Is "microsoft.photos.exe" a virus?

Hi Douglas. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 year Windows MVP, and Volunteer Guardian Moderator here to help you.

This is why No expert in Forums - where we see the most cases, by the thousands - recommends Avast, AVG. Norton or McAfee, but we have solved many problems over the years by having them uninstalled.

I would uninstall any 3rd party antivirus in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features and try running only built-in Defender which gives adequate protection, best Windows performance, least issues, and is from Microsoft who knows how to protect their OS best.

After uninstalling antivirus in Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, restart the PC, then type Security in Start Search, open Windows Defender Settings, there and in Windows Defender Security Center fix anything that's flagged.

If you want the best on-demand scanner download and install Malwarebytes from https://www.malwarebytes.com/mwb-download/
In it's Settings > Protection > Scan Options enable Scan for Rootkits.
Then on Scan tab choose Threat Scan and Run Scan.
Clean up anything found, restart PC and then run again until it comes up clean.

Next check for damaged System Files since these antiviruses can damage WIndows: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-use-sfc-scannow...
If it cannot repair them see Step 10 here to continue: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

If you want to keep Malwarebytes as an on-demand scanner then you can disable its Real Time trial version in it's Settings > Accounts tab.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you will wait to rate my post, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

The thing is I dont actually know if its a virus or just the photos thing that came installed. Also, for some reason I have a hunch that you're just trying to scam me/give me a virus due to some uhh shady looking links. Anyone else care to (try to) answer?

I am a Senior Moderator and 10 year WIndows MVP (the highest award in the tech field) who has helped over 100,000 people in forums, and another several million who have followed my tutorials for Clean Install without a single complaint.

I don't know why you would accuse me of trying to infect your PC when I specifically gave you the very best scanner to run Malwarebytes to check it over now, including special instructions how to run it.

I then told you how to check for system files broken by Norton, which any tech enthusiast knows will cause endless problems - it's like paying to bloat out and mess up your PC.

If you don't want my advice just let me know and I'll release the thread to someone else, but no one has helped more consumers in tech forums than I do.

Well I dont want to uninstall norton and I dont want to install malware bytes. All I want to know is whether this file is the photos thing that comes automatically installed on windows 10 or not.

Yeah I think you're a bot. Can anyone else help?

That is the Microsoft Photos executable so it is safe. Only if a virus replaced it with an infected file by the same name could it be bad, which is why I suggested you use the most reputable on-demand Scanner Malwarebytes.

The concern is that Norton not only can give false positives like this but also damages system files just by it's install. So I gave you a way to check over your entire system as well as repair any system files damaged by Norton or a virus if Malwarebytes finds and removes any.

Hi,

If you are unsure of the folks here that are responding, which can be a concern since these are public forums, just check any badging below their name and click on their name Greg Carmack - Windows MVP 2010-20 . The badging is put their by Microsoft.

Here is his profile - note badging below name :

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/profile/331f499e-d285-41ed-a5ee-1e5e9f3cf989?sort=LastReplyDate&dir=Desc&tab=Threads&filter=undefined&forum=allcategories&meta=&status=&mod=&modAge=&advFil=&postedAfter=&postedBefore=&threadType=All&page=1

Here is his Windows Insider MVP profile :

Greg Carmack 
https://insider.windows.com/en-us/MVPs/gregory-christopher-carmack/

Greg Carmack is a 10 year Microsoft MVP as well as a Microsoft Moderator on these forums. Long considered an real expert in his field, Greg is absolutely telling you what he thinks in trying to help resolve any issue you might have.

Personally, I also endorse the methods Greg has proposed above.

Hope this helps.
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Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows and Devices for IT : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.

the best suggestion anybody else is going to give is to follow Greg Carmack's advice.

far from being a bot he is a real and well respected expert.