How to remove AskToolbar?

[shu-hi]

When I run the Windows Defender program it shows the AskToolbar and a low level threat. Where do you suppose this came from and how do I remove it?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

It should be listed in the Windows control panel>programs listing.  Probably near the top of the list since it starts with 'A.'

Find it and uninstall it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPxxC0LVEvY&feature=emb_logo

[shu-hi]

Thanks Paul but I have looked in the Programs and Features section in the Control Panel but it is NOT in there. Not sure where to look now. I got this HP computer from a neighbor of my daughters and she probably installed a program and didn't uncheck a box that went ahead an installed it [the AskToolbar] on this computer. This happens a lot to people that aren't aware that you have to opt-out, or the install program installs anything that is not unchecked and they don't even know they did it.

I'm not having any issues with the computer but I don't like it showing up as a possible threat when I run the Windows Defender program. 

I am also getting this PUA-Win32/InstallCore.R  threat an it is marked as a SEVERE threat. This can't be good. I am new to using Windows Defender and see no way to remove this in Defender.

Thanks 

Larry

Again, thanks!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Larry.

You can google the issue, there are many different ways to try and get rid of it.

If your neighbor gave you the PC and you don't have to give it back, you may just want to clean install W10 and start fresh.

No telling what is on there.

[shu-hi]

I would like to do a fresh install of Windows 10 but there is a lot of nice software on it, i.e., Microsoft Office products and a couple of other nice and expensive programs I would like to keep. 

Is there a way to do a fresh install of Windows 10 and still keep the applications that are on it?

Can this be done using the Media Creation Tool or does that wipe everything off it?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately, reinstalling W10 without selecting the option to not save programs, files and settings will cause you to lose what is on there now.

If you choose to keep those items then you will be right where you are now.

As I wrote earlier, you'll have to google 'How to remove the Ask Toolbar.'

There are several videos and links on how to do it, not all just telling you to go to the Windows control panel.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/how-to-remove-the-askcom-toolbar-from-your-browser

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=remove+ask+toolbar+completely&qpvt=remove+ask+toolbar+completel...