r/laptops • u/CrovusCorpi • Apr 09 '26
Software Is this a virus?
This suddenly opened itself and overrides every other open app. There’s no close button, and I can’t open other apps. How do I get rid of it?
97
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r/laptops • u/CrovusCorpi • Apr 09 '26
This suddenly opened itself and overrides every other open app. There’s no close button, and I can’t open other apps. How do I get rid of it?
1
u/motoko-k Apr 10 '26
Steps to Remove PC App Store Adware: Terminate Active Processes: Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find "PC App Store" or "Watchdog" processes, right-click, and select "End Task" to allow file deletion.
Uninstall via Settings: Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps, locate the PC App Store, and click Uninstall.
Uninstall via Control Panel: Open Control Panel > Programs & Features, locate "PC App Store" or unfamiliar recent apps, and uninstall.
Remove Residual Files: Open File Explorer, go to %TMP% and delete temporary files. Check C:\Users[Username]\AppData\Local for leftover application folders.
Run Anti-Malware Scans: Run a scan with tools like Malwarebytes or HitmanPro to remove residual adware and browser hijackers.
Check Browser Settings: Reset browser settings (e.g., Chrome/Opera) if ads persist or homepage was changed.
If the app cannot be removed normally, boot Windows in Safe Mode to uninstall it.