How to remove Smart Defragmenter (Uninstall instructions)

Smart Defragmenter is fake computer optimization tool. The misleading application is a clone of System Defragmenter. It will make you think you have a lot of system problems on your computer and ask you to purchase the program to prevent and fix them. Smart Defragmenter is a scam designed to trick you into purchasing its full version. If your PC is already infected you should ignore its fake error messages and nag screens. Read below what you’ll want to know though is how to remove Smart Defragmenter.

During installation Smart Defragmenter will be configured to start automatically when you logon into Windows. Once started, this malware will scan computer`s hard disks, memory, etc and detect a lot of errors. Of course, these reported errors are all fake. Smart Defragmenter only simulates functions of defragmenter software and unable to detect any problems. So, you can safety ignore the scan results.

While Smart Defragmenter is running, it will block all legitimate Windows applications from running. The following warning will be shown when you try to run a program:

System Error!
Exe file is corrupted and can’t be run. Hard drive scan required

Moreover, Smart Defragmenter will display numerous fake warnings and nag screens that states:

Critical Error
A critical error has occurred while indexing data stored on hard drive. System restart required.

System Restore
The system has been restored after a critical error. Data integrity and hard drive integrity verification required.

However, like the false scan results, all of these messages are fake and should be ignored!

As you can see, Smart Defragmenter is absolutely useless and what is more, even dangerous software. Do not trust anything that it will give you. Most important don’t pay for its full version. Instead, please use the removal guide below and remove Smart Defragmenter from your computer for free.

Automated Removal Instructions for Smart Defragmenter

Step 1. Reboot your computer in Safe mode with networking

Restart your computer.

After hearing your computer beep once during startup, start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. On a computer that is configured for booting to multiple operating systems, you can press the F8 key when the Boot Menu appears.

Instead of Windows loading as normal, Windows Advanced Options menu appears similar to the one below.

Windows Advanced Options menu

When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select Safe mode with networking and then press ENTER.

Step 2. Clean temp folder

Smart Defragmenter stores its files in Windows temp foder. You need to clean it.

Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune from here, saving it to your desktop. It is used to cleanout temporary files & temp areas used by internet browsers.

Start ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program. Under Main choose: Select All and click the Empty Selected button.

Step 3. Remove Smart Defragmenter and associated malware

Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Close all programs and Windows on your computer.

Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, then click Finish.

If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

Once the program has loaded you will see window similar to the one below.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window

Select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan, it will start scanning your computer for Smart Defragmenter infection. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.

When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. You will see a list of infected items similar as shown below. Note: list of infected items may be different than what is shown in the image below.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items

Make sure all entries have a checkmark at their far left and click “Remove Selected” button to remove Smart Defragmenter. MalwareBytes Anti-malware will now remove all of associated Smart Defragmenter files and registry keys and add them to the programs’ quarantine. When MalwareBytes Anti-malware has finished removing the infection, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.

Smart Defragmenter removal notes

Note 1: if you can not download, install, run or update Malwarebytes Anti-malware, then follow the steps: Malwarebytes won`t install, run or update – How to fix it.

Note 2: if you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.

Note 3: your current antispyware and antivirus software let the infection through ? Then you may want to consider purchasing the FULL version of MalwareBytes Anti-malware to protect your computer in the future.

Smart Defragmenter creates the following files and folders

%UserProfile%\Desktop\Smart Defragmenter.lnk
%Temp%\{RANDOM}.exe
%Temp%\{RANDOM}
%Temp%\{RANDOM}.dat
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Smart Defragmenter\Smart Defragmenter.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Smart Defragmenter\Uninstall Smart Defragmenter.lnk

Smart Defragmenter creates the following registry keys and values

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run | {RANDOM}