I've determined that the current Smart Defrag Portable release leaves behind a scheduled task on Windows XP and higher. The job file calls the Updater.exe within Smart Defrag Portable to check for a new version. If one is found, it opens a web page to let the user know. No EXE files are left behind and, if Smart Defrag Portable is no longer on the system, nothing will happen.
This can be solved by adding the following lines to the SmartDefragPortable.ini launcher file in App\AppInfo\Launcher after the DirectoriesMove section:
[FilesMove]
settings\SmartDefragUpdate.job=%WINDIR%\Tasks
I'm working up a patch for the app itself now.
This is fixed in Smart Defrag Portable 2.9.0 Rev 2.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
I recently had this happen on my Windows 8.1 machine. I haven't opened Smart Defrag in a while. The AutoUpdate.exe started on startup and prompted a "New version of Smart Defrag is available. Download it now?"
I am using Smart Defrag Portable version 2.9.0 Rev 3.
Thanks for all you guys do at PortableApps!
P.S. I hope you are doing well with your recovery.
it occurred on my Win 8 machine that has never had Installed defrag It resides on an ext HD but PA was not even launched
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
Did you figure out where this was done under Windows 8/8.1? I can't fire up my Windows 8 VMs remotely and won't be at my desk for a bit.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Here is location of the boot time file have not checked further as am at work so not sure what is calling it
http://imgur.com/vskfnJx
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
Ok, but there should be a directive somewhere (registry, startup shorcut, or scheduled jobs entry) that instructs Windows to run it. Also, was that file left behind in that location?
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
The file is sitting in the aforementioned location as well as well as 2 reg entries
computer\HKey_Local_Mach8ine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Schedule|TaskCache\Tree\SmartDefragUpdate
and
computer\HKey_Local_Mach8ine\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Schedule|TaskCache\Tasks\
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
This is happening to me as well on Win7.
Also, as mentioned earlier, it did a similar thing back in December:
https://portableapps.com/node/38219
How should I check my registries for entries from SmartDefrag?
Even after removing the file from C drive as well as registry the issue still persists, I did go into the
Z:\PortableApps\SmartDefragPortable\App\SmartDefrag folder and found a file named
AutoUpDate.exe I renamed it to Renamed AutoUpdate.exe and since doing so have not had the issue? Not sure if this helps or muddies the problem or fix?
“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.” Dr. Seuss
This is a "shortcut" fix - the service simply can't find the update file to run the update check - so no update check is performed. But the service/reg entry the program has left behind are still there.
This bug is fixed for both the Windows XP-style scheduled tasks and modern scheduled tasks in later versions of Windows.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
Thank you! I appreciate all you do for PA.c! I hope you are coming along well!
Thanks again!
You're welcome. I had to do some research on scheduled tasks in old and new Windows to get it working, so it took a little doing. Turned out to be well spent as Iobit Uninstaller needs it now, too.
I'm coming along. Second followup in a week and a half and I hope to be able to start putting weight on it.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!