and X-Setup
Pro add/remove programs (which I believe tell more of the truth).

Do you know what these programs are?


shplink wrote:
Is your computer a brand name (if so, what?), or a put-it-together
job?



Seriously.. Wow.
How can you miss the two mentions of the name brand of this system... One
in the subject line no less...?

Lisa,

I think you are putting too much stock in these third-party add/remove
programs. If you were smart and ordered the Windows XP CD with your Dell
laptop - since it is new - format it with that Windows XP CD and get rid of
all the Dell crud and put only your stuff on it... Then you know exactly
what is there.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html


  #11  
Old October 8th 06, 06:23 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
lisa harkema
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 71
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 01:43:04 +0100, "antioch" wrote:
These look like the sort of items listed in part of a 'hijackthis' log?


Actually, these 'm' programs are listed in the CCleaner Add or Remove
Programs section (and in the X-Setup Pro add remove wizard); they were
NOT listed in a HiJackThis log (although the references I posted from
googling _were_ listed from Hijackthis log files).

Point is that I'm not the only one with a perfectly standard DELL
laptop that has these 'm' programs.

Question is: What are they and what happens if we delete them?

Lisa
  #12  
Old October 8th 06, 06:27 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
lisa harkema
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 71
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 19:02:20 -0600, shplink
wrote:
Is your computer a brand name (if so, what?),
or a put-it-together job?


Dunno why this matters but it's a 100% Dell laptop, whose WinXP
operating system was supplied by Dell.

I do have the three recovery disks; but they install the same Dell
softare as what was originally on the laptop PC.

I do suspect these 'm' files are Dell specific ... but I would need
another Dell user to confirm.

If you have a Dell laptop ... can you do this?
1. Download & install CCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com

2. Run the CCleaner "Tools" "Uninstall" wizard.

3. Tell us if you see the same 'm' programs that I see.

Lisa
  #13  
Old October 8th 06, 06:29 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
lisa harkema
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 71
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

On Sat, 7 Oct 2006 20:25:21 -0500, "Tom Willett"
wrote:
If you looked at subject, you would see 'dell'


Yup. Dell. 100% factory.

If anyone else has a Dell laptop, can they look for these same 'm'
program files running in the CCleaner add remove programs listing and
report back to us if you have the same 'm' files I have.

Lisa
  #14  
Old October 8th 06, 06:57 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
glee
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,794
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

Hi Lisa,
I think what you may be seeing are programs that were installed by the OEM (Dell, in
this case) that they did not want the end user to remove, possibly because they are
integral to certain features of the laptop, or to their support plan. Most if not
all of the entries appear to be for troubleshooting and configuring an Intel
wireless adapter and drivers (does the laptop have an integrated wireless adapter?).
Removing the items may well be "shooting yourself in the foot" if the applications
are needed for the functioning of your wireless adapter. I would *not* remove any
of them for that reason. Have you asked Dell support personnel about them?

The most likely reason they all have an "m" at the front of their names is that one
method to hide an item in the Registry's uninstall keys is to use the
"ApplicationDisplayName" string to identify the items to be hidden. The OEM may
have used a script to hide all entries in the Uninstall key whose DisplayName began
with "m" at the time the system was built (before you got it and installed more
apps).

I would be wary of the suggestion to wipe the system and install fresh from a
Windows CD only because you may find items such as the integrated wireless adapter
no longer work, unless you can download and install the drivers and configuration
apps from Dell.....in which case you'd likely be back where you began, but with the
items perhaps no longer hidden. That assumes that Dell has those apps available for
download.

Hope this helps.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"lisa harkema" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 07 Oct 2006 16:59:35 -0700, Malke
wrote:
What are these 'm' programs that show up in the Add or Remove Programs
of CCleaner and X-Setup Pro (but not in WinXP Add or Remove Programs)?
mIWA mIWCA mLogView mMHouse mPfMgr mPfWiz mProSafe
mSSO mToolkit mWlsSafe mXML mDrWiFi mHlpDell etc.


Where are the programs on your hard drive?


Hi Malke,
I do not know where they are on my hard drive.
When I run a Windows XP search, they're not found.
They are only in the Add/Remove Programs applications.

Is there another way to find out how/why these 'm' programs are
installed but hidden from the 'normal' WinXP add/remove programs?

Lisa


  #15  
Old October 8th 06, 09:03 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support,alt.privacy.spyware,microsoft.public.security.virus
lisa harkema
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 71
Default What are these mToolkit programs on my Dell laptop (Can I just remove them?)?

On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 01:57:53 -0400, "glee"
wrote:

Hi Lisa,
I think what you may be seeing are programs that were installed by the OEM (Dell, in
this case) that they did not want the end user to remove, possibly because they are
integral to certain features of the laptop, or to their support plan. Most if not
all of the entries appear to be for troubleshooting and configuring an Intel
wireless adapter and drivers (does the laptop have an integrated wireless adapter?).
Removing the items may well be "shooting yourself in the foot" if the applications
are needed for the functioning of your wireless adapter. I would *not* remove any
of them for that reason. Have you asked Dell support personnel about them?

The most likely reason they all have an "m" at the front of their names is that one
method to hide an item in the Registry's uninstall keys is to use the
"ApplicationDisplayName" string to identify the items to be hidden. The OEM may
have used a script to hide all entries in the Uninstall key whose DisplayName began
with "m" at the time the system was built (before you got it and installed more
apps).

I would be wary of the suggestion to wipe the system and install fresh from a
Windows CD only because you may find items such as the integrated wireless adapter
no longer work, unless you can download and install the drivers and configuration
apps from Dell.....in which case you'd likely be back where you began, but with the
items perhaps no longer hidden. That assumes that Dell has those apps available for
download.

Hope this helps.


Oop. I already deleted some of them. And, YES, I DO have a wireless
card installed by the manufacturer. I'd better hold off on deleting
them I guess. I got rid of about half of them. I generally don't use
the wireless card but I do use it when I travel.
Lisa
 




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