Issues after uninstalling AdGuard with Uninstall utility

[IaroslavKhvorostenko]

AdGuard version

AG v8 nightly 25

OS version

Windows 11 Insider Preview (25200.7296)

Issue Details

Initially reported in https://github.com/AdguardTeam/AdguardForWindows/issues/5749#issuecomment-3584955134

Steps to reproduce:

1. Delete AdGuard using Uninstall utility
2. Install AdGuard and check filtering

Expected Behavior

Registry is intact and AdGuard filtering works as expected

Actual Behavior

Unninstal utility broke the MAPI Handler assignments for Outlook, and this completely messed up registry structure. After reinstalling AGv8 and installing the AdGuard Personal CA certificate with the filtering option enabled, the filtering doesn't work. AG claims that filtering can't be applied to every website URL, but if I install AG 7, the filtering works correctly.

Additional Information

Removing the certificate, disabling the filtering, and generating a new one on AG v8 has no effect.

[yetixx96]

regarding the issue with Outlook, every time the system is started the following error appears:

and no, it's not a problem as the message suggests: "No default program selected" :) - this is the effect of a damaged registry and MAPI Handler..

[IaroslavKhvorostenko]

Hello @yetixx96 ! In order to troubleshoot this issue, we need more details, so I'll ask you a few questions:

1. What mode did you use in the unninstal utility? (Standard or Extended)
2. We will need the uninstaller logs (they are recorded in the logs folder) Send the archive to [email protected]: - include [windows] keyword and ISSUE_NUMBER in the subject of your email - specify the exact time when the issue occurred (if possible)

Additionally: Share why you think that the unninstal utility is the reason why the registry structure has been messed up

[yetixx96]

Hello @yetixx96 ! In order to troubleshoot this issue, we need more details, so I'll ask you a few questions:

1. What mode did you use in the unninstal utility? (Standard or Extended)
2. We will need the uninstaller logs (they are recorded in the logs folder) Send the archive to [email protected]:
   • include [windows] keyword and ISSUE_NUMBER in the subject of your email
   • specify the exact time when the issue occurred (if possible)

Additionally: Share why you think that the unninstal utility is the reason why the registry structure has been messed up

@IaroslavKhvorostenko

1. Standard
2. Where are these logs located? After using it, I deleted it - where did it save the logs? Location requested.

Additionally: Because after uninstalling AG v8 with this uninstaller, the default entries for the MAPI Handler for Outlook were corrupted. Nothing else happened...

I can also install AG v8 again and send logs during the problem - lack of https filtering, let me know.

[IaroslavKhvorostenko]

@yetixx96 Logs are saved in the unninstal utility folder. If you deleted the folder containing the unninstal utility, it will not be possible to collect the logs

I noticed that you have an insider build of Windows 11. Perhaps the problem lies with the OS. Is this your first time using the unninstal utility?

Alternatively: but it's not fact that this will clarify the issue. You can send logs from AdGuard v8 , where https filtering is not working for you

1. Collect the debug log as it's explained here.
2. Remember the exact time when the issue was reproduced.
3. Send the archive to [email protected]: - include [windows] keyword and ISSUE_NUMBER in the subject of your email - specify the exact time when the issue occurred

[yetixx96]

@yetixx96 Logs are saved in the unninstal utility folder. If you deleted the folder containing the unninstal utility, it will not be possible to collect the logs

I noticed that you have an insider build of Windows 11. Perhaps the problem lies with the OS. Is this your first time using the unninstal utility?

Alternatively: but it's not fact that this will clarify the issue. You can send logs from AdGuard v8 , where https filtering is not working for you

1. Collect the debug log as it's explained here.
2. Remember the exact time when the issue was reproduced.
3. Send the archive to [email protected]:
   • include [windows] keyword and ISSUE_NUMBER in the subject of your email
   • specify the exact time when the issue occurred

@IaroslavKhvorostenko It's also unclear to me, even confusing, that AG would affect the Mapi handler in this way. Unfortunately, we won't be able to see these logs. As soon as I resolve the registry issue, I'll come back with AG v8 tests and send the logs – I need time, but I hope I can figure this out without reinstalling the system.

[yetixx96]

@IaroslavKhvorostenko

Okay, I'm back with news, I would leave the registry topic aside because it's quite a specific issue - but it was related to AG, I have a ticket opened in the commercial Microsoft Office support department.

As for HTTPS filtering... I updated 7.22.2 (I uploaded a working old configuration import from September) to the latest night 26 (5266) and there was no problem... so I wanted to upload the AG 8 configuration from November 25 - and then suddenly the problem occurred again. So I installed 7>8 again without importing the configuration and ATTENTION https filtering did not work at all - BUT despite the option of blocking irritating elements in version 7 for mobile application banners, some settings did not transfer after switching to 8, so I turned them on manually and note... https filtering suddenly fixed itself (that's when I wanted to enable debug, but there was no point... ), but I can only send you the configuration I have under AGv8 (which worked before) and when it is imported to AG8, this problem returns. At the moment I don't want to mess around, let's give it a break - btw, I have the impression that a few things come together here.

Additionally, in the new night version, if we want to go and set the filtering method - which by default does not transfer after switching from 7 to 8, we get a black screen. :)

after click:

[IaroslavKhvorostenko]

@yetixx96 All right, then please send us the configuration you import into AdGuard V8. You can send it by email, as you did before. I will test the behaviour on my device. After that, I will get back to you with an answer

[yetixx96]

@yetixx96 All right, then please send us the configuration you import into AdGuard V8. You can send it by email, as you did before. I will test the behaviour on my device. After that, I will get back to you with an answer

@IaroslavKhvorostenko Thanks for the quick response! I sent an email with the ticket number in the subject line, including the "wrong" configuration for me and the debug logs with the timestamps for the screenshots above regarding the DNS filtering method settings.

PS. the configuration file is too large to send by email, as it takes up over 25MB - I posted it on my own resource for download, link in the email.

[yetixx96]

PS. I think the best test is to upload my configuration > remove AG8 with this uninstall tool > install AG 8 > upload my configuration

[yetixx96]

As for the last logs I sent, maybe there was something wrong with this configuration or the loading process?

WARNING... Settings are corrupted, using defaults WARNING... Backup is corrupted, use defaults FileNotFoundException... user_S-1-5-21- ....config not found

[IaroslavKhvorostenko]

Hello @yetixx96 ! I ran tests based on the following scenario: upload configuration > remove AG8 with uninstall tool > install AG 8 > upload configuration

What I found out: After importing your configuration, HTTPS filtering did not work. Apparently, some settings were not applied. After that, I uninstalled AdGuard using the utility, reinstalled AdGuard, and uploaded your configuration again.

When I imported the configuration for the second time, HTTPS filtering started working. This probably means that your configuration was applied successfully.

1. I didn't have any problems after removing it with the unninstal utility
2. Once, HTTPS filtering did not work when importing configuration

I will conduct a few more tests on this issue and get back to you next week with an answer. After that, I will forward the information I have gathered to the development team to investigate the issue.

[yetixx96]

Hello @yetixx96 ! I ran tests based on the following scenario: upload configuration > remove AG8 with uninstall tool > install AG 8 > upload configuration

What I found out: After importing your configuration, HTTPS filtering did not work. Apparently, some settings were not applied. After that, I uninstalled AdGuard using the utility, reinstalled AdGuard, and uploaded your configuration again.

When I imported the configuration for the second time, HTTPS filtering started working. This probably means that your configuration was applied successfully.

1. I didn't have any problems after removing it with the unninstal utility
2. Once, HTTPS filtering did not work when importing configuration

I will conduct a few more tests on this issue and get back to you next week with an answer. After that, I will forward the information I have gathered to the development team to investigate the issue.

@IaroslavKhvorostenko Thanks for the information! If you need anything (logs, configs), I'm happy to help. :) I think my logs are good material for the team to analyze. PS. in case this filtering does not work, the https filtering switch does not actually change anything, it does not work even though it is enabled there.

[yetixx96]

@IaroslavKhvorostenko

At the moment I was forced to use version 7, because I can't get https filtering to work in version 8, neither on a clean configuration nor on any other..

[IaroslavKhvorostenko]

Hello @yetixx96 ! I have forwarded the information to the team. We will analyze it and contact you with the results.