HpHwDiag.exe

[George97220]

How do I remove HpHwDiag.exe from my desktop computer?
I'm tired of it calling home all the time.
I have all the HP services disabled in MS config, but HPHwDiag.exe is not there in any case.
And it's certainly not in the Add/Remove programs setup menu.

The executable itself is in a directory that Windoze won't let me access, for some reason.
So I can't just simply delete the file.
HOW can I remove it? And HPTouchpointAnalyticsService?
I want them GONE!

[itsmyname]

@George97220 -- Windows 10 has "Scheduled Tasks".  Perhaps, there is a task that launches that HP Hardware Diagnostic utility. Stop the schedule, or delete the task.

[George97220]

That's good thinking. I always thought that that utility was only user-initiated.
Checking, I see that there's a boatload of stuff in there, placed by various programs. Including a daily check by Mozilla to see if Firefox is still my browser and change it if it's not!

Under HP, though, there's at least a dozen tasks scheduled to check my battery status (in my desktop!).
There were two routines under "Warranty Checker," which I disabled, and two under HP Support Solutions Framework Report that were already disabled, no doubt because of my actions in the services app.

So I don't think this will help.  HpHwDiag.exe starts with a CMD prompt window opening then closing. The task then appears in the Resource Monitor.
I would REALLY just like to get rid of it (hoping that HP/Windows won't just reinstall it!).
Anyone have any idea how to do that?

[itsmyname]

@George97220  -- within "Task Manager", switch to the "Processes" tab.

Right-mouse-button click on the process, and select "Open File Location" to see in what folder the app is stored.

Then, open a CMD prompt with administrative privileges, and you should be able to rename the EXE file, e.g. to add a ".george" suffix. Then, restart, and Windows will not find the file, and won't be able to launch the app.

[George97220]

It's in
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\AD2F1837.HPPCHardwareDiagnosticsWindows_1.6.9.0_x64__v10z8vjag6ke6\
You can access it in Windows explorer, but you can't delete it.
"You need permission from SYSTEM to make changes to this file"

This is the same problem I've read elsewhere.
They don't want us screwing with it.
But, HP put it there. I want them to tell me how to get rid of it!

[itsmyname]

@George97220 -- SYSTEM privileges.

Open a CMD prompt with administrative privileges, 

[George97220]

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\AD2F1837.HPPCHardwareDiagnosticsWindows_1.6.9.0_x64__v10z8vjag6ke6>del HpHwDiag.exe

C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\AD2F1837.HPPCHardwareDiagnosticsWindows_1.6.9.0_x64__v10z8vjag6ke6\HpHwDiag.exe
Access is denied.

OR:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\AD2F1837.HPPCHardwareDiagnosticsWindows_1.6.9.0_x64__v10z8vjag6ke6>ren HpHwDiag.exe HpHwDiag.xxx
Access is denied.

Yet the only attribute is "A" - archive.  Running CMD as Admin.
They don't want you screwing with anything in the WindowsApp directory. Windows Explorer won't even let you open or alter any file. You can see all the directories and subdirectories. You just can't screw with them.
Makes you wonder just who owns the computer, huh?

[George97220]

Does any HP employee read this stuff?
I have no way of contacting HP directly.
They make sure of that!
How do I get this what I call "spyware" off of my computer???

[itsmyname]

@George97220 -- can you restart Windows to the window that usually shows only when Windows has repeatedly failed to start? 

In that mode, try a "Command Prompt", and see if you now have the privileges to DELETE/RENAME the file?

However, judging by the folder-names that you cited, the EXE file is part of some installed "App". So, see if you can remove  the App, by starting at the "Settings" menu.

Or, can you physically remove the disk-drive, and connect it as a "secondary" disk-drive in some other desktop computer? Does that grant you the necessary permissions to DELETE/RENAME the file?