WinFlash
What is WinFlash?
ASUS WinFlash is a program that was designed for ASUS computers in order to provide them with a means of flashing the system BIOS.
Overview
WinFlash is a software program developed by ASUS. The most common release is 2.42.0, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. During setup, the program creates a startup registration point in Windows in order to automatically start when any user boots the PC. Upon being installed, the software adds a Windows Service which is designed to run continuously in the background. Manually stopping the service has been seen to cause the program to stop functing properly. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. It adds a Browser Helper Object (BHO) to Internet Explorer. A scheduled task is added to Windows Task Scheduler in order to launch the program at various scheduled times (the schedule varies depending on the version). The software is designed to connect to the Internet and adds a Windows Firewall exception in order to do so without being interfered with. In the Google Chrome browser, it will add an extension. The setup package generally installs about 61 files and is usually about 600 KB (614,400 bytes). Relative to the overall usage of users who have this installed on their PCs, most are running Windows 10 and Windows 7 (SP1). While about 41% of users of WinFlash come from the United States, it is also popular in Italy and France.
This program is pre-installed on the PC
Pre-installed software such as this is usually included by default on the manufacturer's PC. Many OEM (original equipment manufacture) software that is included with a new PC is useful and in many cases required for the PC to function properly as in the case of various software drivers. However, some pre-installed software is optional and can be safely removed.
Some users and experts alike have reported that this program is considered bloatware or bundleware. Such software is optional and can be safely removed if you do not utilize the features of the progam.
- It is usually licensed for use only on the ASUS PC on which it was pre-installed.
- It sometimes difficult for users to remove via the 'Uninstall a Program' feature in Windows.
Program details
URL: www.asus.com
Installation folder: C:\users\user\appdata\local\facebook\video\skype
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{8F21291E-0444-4B1D-B9F9-4370A73E346D}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 600 KB
Language: English (United States)
Files installed by WinFlash
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npfacebookvideocalling.dll (by Skype Limited) - Facebook Video Calling Plugin
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facebookvideocallingproxy.exe (by Skype Limited) - Facebook Video Calling Proxy
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facebookvideocalling.exe - Facebook Video Calling
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adbwinapi.dll (by Google, inc) - Android SDK (Android ADB API)
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app_renderer.dll (by BlueStack Systems) - BlueStacks (BlueStacks GL Application Renderer Library)
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devcomponents.dotnetbar2.dll (by DevComponents.com) - DevComponents.DotNetBar
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extension_string.exe (by BlueStack Systems) - BlueStacks GL Extension String Tool
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flcommon.dll (by FileLab) - FileLab plugin (common.dll)
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flcommonps.dll (by FileLab) - commonps.dll
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flcommons.dll - commons.dll
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flcommonsps.dll - commonsps.dll
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flmanager.exe - FileLab Manager Application
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flmanagers.exe
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flplugin.dll - FileLab Plugin (plugin.dll)
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flplugins.dll - plugins.dll
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hd-adb.exe
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hd-agent.exe - BlueStacks Agent
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hd-apkhandler.exe - BlueStacks Apk Handler
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hd-audio-native.dll - BlueStacks Audio Native Library
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hd-blockdevice.exe - BlueStacks Block Device Helper Process
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hd-camera-native.dll - BlueStacks Camera Native Library
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hd-createsymlink.exe - BlueStacks Symlink Creator
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hd-frontend.exe - BlueStacks Frontend
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hd-frontend-native.dll - BlueStacks Frontend Native Library
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hd-glcheck.exe - BlueStacks GLCheck Utility
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hd-gps-native.dll - BlueStacks Gps Native Library
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hd-inputmapper-native.dll - BlueStacks InputMapper Native Library
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hd-libraryhandler.dll - BlueStacks Utility Library
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hd-logcollector.exe - BlueStacks Log Collector
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hd-logrotator.exe - BlueStacks Log Rotator
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hd-logrotator-native.dll - BlueStacks Log Rotator Native Library
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hd-logrotatorservice.exe - BlueStacks Log Rotator Service
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hd-network.exe - BlueStacks Network Helper Process
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hd-opengl-native.dll - BlueStacks Opengl Native Library
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hd-opensensor-native.dll - BlueStacks OpenSensor Native Library
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hd-png2ico.exe
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hd-quit.exe - BlueStacks Quit Utility
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hd-restart.exe - BlueStacks Restart Utility
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hd-runapp.exe - BlueStacks App Runner
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hd-runtimeuninstaller.exe - BlueStacks Runtime Uninstaller
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hd-sensor-native.dll - BlueStacks Sensor Native Library
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hd-service.exe - BlueStacks Service
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hd-service-native.dll - BlueStacks Service Native Library
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hd-sharedfolder.exe - BlueStacks Shared Folder Helper Process
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hd-shortcuthandler.dll
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hd-startlauncher.exe - BlueStacks StartLauncher
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hd-unzip.exe (by Info-ZIP) - Info-ZIP's UnZip for Windows (Info-ZIP's UnZip for Win32 console)
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hd-vmcommand-native.dll - BlueStacks VM Command Runner Native Library
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hd-zip.exe
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json.dll (by CodeTitans)
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libegl_translator.dll - BlueStacks EGL Translator Library
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libgles_cm_translator.dll - BlueStacks GLES CM Translator Library
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libgles_v2_translator.dll - BlueStacks GLES V2 Translator Library
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naudio.dll (by Mark Heath) - NAudio
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npflplugin.dll - npplugin.dll
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npflplugins.dll
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skype_chrome_extension.crx
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skypec2cautoupdatesvc.exe (by Microsoft) - Skype Click to Call (Updates Skype Click to Call)
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skypec2cpnrsvc.exe (by Microsoft) - Phone Number Recognition (PNR) module
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skypeieplugin.dll - Skype Click to Call IE Add-on
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sys_renderer.dll - BlueStacks GL System Renderer Library
Behaviors exhibited
2 Google Chrome Plugins
- npfacebookvideocalling.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'npFacebookVideoCalling.dll'.
- npflplugins.dll is loaded in the Google Chrome web browser as 'npFlPluginS.dll'.
Internet Explorer BHO
- skypeieplugin.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Skype Click to Call for Internet Explorer' with the class of {AE805869-2E5C-4ED4-8F7B-F1F7851A4497} (SkypeIEPluginBHO).
Internet Explorer Extension
- skypeieplugin.dll is installed as an Internet Explorer extension as 'Skype Click to Call settings' with a class of {898EA8C8-E7FF-479B-8935-AEC46303B9E5}.
2 Mozilla Plugins
- npfacebookvideocalling.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name '@Skype Limited.com/Facebook Video Calling Plugin' with a plugin key of '@Skype Limited.com/Facebook Video Calling Plugin'.
- npflplugins.dll is loaded into Mozilla Firefox under the product name 'FileLab Plugin' with a plugin key of '@ASC/FileLabPlugin;version=1.1.30' for all users of the PC.
4 Scheduled Tasks
- hd-adb.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{414B58D5-075E-4F20-A788-93CF9F140FAC}' (runs on registration).
- hd-startlauncher.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{E1AB707C-5284-4E56-9A17-04E06BC301D0}' (runs on registration).
- hd-runapp.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{F0EB8E50-0580-4FD1-977B-121C7A7B6763}' (runs on registration).
- hd-logrotator.exe is scheduled as a task named 'LogRotator' (runs daily at 20:42).
4 Services
- skypec2cpnrsvc.exe runs as a service named 'c2cpnrsvc' (c2cpnrsvc) "Provides phone number recognition services.".
- skypec2cautoupdatesvc.exe runs as a service named 'c2cautoupdatesvc' (c2cautoupdatesvc) "Downloads and installs product updates.".
- hd-service.exe runs as a service named 'BlueStacks Android Service' (BstHdAndroidSvc).
- hd-logrotatorservice.exe runs as a service named 'BlueStacks Log Rotator Service' (BstHdLogRotatorSvc).
Startup File (All Users Run)
- hd-agent.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'BlueStacks Agent' which loads as C:\Program Files\BlueStacks\HD-Agent.exe.
3 Windows Firewall Allowed Programs
- facebookvideocalling.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Documents and Settings\user\Application Data\Facebook\Video\Skype\FacebookVideoCalling.exe'.
- hd-frontend.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\BlueStacks\HD-Frontend.exe'.
- hd-agent.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\BlueStacks\HD-Agent.exe'.
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
| hd-adb.exe |
| Memory: | 4.6 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0158008696% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00635150% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00944937% | |
| hd-agent.exe |
| Memory: | 33.49 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0001268891% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00010401% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00002288% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 2,548,720 | |
| Switches/sec: | 7 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 59 Bytes | |
| I/O writes/min: | 953 Bytes | |
| hd-logrotatorservice.exe |
| Memory: | 10.34 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0002191007% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00019065% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00002845% | |
| Switches/sec: | 1 | |
How do I remove WinFlash?
You can uninstall WinFlash from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program WinFlash, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove WinFlash.
How do I reset my web browser?
If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by WinFlash you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would also like to remove search providers, Accelerators and home pages. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
- The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.
Mozilla Firefox
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
- When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
- Select Settings. In the "Search" section, click Manage search engine. Check if (Default) is displayed next to your preferred search engine. If not, mouse over it and click Make default. Mouse over any other suspicious search engine entries that are not familiar and click X to remove them.
- When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different webpage, click Change to enter a link.
- Restart Google Chrome.
OS VERSIONS
Win 10 64%
Win 7 0%
|
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HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
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USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 12%
Keep it 88%
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Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 10 |
63.78% |
|
| Windows 7 |
36.10% |
|
| Windows Vista |
0.07% |
|
| Windows XP |
0.05% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
29.82% |
|
| Windows 10 Home |
23.41% |
|
| Windows 8.1 |
22.75% |
|
| Windows 8 |
6.90% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
2.91% |
|
| Windows 8.1 Single Langua... |
2.37% |
|
Geography
41.29% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
41.29% |
| Italy |
9.22% |
| France |
7.91% |
| Germany |
4.83% |
| United Kingdom |
3.52% |
| Canada |
3.33% |
| Netherlands |
2.79% |
| Australia |
2.45% |
| Spain |
1.84% |
| Sweden |
1.70% |
| Brazil |
1.34% |
| Belgium |
1.15% |
| Norway |
1.06% |
| Taiwan |
1.06% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| ASUS |
99.38% |
|
| Hewlett-Packard |
0.22% |
|
| Acer |
0.21% |
|
| Dell |
0.19% |
|
Common models |
| ASUSTeK K53E |
3.90% |
|
| ASUSTeK X551MA |
3.20% |
|
| ASUSTeK K55VD |
2.84% |
|
| ASUSTeK K52F |
2.74% |
|
| ASUSTeK K54C |
2.56% |
|
| ASUSTeK X550CC |
2.47% |
|
About ASUS
ASUSTeK Computer, also often called ASUS is a computer hardware & electronics company.
Publisher URL: www.asus.com