# Error message: tmpc.exe; how can i stop this from popping up? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/error-message-tmpc-exe-how-can-i-stop-this-from-popping-up/481700 "2009-01-17T03:30:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/error-message-tmpc-exe-how-can-i-stop-this-from-popping-up/481700/1 "2009-01-17T03:30:54Z")
Whenever I get ready to go into some programs the following message pops up: ~tmpc.exe a problem has caused the program to stop working…" What is the cause of this? More to the point, what can I do to stop this? Thanks, handsomeharry ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/error-message-tmpc-exe-how-can-i-stop-this-from-popping-up/481700/2 "2009-01-17T03:41:27Z")
~TCMP is malware. [Spyware Doctor](http://www.spywareremovalblog.com/remove-tmpcexe/) should take care of it for you, provided you’re running some flavor of 32-bit Windows. (Edited to add: if it’s XP or Vista and you don’t know whether it’s 32-bit, it is.) I’ll also toss in the gold standard recommendations for running regular [Spybot](http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html) and [Ad-Aware](http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php) scans for a happier, healthier machine. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/error-message-tmpc-exe-how-can-i-stop-this-from-popping-up/481700/3 "2009-01-17T04:16:29Z")
> [@Roland\_Orzabal](#): > > ~TCMP is malware. [Spyware Doctor](http://www.spywareremovalblog.com/remove-tmpcexe/) should take care of it for you, provided you’re running some flavor of 32-bit Windows. (Edited to add: if it’s XP or Vista and you don’t know whether it’s 32-bit, it is.) > > I’ll also toss in the gold standard recommendations for running regular [Spybot](http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html) and [Ad-Aware](http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php) scans for a happier, healthier machine. hmmm…this spyware doctor sounds…unfree. Is this the case? and if it is, do these others remove the tcmp? Thanks for the great help. hh ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/error-message-tmpc-exe-how-can-i-stop-this-from-popping-up/481700/4 "2009-01-17T09:40:21Z")
**Roland** ’s link leads directly to the download of a utility to remove that particular malware. These apps are often free for personal use, but you can pay for additional features. Two more I’ll add are aVast Antivirus and Malware Bytes. ---
**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/error-message-tmpc-exe-how-can-i-stop-this-from-popping-up/481700/5 "2009-01-17T15:16:45Z")
Hmmmmmmmm…the spywrre doctor one that I got gave me a free download, but i apparently need to pay to use it! Did I download the wrong one? I’ll try the others mentioned. thanks, hh