pwahelper.exe

[Lalabearys]

Okay so pretty much my sound on my laptop had stopped working before i went to watch a movie. So, i checked my updates and there was an update on my computer so i updated it. Once it finished updating i could not access many of my apps or even open my settings and the only thing that would pop up is this weird thing that says something about pwahelper.exe and how it is not implemented. I would love if anyone had a solution to this issue i cannot use many things. 

[Raj_05]

Hi @Lalabearys,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like your HP Spectre 15-Eb1 X360 Convertible Laptop PC is experiencing issues with a particular executable file, pwahelper.exe, and you're having trouble accessing various apps and settings. This executable is likely related to a Progressive Web App (PWA) helper or a system component that helps manage web-based applications. The error you're seeing suggests there might be a problem with the file or its integration in the system after the update.

Here are some steps to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

Boot into Safe Mode:

• Restart your laptop.
• As it boots, press F8 (or Shift + F8) repeatedly until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears.
• Select Safe Mode with Networking.

Uninstall Recent Updates:

• In Safe Mode, go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
• Click on View installed updates on the left sidebar.
• Look for recent updates (especially those related to Windows or drivers) and uninstall them.

Run System File Checker (SFC) and DISM:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search for cmd, right-click, and choose Run as administrator).
• Run the following commands:

sfc /scannow

• After SFC completes, run:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Check for Malware:

• Run a full system scan using Windows Defender or any other trusted antivirus software to ensure that malware isn't causing the issue.

Perform a System Restore:

• If System Restore is enabled, you can revert your system to a previous state before the update.
• Search for System Restore in the Windows search bar and follow the prompts to restore to a point before the problem started.

[Raj_05]

Update or Reinstall Drivers:

• Go to the HP support website and download the latest drivers for your laptop model.
• Install any relevant updates, especially those related to sound and system utilities.

Create a New User Account:

• Sometimes, creating a new user account can bypass corrupted settings or profiles.
• Go to Control Panel > User Accounts > Manage another account > Add a new user in PC settings.
• Create a new local account and see if the issue persists there.

Reset Windows:

• If none of the above steps work, consider resetting Windows.
• Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC.
• Choose either Keep my files or Remove everything based on your preference.

Additional Step: Manually Remove PWA Helper

If the error specifically mentions pwahelper.exe:

Locate pwahelper.exe:

• Use File Explorer to search for pwahelper.exe on your system.
• Note the directory where it is located.

Disable from Startup:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Go to the Startup tab.
• Look for any entries related to pwahelper and disable them.

Delete or Rename the File:

• Navigate to the location of pwahelper.exe.
• Rename the file to something like pwahelper_old.exe or delete it if you are sure it is not critical.

By following these steps, you should be able to diagnose and potentially fix the issues caused by the recent update and the pwahelper.exe error.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support