How to remove an Recguard error

The free file information forum can help you determine if Recguard.exe is a virus, trojan, spyware, or adware that you can remove, or a file belonging to a Windows system or an application you can trust.

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Recguard.exe file information

The process known as Recguard Application or Recguard MFC Application belongs to software Recguard Application or Recovery Software Suite Gateway or Recovery Software Suite or Recovery Software Suite eMachines by unknown.

Description: The file Recguard.exe is located in a subfolder of C:\Windows (usually c:\windows\sminst\). Known file sizes on Windows 7/XP are 212,992 bytes (38% of all occurrences), 1,187,840 bytes and 28 more variants.
The program has a visible window. There is no description of the program. Recguard.exe is not a Windows core file. Program starts upon Windows startup (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders). Recguard.exe is able to record inputs, monitor applications and manipulate other programs. Therefore the technical security rating is 26% dangerous, however also read the users reviews.
If problems with Recovery Software Suite Gateway or Recovery Software Suite come up, you may want to uninstall it from your computer using the Control Panel applet "Add/Remove programs".

Recommended: Identify Recguard.exe related errors

If Recguard.exe is located in a subfolder of "C:\Program Files", the security rating is 86% dangerous. The file size is 26,967 bytes. The program has a visible window. There is no file information. The program starts when Windows starts (see Registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run, HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders). File is hidden. File Recguard.exe is not a Windows core file. Recguard.exe seems to be a compressed file.

External information from Paul Collins:

"Recguard" must run at start up. On HP computers, Recguard prevents the deletion or corruption of the WinXP Recovery Partition. Without it enabled, it is possible to knock that completely out and force the customer to send the PC back to HP for a re-image, possibly at the customer's expense

Important: Some malware camouflages itself as Recguard.exe, particularly when located in the c:\windows or c:\windows\system32 folder. Therefore, you should check the Recguard.exe process on your PC to see if it is a threat. We recommend Security Task Manager for verifying your computer's security. This was one of the Top Download Picks of The Washington Post and PC World.

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User Comments

nothing found it on start up of comp has a questionmark about its validity

It's on many types of computers as part of a protective recovery suite called Angelware. Do not tamper with it unless you are not concerned about your operating systems ability to recovery shoud you experience a problem.
rain_makers

this just appeared on my computer today. It just happened to be after I was updating some drivers, one was for my HP printer. I'm assuming it has something to do with that.
Rachel

I'm wondering why this is on Gateway computers??? But my laptop is abnormal in everyway possible so I can probably see why.
Demache

I have an hp product, but it hasn't been in my windows HKLM..Win.Run file til justrecently. My antivirus file found it, show it to be in a file that doesn't exist: SMINST. I began checking over my system last night, after I was in Version Tracker, and it showed an 'upgreade' for the WinXP zip. When i went to download it[not run it], it just did a fast blip on my screen. now when I go to Run, type in the proper edit for registry, it auto opens at the HKLM Run file showing it. in the HKEYs B4 had 2 choose HKEY to open, and so on.
Judith Meives

Found on Advent laptop, too.
Seikku Kaita

RecGuard.exe is a process that protects the recovery partition from damage. If should you disable or permanently delete this startup process, you may loose or have a corrupted recovery partition! To get a re-image of the recovery partition may be at the owner’s expense. The process takes very little system resources, so your system will not be slowed down in anyway. Remember that this process is located in the (C:\windows\SMINST\recguard.exe) directory. If this process name is located elsewhere, then it is more than likely to be spyware or a virus with the same name as the legit process.
Lindor

This process is to protect uses from accessing the angel tools recovery partitions, which is what emachine/gateway and hp/compaq use

More comments can be found here:
(further information)

Summary: Average user rating of Recguard.exe: based on 40 votes with 9 reviews.

28 users think Recguard.exe is essential for Windows or an installed application. 4 users think it's probably harmless. 6 users think it's neither essential nor dangerous. 1 user suspect danger. 1 user think Recguard.exe is dangerous and recommend removing it. 11 users doesn't grade Recguard.exe ("not sure about it").

Recguard scanner

Security Task Manager shows all running Windows tasks including embedded hidden functions (e.g. keyboard or browser monitoring, autostart entry). A unique security risk rating indicates the likelihood of the process being potential spyware, malware, keylogger or a Trojan.

Spyware Doctor detects and removes sleeping spyware, adware, trojans, keyloggers, malware and tracking threats from your hard disk. Ideal supplement to Security Task Manager.

SpeedUpMyPC scans, cleans, repairs and optimizes your computer.

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