Member Avatar for tonyhuard

Hello, after hijackthis runs and I try to save the log file. THe box just closes and I have no idea where the log file has been saved. I don't even think it is saving because I did a search and couldn't find it. Please help me. Thank you

Tony

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Short, practical clarification for (and follow-up to ): HijackThis produces a plain‑text logfile and normally either opens that logfile in Notepad or writes a .log file into the folder where the HijackThis executable runs. That makes the file hard to find if the program was launched from a shortcut, from a temporary folder, or from a protected location. (en.wikipedia.org)

Where the log usually lands: an installed copy defaults to a Trend Micro folder under Program Files (for example, C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis), while a portable copy saves the logfile beside HijackThis.exe. The standard “Do a system scan and save a logfile” action will display the results in Notepad (so the contents can be copied), and many guides advise saving that Notepad file somewhere writable (Desktop or Documents). (sourceforge.net)

On modern Windows versions the culprit is often UAC file‑virtualization: writes that appear to target Program Files can be silently redirected to the per‑user VirtualStore (C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore...). That means a logfile may exist but in the VirtualStore path instead of the visible Program Files folder; showing hidden files or entering %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore in Explorer will reveal it. Running the HijackThis executable with elevated rights (Run as administrator) prevents that redirection. (learn.microsoft.com)

Quick checklist (common, low-effort fixes): run the actual HijackThis.exe (not a shortcut) from a writable folder such as the Desktop; if installed, right‑click and Run as administrator; after clicking “Do a system scan and save a logfile” check the Notepad window and Save As to Desktop; if the file still can’t be found, search the drive for files containing the phrase “Logfile of HijackThis” or look under %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore; avoid using HijackThis’s “fix” options until an experienced helper has reviewed the log. (samsclass.info)

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Member Avatar for crunchie

Place hijackthis onto your desktop (Not a shortcut to it). Run hijackthis and hit the 'Do a system scan and save a logfile' button.
The log will be saved on the desktop if you follow the above instructions.

Member Avatar for tonyhuard

Thank you thank you. I will do that.

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