Solved It wasn't Microsoft... this time. Er... yes it was. :(

Ok, I just upgraded from 21H2 to 22H2 on the 24th of September.
I run Bitdefender Internet Security, and have since 2013.

Ok, this first screenshot is from July 2022. Note the items on the Windows 11 side (left).





Now this screenshot was taken just now. Again note the items, especially the Bitdefender item and it's reported install date.




Seems like Microsoft is playing some games here. I called Bitdefender just a few minutes ago, and they never heard of this item.
Namely, Bitdefender CL Contextual Menu. Not only that, but there has NEVER been a Bitdefender item under the Windows Apps heading... not for 9 years!!!



Note: I'm using Revo Uninstaller (free) version 2.2.0 ...which was released in November 2020

Note2: I used Revo to uninstall it. The Registry "scan for leftovers" went fast like it usually does.
However the secondary scan for leftovers in C:\Program Files... took forever, and involved every one of Bitdefender's 13 modules. And Bitdefender still worked after I removed "Bitdefender CL Contextual Menu".

Anyway, Bitdefender is sending me their Support Tool, to scan my computer and see what's going on.



/edit

Almost forgot... It opened a Powershell window to uninstall. As did Clip Champ and Microsoft Family, when I uninstalled them.


I just restored from a backup from yesterday, and am running ESET's online scanner.

That is an odd one. You have me very curious. Please do let us know what you find out.

hsehestedt said:

That is an odd one. You have me very curious. Please do let us know what you find out.

Click to expand...

Well, so far I found this...




And inside that folder...





At first I couldn't get into the WindowsApps folder. I tried the Security tab, and it said Unknown owner.
First time I ever saw that. Anyway, I couldn't take ownership thru the Security tab so I used the right click Take Ownership provided by Winaero.

At the moment I am uninstalling it... again.
Then I'm gonna go back to my Win 10 SSD and see if it's there too.


I'm waiting on REVO right now...




Ok.... brb on Windows 10

Ok... it's not on Windows 10. (current screenshot)





So what's the verdict. Is this some thing that's "needed" on Win 11 only or... ???

I also have a backup (recent) from before I upgraded to Win 11 - 22H2. I think I'm gonna get on that.
It'll take me about 3-4 mins to restore.



/edit
OK, now I'm on 22000.1042 and it's showing in Revo. I'm gonna go back to 13 SEP 22000.918
BRB


/edit2 It's there on 22000.918 Gonna grab a cup of tea and then think how far back I wanna go.

Ok... the earliest backup I still have is August 9th. 22000.856
BRB

OK... it's still there on 22000.856. That's the farthest I can go back.
So, it looks like it might be time for a long chat with MS

So, for now, I'm gonna go back to present 22621.521 and see what MS has to say about why I have a Bitdefender APP.

I'm beginning to think, that this... "APP" might be because, they've been tweaking Win 11 so much and so hard... that they needed an APP to tell Bitdefender that... "no, that sloppy coding isn't a virus, it's just sloppy coding".

If anyone has an "IN" with MS and wants to ask about this... I'd appreciate it.

Bitdefender CL Contextual Menu ...Windows APP (only on Win 11)


Back in 3 mins on 22621.521



/edit
I'm baaaaack.

I'm gonna grab some food then battle Microsoft a bit.

For the longest time, I thought it was stupid that all of a sudden you need an App to open NVIDIA CP...



... when, for ages it was always available in the Control Panel itself...



They both open the same gutdim thing!!!

Edwin said:

For the longest time, I thought it was stupid that all of a sudden you need an App to open NVIDIA CP...

View attachment 40364

... when, for ages it was always available in the Control Panel itself...

View attachment 40365

They both open the same gutdim thing!!!

Click to expand...

They want every user interfacing UI to be an app. Same issue with the management interface for Intel Rapid Storage Technology and Realtek Audio, etc. etc. It is kind of stupid, and I bet the manufacturers hate it.

Ok... problem solved.

Even though it has a Microsoft icon and is in the Windows Apps column in REVO and in the WindowsApps folder... it's part of Bitdefender.
Went through one MS advisor, and the 2nd was an escalation.

Uninstalled the entire Bitdefender program and that Windows App went away.
Reinstalled the Bitdefender program, and it came back.

It's not on Windows 10 because Windows 10 gets along better with Bitdefender.
The reason it's on Windows 11, is that Win 11 and Bitdefender are still working out their differences.


@Brink

If desired, you can remove this topic, change the title, whatever seems appropriate.
I'm marking this as solved.

Also, since I had a backup from yesterday... uninstalling and reinstalling (without having to do all the setting up), wasn't a problem. I did it while on the phone with MS.
By the end of it, we we're laughing. We were making fun of Windows 11... truly.


I even had the removal tool and the installer on my storage drive. Walk in the park.



/edit

Gotta reboot cause I just uninstalled ClipChamp and Microsoft Family, which seem to have tagged along with 22H2.


/edit2

Just took care of the MS survey, and letting Bitdefender know the issue was solved.







And not to worry, I explained to the high level tech support that the Start Menu was atrocious and that they needed to fix the clock sagging on the small Taskbar. He agreed.

Ok... more info.

It's actually a Microsoft App.
When you uninstall Bitdefender it goes away, but NOT because it's part of Bitdefender.
It goes away because Microsoft no longer needs it to be on your computer.

I did another test today... I let REVO remove "Bitdefender CL Contextual menu", and all left overs, completely.
Then REVO wanted to reboot to also remove the left over kernel hooks.

So I rebooted. And what to my wondering eyes did appear, but...
"We're working on updates 0 - 30%", then restart. Then "We're working on it 30 - 100%".
And the Windows App "Bitdefender CL Contextual Menu", was back.

So this IS obviously a Windows App, and Bitdefender seems to have approved it.
I called Bitdefender and asked... "If you are going to let Microsoft alter Bitdefender... why should I buy Bitdefender".

I said... " I bought Bitdefender because I don't completely trust Microsoft. That's why anyone buys a 3rd party solution".

Then I said... "If you are going to do something silly, like let Microsoft control your product, hide it better, at least".



Hopefully, thinking about why people BUY 3rd party AV/firewall solutions, will give Bitdefender the motivation, to get their act together again, or at least hide their complicity better.




Mark my words... once Microsoft has control of all the 3rd party software... we will have NO say in what happens, from then on. ^^


George Orwell, c'mon down!
1984 - George Orwell