'Conduit SafeSearch' adware basic uninstall erases XP boot files; "NTLDR is missing"

Baserk · Jan 29, 2014

From Bleeping Computer;

A common adware called Conduit SearchProtect, which changes your browser's homepage to Conduit.com, is causing major problems for users of Windows XP who uninstall it.
When users uninstall Conduit SearchProtect from Add or Remove Programs in Windows XP, they find on reboot that Windows XP is no longer able to start.
Instead they will be greeted with a message stating "NTLDR is missing. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart".

This problem occurs because the Conduit uninstall program not only removes it's own Conduit SearchProtect files, but also removes all the files found in the root of the C: drive.
In Windows XP the C:\ folder contains two required programs called NTLDR and ntdetect.com that when deleted prevent Windows from starting.
As Windows Vista and newer versions do not contain any files in the C:\ folder that are required to start Windows, Windows is able to start normally.
The command that performs this buggy install is:

"C:\PROGRA~1\SearchProtect\Main\bin\uninstall.exe" /S

If you have Conduit SearchProtect installed on your computer, do not uninstall it via the Add or Remove Programs control panel.
Instead use a program like AdwCleaner or Junkware Removal Tool to remove Conduit SearchProtect. These tools remove the software using their own uninstall routine and are not affected by Conduit's buggy uninstaller."
Click to expand...

Some dark yet benign operant conditioning from an adware dev.
Or more likely just sloppiness. link

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'Conduit SafeSearch' adware basic uninstall erases XP boot files; "NTLDR is missing"

Baserk Registered Member

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'Conduit SafeSearch' adware basic uninstall erases XP boot files; "NTLDR is missing"

Baserk Registered Member

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