Bitdefender breaks system point restore creation in Windows 22H2 and many software installers

pixelcowboy

Bitdfender is officially now acting like malware, and I'm paying for the benefit. This issue has been reported by multiple users for months, and me with their support, providing logs and feedback and yet the problem is still here at release time of this Windows Build. I was told that this was a know issue and would be fixed in an upcoming update, but that was a month ago. So, in summary:

Advanced Threat Detection fully breaks system restore point creation (not the old problem with System restores not completing), so it creates a huge liability in case your installation breaks, as you won't have any restore points to go back to. Also, many installers fail to run because they try to create restore points, and then crash.

The installers crashing is what led me to discover this problem. I was trying to install drivers, and the installers kept crashing. This led me to a huge waste of time as I ended up reinstalling Windows 11, but the problem came back the minute that I reinstalled Bitdefender. Since the last month where I had to uninstall Bitdefender (and I'm a paid subscriber), system restore points actually saved me as a driver installation broke my bluetooth. If I have had Bitdefender running I would have had no other option but to reinstall Windows 11 again.

I'm beyond angry right now. I've used Bitdefender for 5 years, and I've already have multiple instances where Bitdefender breaks third party software without warning me about it, but this is core Windows functionality. There isn't any reason this is acceptable for a supposedly reputable Antivirus software.

ZoGmAn

Getting the same issue

DJR

Same issue. Had to remove BitDefender from two of my computers to solve this issue. Hoping there is a fix coming soon. Wasted money on my BitDefender subscription that I am not able to use.

GS

I had exactly the same issue on all my machines. After a clean uninstall and fresh install this specific problem is gone for good.

Flexx

Kindly perform below steps & see if this helps you in anyway.

1) Uninstall the bitdefender product with add/ remove programs option in windows

2) To remove the remaining files download and run Bitdefender product uninstaller (https://www.bitdefender.com/files/KnowledgeBase/file/Bitdefender_2022_Uninstall_Tool.exe)

3) Restart PC in safe mode (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234)

4) As soon as desktop opens, assuming your windows drive is C, open below things in run (windows icon + R) command one by one :

C:\Program Files (delete any folder with name bitdefender)

C:\Program Files (x86) (delete any folder with name bitdefender)

C:\ProgramData (delete any folder with name bitdefender)

C:\Users\{your pc name}\AppData\Local (delete any folder with name bitdefender)

5) Open run command again and run below command one by one :

temp ,delete all the files in the folder

%temp% ,delete all the files in folder

prefetch ,delete all the files in folder

6) Open registry editor through run command (windows icon + R) and then type regedit. Once registry editor opens, click on edit -> find, make sure to tick mark match whole strings only. Type bitdefender in search box and click find next. If any file or folder under name of bitdefender is found, delete it. Continue searching the registry and deleting until the search will report no registry keys found.

7) Restart your PC in general mode by unticking the option that you selected to run the system in safe mode and then click apply.

8) Remove devices from online bitdefender central (https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/2795/)

9) Download online installer for your respective bitdefender product from below stated links

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus: https://download.bitdefender.com/windows/installer/en-us/bitdefender_antivirus.exe

Bitdefender Internet Security: https://download.bitdefender.com/windows/installer/en-us/bitdefender_isecurity.exe

Bitdefender Total Security: https://download.bitdefender.com/windows/installer/en-us/bitdefender_tsecurity.exe

Once your respective bitdefender product is installed, a bitdefender dialogue box will open where you will need to login with your registered bitdefender online central details and after a successful login, your product will be synchronized with your online bitdefender central account. Henceforth, your product will get registered & activated with online bitdefender central automatically.

If issue persists, 

Generate bitdefender support tool logs (https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/1733/)

Generate bitdefender connectivity logs (https://www.bitdefender.com/consumer/support/answer/9689/)

Share the logs & your query with bitdefender support team by dropping them an email at bitsy@bitdefender.com

The support team will reply back to your query within next 24-48 hours excluding weekends.

@Alexandru_BD, @Mike_BD can you please check on this with the developers.

Regards

ZoGmAn

Latest update i recieved last week seems to have resolved. Able to now perform restore manual and also any program initiating the process.

However, i did reinstall just before the update.. not sure if that made any difference

Alexandru_BD

Hello,

Please make sure to upgrade the product to the latest version 26.0.28.94 and check if the problem persists.

Regards