Acer Updater
What is Acer Updater?
The Acer Updater software checks for critical updates and fixes to keep your system always up-to-date. When new updates are found, Acer Updater downloads and installs the fixes automatically. Acer Updater only checks for selected updates or BIOS versions that are considered critical to your PC.
The program runs both as a scheduled task as well as Windows service. The service is responsible for performing the software checks and updates and the schedule task (UALU.exe) is the UI notification window which will display notifications if new updates are available and the user does not have automatic updates and install set and would rather be manually notified to install the discovered updates.
Overview
It is bundled and preinstalled with various Acer computers. The most used version is 1.02.3001, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. Upon installation and setup, it defines an auto-start registry entry which makes this program run on each Windows boot for all user logins. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. 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. The main program executable is alu.exe. The software installer includes 9 files and is usually about 3.29 MB (3,446,666 bytes). UpdaterService.exe is the automatic update component of the software designed to download and apply new updates should new versions be released.
This program is pre-installed on the PC
Such software is installed by the manufacture when delivering the PC to the end user. Some pre-installed programs are considered bloatware as they are simply limited function trials, while others are required for proper PC operation.
Note: This program has often been considered as bloatware by some users as it is bundled on various manufacturer's new PCs. (Because this might be considered bloatware does not mean the software is bad or harmful, if you use it regularly its worthwhile to have. However, bloatware typically means the program is optional and was simply pre-installed but is not required and can be removed.) Some quick tips to be aware of:
- It is usually licensed for use only on the Acer 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.acer.com
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer Updater
Uninstaller: "C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{EE171732-BEB4-4576-887D-CB62727F01CA}\setup.exe" -runfromtemp -l0x41d -removeonly
Estimated size: 3.29 MB
Language: English
Files installed by Acer Updater
| Program executable: | alu.exe |
| Name: | Updater Client |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\acer\acer updater\alu.exe |
| MD5: | a459e8d447441ff6ae1e46a207e8aadb |
Additional files:
-
ALUTaskScheduler.exe - TaskSchedule.exe (TaskSchedule)
-
ALU_Notify.exe - Updater (Acer_ALU_Notify)
-
SD.exe - SD
-
UALU.exe - ALURecover
-
UpdaterService.exe - Updater Service
Behaviors exhibited
4 Scheduled Tasks
- ALU.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{318E17CC-2EB2-4581-99B4-DAFCD0687469}' (runs on registration).
- UALU.exe is scheduled as a task named 'UALU notificatin' (runs monthly on Thursdays at 10:48 PM).
- UpdaterService.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{B45D7345-2344-41B0-B9DB-7EEB424CEA32}' (runs on registration).
- SD.exe is scheduled as a task with the class '{E9DB7965-607C-4CD6-B239-C3AB749A5BAF}' (runs on registration).
2 Scheduled Tasks (Boot/Login)
- ALU.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named 4.
- UALU.exe is automatically launched at startup through a scheduled task named UALU notificatin.
Service
- UpdaterService.exe runs as a service named 'Updater Service' (Updater Service).
Startup File (All Users Run)
- ALU.exe is loaded in the all users (HKLM) registry as a startup file name 'ALU' which loads as C:\Program Files\Gateway\Gateway Updater\ALU.exe -r.
Windows Firewall Allowed Program
- ALU.exe is added as a firewall exception for 'C:\Program Files\Acer\Acer Updater\ALU.exe'.
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
| UpdaterService.exe |
| Memory: | 1.35 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0004982186% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00010696% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00039126% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 1,066 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 35 Bytes | |
How do I remove Acer Updater?
You can uninstall Acer Updater 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 Acer Updater, 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 Acer Updater.
PC BRAND OF CHOICE
100%
Acer
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OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 83%
Win 8 0%
|
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HOW IT STARTS
Automatically starts? Yes
(Found in the run registry)
|
Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
89.79% |
|
| Windows 10 |
9.61% |
|
| Windows XP |
0.35% |
|
| Windows Vista |
0.25% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
73.56% |
|
| Windows 10 Home |
7.06% |
|
| Windows 7 Starter |
6.23% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
4.77% |
|
| Windows 7 Home Basic |
2.61% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
2.52% |
|
Geography
37.12% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
37.12% |
| Germany |
10.32% |
| United Kingdom |
7.95% |
| Canada |
5.97% |
| Italy |
5.08% |
| France |
3.99% |
| Netherlands |
2.68% |
| Australia |
2.26% |
| Spain |
1.93% |
| Belgium |
1.74% |
| Brazil |
1.73% |
| Sweden |
1.65% |
| Taiwan |
1.41% |
| Finland |
1.04% |
About Acer
Acer is a Taiwanese hardware and electronics corporation whose products include desktop and laptop computer PCs, tablet computers, servers, storage devices, displays, smartphones and peripherals.
Publisher URL: www.acer.com