Systweak Advanced System Protector is a program designed to detect and remove malware, spyware, adware, and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) from your computer. Although it presents itself as a useful utility for enhancing PC performance and security, many users find that it behaves more like a PUP itself. It often enters systems bundled with freeware, displays aggressive alerts, and encourages users to purchase its premium version. Due to such behavior, many users opt to uninstall it. If you're one of them, this article will guide you through the entire process of completely uninstalling Systweak Advanced System Protector from your computer.
This guide will cover both basic and advanced methods, ensuring that the software and all its traces are completely removed from your system.
Understanding Systweak Advanced System Protector
Before diving into the uninstallation steps, it’s important to understand what Systweak Advanced System Protector is and why someone might want to remove it.
What It Claims to Do:
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Scans your system for malware, spyware, and adware.
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Offers to remove or quarantine detected threats.
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Provides additional system optimization features.
Common Complaints Include:
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Persistent pop-ups and alerts even after closing the application.
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Difficulty in stopping the software from running automatically.
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Pressure to upgrade to a paid version.
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System slowdowns and potential conflicts with other antivirus software.
Because of these reasons, many users consider it intrusive and choose to remove it from their systems.
Step-by-Step Guide to Uninstalling Systweak Advanced System Protector
Step 1: Save Your Work and Close Running Applications
Before you begin uninstalling any program, save any open work and close all running applications. This is to ensure a smoother and more stable uninstallation process.
Step 2: Use the Built-in Uninstaller
Windows has a built-in tool to uninstall programs. Here’s how to use it:
On Windows 10 and 11:
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Click the Start Menu (Windows icon) in the bottom left corner.
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Type “Apps & Features” into the search bar and select it.
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In the Apps & Features window, scroll through the list of installed programs.
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Locate Advanced System Protector or Systweak Advanced System Protector.
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Click on it, then click the Uninstall button.
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Follow the prompts on the uninstallation wizard.
If prompted with “Are you sure you want to uninstall?”, confirm your decision.
On Windows 7 or 8:
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Open the Control Panel.
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Click on Programs > Programs and Features.
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Scroll down to find Advanced System Protector.
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Click on it and then click Uninstall.
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Follow the instructions in the uninstall wizard.
This process should remove the main components of the program. However, traces may still be left behind.
Step 3: Delete Remaining Files and Folders
Even after uninstalling the software via the Control Panel or Apps & Features, some residual files might be left behind in various directories. To ensure complete removal, follow these steps:
1. Navigate to the Program Files Folder
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Open File Explorer.
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Go to the following locations and look for folders named Systweak, Advanced System Protector, or anything similar:
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If you find any folders related to the program, right-click and delete them.
Note: You may need to enable viewing hidden files to access some of these directories. In File Explorer, click the View tab and check Hidden items.
Step 4: Remove Registry Entries (Advanced Users Only)
⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry can cause serious problems if done incorrectly. If you're unsure, consider creating a backup or skipping this step.
To remove leftover registry entries:
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Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
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Type regedit and press Enter.
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In the Registry Editor, press Ctrl + F to bring up the search box.
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Type Systweak or Advanced System Protector and press Enter.
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If any entries are found, review them carefully. If they’re clearly related to the program, right-click and select Delete.
Repeat the search (F3 key) until no entries remain.
It’s highly recommended to create a System Restore Point before modifying the registry. This allows you to restore your system to its previous state if something goes wrong.
Step 5: Disable from Startup (If Necessary)
If the software was set to launch at startup and it wasn’t completely removed, it might still be trying to start automatically.
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Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
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Click on the Startup tab.
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Look for Advanced System Protector or any suspicious entries.
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Select it and click Disable.
Step 6: Run a Malware Scan
Since Systweak Advanced System Protector often arrives bundled with other potentially unwanted software, it’s a good idea to run a full system scan to check for other issues.
You can use reputable and free antivirus or anti-malware programs such as:
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Windows Defender (built into Windows)
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Malwarebytes (free version available)
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Bitdefender Free Edition
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Kaspersky Security Cloud – Free
Run a full system scan and follow the software’s recommendations to clean or quarantine any threats.
Step 7: Clear Temporary Files and Clean Your System
After removing a program and cleaning residual files, it's helpful to clean up temporary files:
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Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
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Type %temp% and press Enter.
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This opens the temporary files folder. Select all files and delete them.
You can also use Disk Cleanup:
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Open the Start Menu and type Disk Cleanup.
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Choose the drive where Windows is installed (usually C:).
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Check the boxes for Temporary files, System created Windows Error Reporting, and others.
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Click OK to clean up files.
Step 8: Restart Your Computer
After performing all the above steps, restart your computer to ensure that all changes are applied. Once rebooted, verify that the program is no longer listed in your apps, and that no related processes are running in Task Manager.
Optional: Use Third-Party Uninstaller Software
If you encounter issues during the uninstallation process, you can use third-party uninstaller programs. These tools can help remove stubborn software and clean up leftover files and registry entries.
Some well-known uninstaller programs include:
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Revo Uninstaller
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IObit Uninstaller
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Geek Uninstaller
These programs are specifically designed to remove not only the main application but also all related files, folders, and registry entries in one go.
Tips to Prevent Similar Programs in the Future
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Always choose "Custom" installation when installing new software, and uncheck any optional offers.
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Read the End User License Agreement (EULA) to understand what you're agreeing to.
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Avoid downloading software from unverified websites. Stick to trusted sources and official developer sites.
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Use real-time antivirus and anti-malware protection to alert you to unwanted software installations.
Conclusion
Uninstalling Systweak Advanced System Protector is not as straightforward as removing other programs, due to the traces it leaves behind. However, by following the steps outlined in this guide starting with the basic uninstall method, removing residual files, cleaning the registry, and scanning for malware you can ensure that the program is completely removed from your system.
If you continue to experience issues even after following all these steps, consider seeking help from a trusted IT professional. Ensuring your system is clean and free of unwanted software not only improves performance but also strengthens security.
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