What exactly is "HP One Agent" and how do I stop Windows from reconfiguring it daily?

[BV92]

Hi Coder65,

Regarding the "HP One agent" problem raised on this forum, I think as some have already said that HP is not being transparent by including data collection software in a software component driver without users' knowledge.

And as for the side effects of the driver of the software component containing "HP One Agent", namely the reconfigurations (each time a user session is opened then every 12 hours):
HP would be well advised to provide a patch quickly if not no longer including this one, since it seems that you will have to live with it.

Today, this data collected is for the moment technical it seems... but what will it be tomorrow?
In any case, it is an invasion of privacy... the user should be informed and have the choice to share this data or not.
That said, HP is certainly not the only one to use this practice... and what about the cookies that are imposed on us (so-called for the proper functioning of the sites) during our internet browsing.

Today, it is becoming difficult to escape all these forms of surveillance, however legitimate they may claim to be.

Finally, I would say that spending time understanding and trying to find a solution to a problem is always very instructive.
That's at least the positive side... when you have time to devote to it.

I do not admit defeat in finding a solution to at least avoid these famous reconfigurations... to be continued !

Best regards.

BV92.

[JBRATI]

At this time I have had no restore points created nor HP One Agent visible. Windows Updates are activated (one this day updated Microsoft Defender) and HPOA does not seem to be running (no new .log file).

[dbookbinder]

I've been following this discussion for quite a while, and it's not clear to me that HP now, or would in the future, monitor personal information. What HP One Agent looks like, based on the logs, is a service that monitors system performance and, presumably, either makes adjustments or instructs Windows to make adjustments based on what it determines. Windows has many such programs and services it runs, invisibly, that are only detectable by users if they muck around in the Event Viewer. For many there is no user interface, just as there seems to be none for HP One Agent. I have had it installed three times since I first noticed it a couple of weeks ago, once initially and then twice as optional updates I chose to install to see if restore points were created. I have changed the associated task to check once every 24 hours instead of every 12, at a time of my choosing. The new installs didn't change that schedule, and they did not create new restore points.

I'm now thinking that there is nothing nefarious about it, that it probably makes some small refinements to how my computer runs, and that having it or deleting it probably makes little to no difference.

[dunworkin]

"I'm now thinking that ... and that having it or deleting it probably makes little to no difference."

If that is the case why are HP not telling us exactly what it does, and why can't we delete it and prevent it reinstalling? No matter what it does, we should have the choice in allowing it to install on our devices.

[Gianni1962]

Hi BV92,

I'm on Windows 11 Pro 23H2 on an HP ENVY 17-ch1000nl notebook.

In Windows Update in the Optional updates section I have found "HP Inc. - SoftwareComponent - 1.64.3630.0".

I have installed it and then uninstalled "HP One Agent".

Finally it is really gone!

No more Scheduled task, no more C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{DeviceID}\HPOneAgent.exe, no more log files in C:\Windows\Temp created at every boot.

Looks like they got it right this time!

Can confirm?

EDIT:

I spoke too soon ... "HP One Agent" is back again ...

[dbookbinder]

"If that is the case why are HP not telling us exactly what it does, and why can't we delete it and prevent it reinstalling?"

Because they're a faceless corporate giant who does things their way, whether you like it or not? Like Microsoft. The days of "Have it your way" seem to have faded into the distant past.

[codger65]

I am on the same version of Windows Pro as you state here and I downloaded the optional windows update you talk about here and after uninstalling HP One Agent and rebooting it re-installed itself again. The only thing I have found that stops it from re-installing (at least until the next windows update) is: 1) - open "task scheduler" and right click HP One Agent and disable it  2) - open "task manager" click on startup apps (left side), click on HP One Agent  and make sure the service is disabled,  3) - open "services" right click HP One Agent click properties startup type drop down - click disabled and apply then OK.  After a reboot HP One Agent did not re-install itself and under control panel, recovery, system restore points created - it did not create a restore point - this seems to work until another windows update is installed - we will see what happens after the next windows update.

[codger65]

I think I have found a temporary solution   -  The only thing I have found that stops it from re-installing (at least until the next windows update) is: 1) - open "task scheduler" and right click HP One Agent and disable it  2) - open "task manager" click on startup apps (left side), click on HP One Agent  and make sure the service is disabled,  3) - open "services" right click HP One Agent click properties startup type drop down - click disabled and apply then OK.  After a reboot HP One Agent did not re-install itself and under control panel recovery system restore points created it did not create a restore point - this seems to work until another windows update is installed - we will see what happens after the next windows update.

[BV92]

Hi, Gianni1962

(PC Config : HP Spectre x360  laptop / Windows 10 Home 22H2 Build 19045.4046)

I updated the HP Inc. software component - SoftwareComponent 1.64.3630.0 (optional update),
for now without uninstalling HP One Agent.

Context before update:
- Scheduled task "HPOneAgentRepairTask" present and voluntarily disabled (by me) in the task scheduler
- HP One Agent installed
- HP One Agent active in softwares launched at computer startup
- HP-One-Agent-Service.exe active

Observation after the update:
- No modification of the elements mentioned above.
- No modification of the scheduled task "HPOneAgentRepairTask" (still present with identical parameters)
- No modification of the version of HP One Agent installed

- No modification in C:\ProgramData\Package Cache (There is only the previous version. No addition or replacement)

- Added new version of HP Inc. - SoftwareComponent in (Which is mormal):
              C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository
              C:\Windows\INF

In summary :

What has not changed with this update:

HP One Agent is still included in this driver (I checked).

What has changed with this update:
The scheduled task "HPOneAgentRepairTask" appears to have been deleted or is no longer updated.
So no replacement or modification of the old one.

Note: If this has been deactivated, it will remain deactivated and in principle no action (reconfiguration) will be carried out.

It is very likely that with the next update, HP One Agent will be reinstalled (since it is still included in the software component).

For the moment this update would only have an impact on the scheduled task "HPOneAgentRepairTask".
To be checked with the next update to see if this is confirmed ...

BV92.

[BV92]

Small clarification compared to my previous post (02-21-2024 07:48 AM) and in the context cited in it:

Between version 1.64.3626 and 1.64.3630.0 of HP Inc. - SoftwareComponent, the version of HP One Agent included has not changed (1.1.045421).
So it is perhaps normal that the scheduled task "HPOneAgentRepairTask" is not updated (therefore not modified in the task scheduler).
and the associated program (C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{VersionID}\HPOneAgent.exe) that this task should launch is also not updated.

The impression that the HP Inc. - SoftwareComponent 1.64.3630.0 update had an impact on this task would in fact not be true.

To be checked during a future update of HP Inc. - SoftwareComponent 1.64.36xx.0 including a new version of HP One Agent.

BV92.