Btdna.exe: Use or Lose?

Do you use peer-to-peer technology? If you do, you’re sure to be familiar with the btdna.exe process, which is a BitTorrent Btdna.exe peer-to-peer (P2P) content distribution network.

Btdna.exe is known to cause excessive network usage problems. Also, the file is known to be left behind even after BitTorrent is removed from the system. Another annoying behavior displayed by this particular executable is that it loads at system startup and slows down the computer.

How to Completely Remove Btdna.exe

To get rid of this annoyance, here are a few suggested methods for the removal of btdna.exe.

Method 1: Manually Remove BitTorrent From the PC

  1. Open Task Manager by pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Del or Ctrl + Shift + Esc key combination.
  2. Go to the Processes tab.
  3. Look for btdna.exe and right-click on it.
  4. Select End Process.
  5. Click Yes when the warning sign comes up.
  6. Close Task Manager.
  7. Next, click Start and go to Run.
  8. Enter C:\Program Files\DNA\btdna.exe /UNINSTALL.
  9. Use the Search feature for any other instances of btdna and delete them too.

Note: In case you encounter an instance when a btdna file with an icon cannot be deleted and an error message similar to the one given below is displayed:

"CANNOT DELETE btdna: Access is denied."

Make sure the disk is not full and that the file is currently not in use. Then, use the following method to fix this btdna.exe warning error message.

To be able to perform these steps, you need to have a pre-existing antivirus on your computer:

  1. Click Start and go to Run.
  2. Enter msconfig.
  3. On the Startup tab and clear the btdna checkbox.
  4. Click OK and then click Apply.
  5. Reboot your computer to apply the changes.
  6. Make sure that your antivirus is up and active.
  7. Trigger the btdna error message again. This usually appears when a folder is opened or when Explorer is used.
  8. Once the error message is triggered, your antivirus should be able to detect the btdna source file.
  9. Place this source file in the Quarantine of your antivirus.
  10. Finally, open the Quarantine folder and delete the offending file.

Method 2: Completely Uninstall BitTorrent

You can use Add or Remove Programs tool to uninstall BitTorrent. However, Add or Remove Programs is known to leave behind unwanted files on the PC. This is the reason why it is recommended that you use an efficient third-party program uninstaller, such as Perfect Uninstaller to completely remove BitTorrent and get rid of btdna.exe from the system.

To ensure complete removal, it is essential that you catch all remnants of the btdna executable file in the registry. Run a scan with a recommended registry cleaner like RegServe. A regular registry scan can be quite beneficial. A well designed scanner can repair errors that are left behind by various programs. A highly responsive registry scanner should be able to find and fix errors in your computer even before you become aware of them.

P2P may be a great way to share legitimate files but this technology also allows the spread and propagation of malware. Always be careful of what client you use to download, who you download the target file from, and the site where the file is located.