If Malwarebytes Anti-malware won’t install, run or update, then you’ve probably got malware or the effects of malware on the computer (some types of malware will disable Malwarebytes Anti-malware and other security tools). The following instructions is a guide that will help you to solve the most common problems when you install, run and update Malwarebytes.
- Malwarebytes won’t install
- Malwarebytes Anti-malware won’t run
- Malwarebytes Anti-malware won’t update
- Cannot use the Internet and download Malwarebytes Anti-malware
1. Malwarebytes won’t install
1.1 Before saving Malwarebytes Anti-malware rename it first
Once you have clicked to a download link you will see a Save dialog like below.
Change file name MBSetup.exe to explorer.exe like a screen below.
Then click on Save and save it to your desktop.
Double Click explorer to install the application.
Note: several good names that you can use: explorer.exe, iexplore.exe, firefox.exe, userinit.exe, myapp.exe or use any random name
1.2 Change Malwarebytes Anti-malware installation file extension
You need turn on “show file extensions for known file types” before doing it.
Click Start, then click Computer as shown below.
This will open a Computer screen.
Click to Organize and select Folder and Search options like a screen below.
After the new window appears select the View tab. You will see a window as shown below.
Remove the checkmark from the checkbox labeled “Hide file extensions for known file types” and press the Apply button and then the OK button. Now your computer is configured to show file extensions for known file types.
Right-click on an installation file (MBSetup.exe for Malwarebytes Anti-malware) and select Rename.
Next, replace .exe extension with .bat, .com, .pif, or .scr like a screen below.
Press Enter and then double-click on it to run.
2. Malwarebytes Anti-malware won’t run
2.1 Rename the main executable file
Click Start, type in Search field %ProgramFiles% (if you using Windows 2000/XP, Click Start, Run, then type in Open field) as shown below.
Press Enter. It will open a contents of ProgramFiles folder.
Next, open Malwarebytes Anti-Malware folder. Right-click on the mbam.exe file and select Rename option as a screen below.
Type explorer.exe and press Enter. Double-click on it to run.
Note: several good names that you can use: explorer.exe, iexplore.exe, firefox.exe, userinit.exe, myapp.exe or use any random name
2.2 Boot your computer in the Safe mode
- Restart your computer.
- After hearing your computer beep once during startup, but before the Windows icon appears, press F8.
- Instead of Windows loading as normal, a menu should appear.
- Select the first option, to run Windows in Safe Mode.
Run Malwarebytes Anti-malware once again.
2.3 Log in Windows using a new created user account
- Click Start -> Settings -> Control panel.
- Click User Accounts and create a new account.
- Reboot your computer and login Windows using a previously created user account.
Run Malwarebytes Anti-malware or your security program.
2.4 Run TDSSKiller
Probably your computer is infected with TDSS trojan/rootkit. It may block various antivirus and antispyware programs from running.
Download TDSSKiller from the link below and unzip it to your desktop.
https://support.kaspersky.com/downloads/utils/tdsskiller.zip
Open tdsskiller folder and run TDSSKiller. Follow the prompts.
2.5 Use Inherit.exe to fix inappropriate permissions
Use this fix, when you see a box that states “Windows cannot not access the specified device, path, or file. You may have inappropriate permissions to access the item”.
Download the Inherit.exe tool from the following link:
https://download.bleepingcomputer.com/sUBs/MiniFixes/Inherit.exe
Save it next to mbam.exe (this file is located in the Malwarebytes Anti-malware home folder). Once done, drag and drop mbam.exe into Inherit.exe. Click OK and attempt to run Malwarebytes Anti-malware once again.
3. Malwarebytes Anti-malware won’t update
3.1 Manually download and install Malwarebytes Anti-malware update
- Download Malwarebytes Anti-malware updates from
https://data.mbamupdates.com/tools/mbam-rules.exe - Save it to your desktop.
- Double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.
3.2 Copy the Malwarebytes Anti-malware definitions (rules.ref) from a clean computer
You can update through MBAM’s interface from a clean computer, copy the definitions (rules.ref) located in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (Windows XP and 2000) or C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\rules.ref (Windows Vista and Windows 7) from that system to a usb stick or CD and then copy it to the infected machine.
4. Cannot use the Internet and download Malwarebytes Anti-malware
You will need access to another computer that has a connection.
From the computer download and save a setup package (installation file) to a flash, usb, jump drive or CD. Now transfer it to the infected machine, then install and run the program.
If you cannot transfer to or install on the infected machine, try running the setup package (installation file) directly from the flash drive or CD by double-clicking on the file so it will install on the hard drive.
Kevin, try these instructions: How to remove trojan DNSChanger or ask for help at our Spyware removal forum.
Thank you! I managed to get rid of personal antivirus that had attacked my computer. It took a while but it worked!
Thank you for putting up these instructions, I am still waiting for malwarebytes to download. I have it but it is disabled. I appreciate the work that you put into this. I got the Police Pro virus from YouTube which I hardly go on.
Bonnie, try these Police Pro virus removal instructions or ask for help in our Spyware removal forum.
i can install Malwarebytes, spybot search and destroy and hijackthis but after they’re instlled i try to run them and to they start going for 1-3 secs then the program shuts down. if i try to restart the app i get a windows error saying i dont have permisson or authoritie to run the program anymore and i get locked out. i run avg and spybot doctor and they say im fine, but i get locked out of maleware remover programs when i run them, namely Malwarebytes and spybot search and destroy. got any help for me?
oh on side note i recently got the window police pro virus and all hell broke loose. after i try to remove this i count run those programs anymore.
kawaii, ask for help in our Spyware removal forum.
I have successfully installed Malwarebytes but it will not run after renaming .exe file. I am also unable to rename it in safe mode as it tells me the file is read only and is access is denied. Help
George, make a new topic at our Spyware removal forum.
i tried this, but it’s not working. i renamed it, i’ve tried various malware removal programs, none of it is working for me.
Hi I tried to rename and install Malwarebytes but it would not allow me to complete the intallation. There was a pop-up box which says \
Sorry the pop-up box says
Unable to execute file: C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
CreateProcess failed: code 2.
The system cannot find the file specified.
I’ve been doing this for 4 hours now. Appreciate your help. Tnx.
Sherry, your PC is infected with a trojan that block Malwarebytes Antimalware. Ask for help in our Spyware removal forum.
Will do. Thanks Patrik.
I have tried every fix above and cannot run spybot or malware. With a few of the attempts malwarebytes would open and start a quick scan but the terminate after 2 seconds. When I try to run my security programns I get
Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the file.
I tried to join the spyware forum but HiJack was closed after the scan before I could copy the notepad and no one has told me what to try now. Please help.
I also recently removed Security Tools virus from my computer but had not done a full scan since then and am now having these problems.
Would appreciate any help!
Taja, anyway make a new topic in our Spyware removal forum.
malwarebytes wont scan when i get it open… it closes after 5 seconds… tried all the fixes above and nothing worked… plz help
David, then only one – ask for help in our Spyware removal forum.
So far so good, I had to download the .exe because the malware was blocking it, it worked so far and is finding infected files, so far 4 files and only 1 min into the scan.. :-/
Dave, try run Malwarebytes Anti-malware in the Safe mode.
I’m having similar problems to those discussed here and can’t find a solution.
“Personal Protector” is the offender. Spybot S&D will locate and claims to have fixed the 15 harmful files but PP is able to reinstall. I can’t install malwareytes or hijackthis in normal or safe mode (I’ve tried renaming them as well).
I was about to start deleting registry files as discussed on some posts but can’t muster the nerve…
Help??
Kevin, open a new topic in our Spyware removal forum. I will help you.
My computer (not this one) is infected with some sort of virus. I have downloaded malwarebytes and i have run the program, but it will not allow an update and is using definitions from sep 2009. I have another unvirused computer and a usb key. Is there a way to copy the updated definitions from a clean computer to a folder in the infected computer?
Please help.
Thx
Ern, read the “Malwarebytes Anti-malware won`t update” part of instructions above.
I was having major headahces getting ANY security software to run. Been trying to fix my PC for the last 16 hours straight and I was getting nowhere. Most software would install but couldn’t do anything after that. I followed the instructions further up regarding changing the filename of mbam.exe to stopzilla.exe. What do you know, the bloody thing ran first time – thank you for that post – YOU ARE A LIFESAVER!!
Nice one, renamed setup file and it installed.
Once installed it would not run.
I then renamed execution file and it ran perfect.
Thanks
My Malwarebytes Anti-malware were installed after I downloaded and renamed it to something random. But the mbam.exe won’t run after installation no matter what I rename it to. So this is what I did:
I uploaded mbam.exe as an email attachment and sent it to myself. I downloaded that same attachment and renamed to some random name and saved to the original folder that mbam.exe was in. I ran this new file that I just downloaded and it works 🙂
my laptop is affected with this stupid security tools…been trying to run the antimalware but i mbam-setup doesnt seem to run at all..
i even tried renaming it as stopzilla.exe but yet this freaking thing doesnt run… PLEASE HELP ME!! :(:(
sakina, follow these Security Tool removal instructions.
I couldn’t get it to run either – no error message, nothing. It wouldn’t uninstall either – it would flash up the ‘are you sure’ message really quickly and then just disappear.
So I had a look in the malwarebytes directory of one of my working computers, and found that the file ‘ssubtmr6.dll’ was 2K different in file size. I copied that file from the working computer to the stricken one and guess what? MBAM is running! Obviously this is no help whatsoever to someone without an extra computer… sorry about that!