Many users have been encountering problems with an unexpected and unwanted addition to their systems: the HP OMEN Install Monitor. This software, installed without the user's consent, has been causing major disruptions, especially for gamers.
This would result in multiple HP.OMEN.OMENInstallMonitor processes being created which ends up taking over 99% of the user's computer hardware including the memory and the CPU resources.
HP Omen is a lineup of gaming computers and desktops that is created by the computer manufacturer HP. While the HP OMEN Install Monitor is a component of the HP OMEN Gaming Hub software suite.
This program is created specifically for HP Omen devices to improve the gaming experience by offering tools for optimizing system performance, monitoring hardware, and tuning performance.
100+ HP OMEN Install Monitor processes on Task Manager
Many users have experienced significant issues with the OMEN Install Monitor, including high memory usage and system slowdowns.
These problems have caused frustration for many users, even on systems where the OMEN software was not intentionally installed.
A number of users who owns an HP Omen laptop and desktops, including some using an HP monitor (not from the OMEN series), have observed a pop-up window from the administrator appearing whenever they launch a game.
This pop-up is associated with the HP OMEN System Optimizer. Even after refusing multiple times, the software continued to persist, causing the user to resort to searching for solutions online.
A user on Reddit shared their experience of accidentally allowing the software to run, which caused significant performance problems. Screen tearing became quite noticeable in all games, making some impossible to play.
Despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue, such as uninstalling the game and resetting settings, the problems continued to persist. Some claimed that even performing a complete factory reset as a potential solution to the issue.
It appears that the problem is not limited to a specific case. Reports from Dell gaming laptop users experienced similar issues, as the HP OMEN Install Monitor was using up 99% of their memory.
Several users have mentioned that the HP OMEN Gaming Hub is frequently installed automatically during the initial setup process. Although initially harmless, a recent update has led to significant performance issues, including skyrocketing memory usage and an unresponsive system.
It appears that there may be a temporary bug that HP has not yet addressed after their recent software update.
This error will be addressed in a future update, considering the scale of the issue. If you're currently dealing with high CPU/Memory usage caused by the process, we have made a step-by-step tutorial below on how to fix it.
How to fix HP OMEN Install Monitor
Here are some steps to resolve the problem caused by the self-replicating HP.OMEN.OMENInstallMonitor deals with processes that can consume a significant amount of computer resources.
While we wait for the official fix by HP, it would be helpful to follow the instructions provided.
Step 1: Kill the HP.OMEN.OMENInstallMonitor processes
Due to the sheer number of HP.OMEN.OMENInstallMonitor processes currently open in the computer, we will have to mass stop them first in order to proceed with the steps otherwise we will be met with system crashes.
1. Search for the Command Prompt via the Windows search bar. Make sure to run it as administrator.
2. Once Command Prompt is opened as an administrator, type the following command to kill all related processes:
taskkill /F /IM OmenInstallMonitor.exe
The OMEN processes would have stopped running on the computer. However, it's important to note that these processes will restart when you reboot your computer. As a result, it's advisable to temporarily delete the main program.
Step 2: Uninstall OMEN Gaming Hub
Given that the OMEN program is responsible for the computer's performance issues due to multiple processes, it would be advisable to uninstall it temporarily until the developers release a fix.
It's a simple process that can be done through the Control Panel. Here's how to do so:
1. Click on the Windows key to open the Start menu.
2. Type Control Panel in the provided search bar and select the first item from the search results.
3. Click on Programs and inside, select Programs and Features.
4. You will be presented with a list of programs currently installed on your computer.
5. Find OMEN Gaming Hub and right-click the item then select Uninstall/Change from the dropdown menu.
We'll need to use a powerful uninstaller to do the dirty work for us if the software is stubborn and won't go away with normal approaches.
Fortunately, there are tools for this; Revo Uninstaller is a good uninstaller program made to tackle and remove uninstallable programs.
1. To start, download Revo Uninstaller by clicking here. Avoid downloading from third-party sources as they may contain additional bloatware upon installation.
2. On the download page, opt for the free version of Revo Uninstaller as it has all the features we need. Click on Free Download to begin downloading the setup file.
3. The revosetup.exe file would have started downloading. Click on it to start installing the software.
4. Revo Uninstaller setup would now begin and follow the typical setup procedure such as selecting your setup language, accepting the license agreement, and selecting the installation location. Once setup is ready click Install.
5. After the setup is finished, check the Launch Revo Uninstaller option to open the program upon closing the installer.
6. Once Revo Uninstaller has opened, it will show you the list of applications currently installed on the computer. Find OMEN Gaming Hub, right-click it, and select Uninstall from the drop-down menu. (We will be using PC App Store to demonstrate.)
7. A confirmation message stating if you are sure you want to uninstall the said program, click Continue.
8. Follow the uninstallation instructions and this time, Revo Uninstaller would have forced the program to continue with the uninstallation compared to the previous attempt via Control Panel.
9. You will be notified that the software has been uninstalled, Revo Uninstaller will now conduct a preliminary examination and get rid of additional files and registries related to OMEN Gaming Hub.
10. On the selection of Scanning modes, select Advanced to make sure everything is scanned without leaving a single directory unnoticed.
11. Wait for the scan to finish as Revo Uninstaller is checking for residual files and registries related to OMEN Gaming Hub.
12. Revo Uninstaller may have found leftover Registry items, click Select All and proceed to delete them by clicking the Delete button next to it. After that, click Next.
13. It may have also found some leftover files and folders, simply do the same by clicking Select All and deleting them. Now click Finish and the uninstallation of OMEN Gaming Hub is done.
Step 3: Scan your computer for malware
It's possible that a malware infection may have been the cause of the issue. As a precautionary step, we suggest conducting a malware scan on your device.
Since some antivirus software may not be able to detect new threats, we'll need more than one piece of security software to help us locate and remove the potential malware from the computer.
Please run the software individually. You can do so in any particular order.
- Removal Tool
- Emergency Kit
- ESET Scanner
- Malwarebytes
Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool is an excellent tool for scanning and disinfecting malware-infected computers. Please note that this tool is separate from the mainstream Kaspersky security applications, so worry not about the company's controversies.
1. To start, download the Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.
2. Once the download of the executable file (KVRT.exe) is complete. The program doesn't need to be installed on the computer, so you may begin running it straight away.
3. After reading the KSN Statement, Privacy Policy, and End User License Agreement, check the box indicating your agreement to the terms and conditions. To continue, click Accept.
4. Please wait for the system initialization process to finish, as the program will first check if your system is compatible.
5. Before we start scanning, we will have to set the scope of the scan. Click the Change parameters option to do so.
6. Check all the boxes to allow the computer to search through all of the disks and directories for malware. After that, click OK to return to the main screen.
7. We can now begin the scan; simply click the Start scan button, and the Virus Removal Tool will begin.
8. Await the scan's completion with patience. If there are any risks within the computer system, a notification will be displayed.
9. To completely remove the risks that the program has identified, click Delete from the drop-down menu of each discovered object.
10. Click Continue to remove the identified malware threats from your computer.
As the name implies, the Emergency Kit software by Emsisoft is a must-use in your malware scanner arsenal. It features the same powerful scanning technology used by their flagship software, Emsisoft Anti-Malware.
1. Download the Emsisoft Emergency Kit portable software.
2. You can launch the executable program (EmsisoftEmergencyKit.exe) directly from your downloads folder after downloading it.
3. Click Yes to let the program start on the computer when the User Account Control window appears.
4. Choose your program's destination folder and accept the license and maintenance terms. Next, click Install to continue.
5. Click Malware Scan on the homepage of the Emergency Kit application to start the scanning process. The amount of time it takes for the program to scan your computer will depend on how many files you have and the hardware capabilities of your system.
6. Emsisoft Emergency Scanner will display a list of the files that the program has detected when the scan is complete. To get rid of threats from your computer, click on Quarantine selected.
7. To complete the malware removal procedure, Emsisoft Emergency Scanner may also ask you to restart your computer. Simply click Reboot your system to finish the process.
ESET Online Scanner is a program that is designed only to remove malware threats from your computer for free. It is simple to use and features an advanced malware detection system. There is no need for registration, free trials, or anything else. Simply download, execute, and remove the malware.
1. Download the most recent version of ESET Online Scanner.
2. After pressing the download button, the file (Esetonlinescanner.exe) should have been downloaded to your computer. It does not require any installations so you can simply run the aforementioned file.
3. Before using ESET Online Scanner, it must be initialized. Choose your preferred language and click Get started. Continue as directed by the screen until the homepage appears.
4. Click Computer scan from the homepage, then select Full scan from the three options available.
5. Give ESET Online Scanner the permission to detect and remove potentially unwanted apps by ticking the Enable option. After that, click Start scan to begin the scanning process.
6. Await the completion of the malware scan for your machine by the ESET Online Scanner. ESET Online Scanner would have automatically removed the threats it found after the scan. To complete the malware cleanup process, click Proceed.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware is well-known in the security field; they have helped many people with malware issues through their software, and downloading it will help you as well.
Note: We will only use the free version of Malwarebytes because it includes all of the capabilities we require.
1. Download the latest version of Malwarebytes Anti-malware.
2. Malwarebytes will start downloading (MBSetup.exe) the installation file. Run the executable after the download is complete.
3. To allow the program to execute, simply click Yes in the User Account Control window that may appear.
4. The Malwarebytes setup wizard will now open; select Install to continue.
5. You will be prompted by Malwarebytes to install the Browser Guard extension. Depending on whether you want it on your browser or not, you can choose to download it (the extension is completely free).
6. Please wait as the Malwarebytes Setup installs itself. Follow the on-screen instructions until you have successfully installed Malwarebytes.
7. Start by launching Malwarebytes Anti-malware for the first time after it has been installed. If you're installing Malwarebytes for the first time, you'll get a 14-day free trial of the premium version.
8. After the program takes you to the main dashboard, click the Scanner box in the middle to start scanning the computer.
9. You won't click Scan just yet when you get to the Scanner page. Rather, select Advanced scans as shown below.
10. In the Custom scan section, click Configure scan. We will be able to alter the way the software scans the computer as a result.
11. To detect hidden malware, click the box next to Scan for rootkits on the Configure Custom Scan screen. Additionally, to enable Malwarebytes to scan every drive on your computer, check the boxes next to each one.
12. Once the Custom Scan options have been adjusted, click the Start Custom Scan button to get started.
13. A side window displaying the computer scan's progress will appear. Please wait until Malwarebytes has completed its malware scan of the entire system.
14. Following the completion of the scan, a list of threats found will appear. Check the boxes near all the malicious files and get rid of them from the computer by clicking the Quarantine button.
If prompted, please restart your computer since Malwarebytes may require it.
Computer protection tips
As the saying goes: “The biggest vulnerability is the person behind the screen
So, here are some tips and what you need to know in order to keep your device safe and malware-free in the long run.
Keep every software installed up to date
Make sure that all of the programs in your computer is up-to-date with the latest version released by the developer. The reason behind this is that these updates frequently tackle bugs and issues that malware actors often exploit.
The same goes for your computer's operating system, make sure Windows is up-to-date with the latest software update to prevent malware from exploiting a hidden vulnerability.
Avoid downloading files from unknown sources
One of the biggest sources of malware infection in a computer system is third-party installations. This happens when a user downloads a certain program from sources that are not the official download links. Some of the common types of sources where malware is present are torrent files, cracked software, and games.
Be careful with opening email attachments
Malware often disguises itself as resumes and quotations and threat actors often send thousands of these infected emails to company employees around the world in order to infiltrate their network.
Always check where your emails are coming from as there may be a chance that the project attachment you received via email did not actually come from a co-worker.
Do not visit unreputable websites
Avoid visiting websites that contain unfiltered advertisements such as illegal streaming websites, cracked software platforms, and links sent out to you by somebody you do not trust.
These sites are often linked to redirect chains that load once you click on an ad element on the page. Following this chain often leads to drive-by malware and phishing pages that an average user may eventually fail to notice.
Holy… thanks it worked! My HP laptop has been crashing because of this issue. I hope they fix it soon
A few weeks in and HP is still yet to fix it.