What does the PnkBstrA.exe file do?
The PnkBstrA.exe process is also known as PunkBuster™ Service Component (A) or, as the case may be, Medal of Honor Airborne and is a part of Medal of Honor Airborne or, as the case may be, Need for Speed ProStreet. This software is produced by Even Balance (www.evenbalance.com). An obsolete or defective version of PnkBstrA.exe can cause problems for your computer that can range from slowness to error messages such as these:
- PunkBuster service Component has stopped working. Windows is checking for a solution to the problem... (Windows 10, 8, 7)
- PunkBuster service Component has stopped working. A problem caused the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you if a solution is available. (Windows 10, 8, 7)
- PnkBstrA.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. (Windows XP)
- Access violation at address FFFFFFFF in module PnkBstrA.exe. Read of address 00000000.
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What you should know about PnkBstrA.exe PunkBuster service Component
PnkBstrA.exe is not part of Windows, but it is important nonetheless. PnkBstrA.exe is found in the C:\Windows\System32 directory.
Frequently occurring are file sizes such as 66,872 bytes (71% of all these files), 75,064 bytes as well as 8 other variants.
PnkBstrA.exe does not supply any version information or other description. This PnkBstrA program does not have a visible window, and does not appear on the taskbar. The PnkBstrA file is not part of the Windows operating system. The original file has been signed by a trusted signature authority. This lets you check your copy to see if it is a counterfeit. PnkBstrA.exe contains a digital signature from Verisign, a subsidiary of Symantec. Verisign thereby confirms this file's authenticity and integrity. This PnkBstrA program is connected to a server on the Internet or in your local network.
For this reason, 48% of all experts consider this file to be a possible threat. The probability that it can cause harm is high.
- A PnkBstrA.exe file has a 34% certainty of being dangerous if it is found in a subdirectory of C:\Windows. In this case, the file size is usually 76,888 bytes (41% of all these files), 75,136 bytes as well as 4 other variants. The file does not contain any exact product information, as would normally be expected today. The program executes in the background, and can only be terminated using Windows Task Manager. The original file has been signed by a trusted signature authority. This lets you check your copy to see if it is a counterfeit. The PnkBstrA file is not part of the Windows operating system. The original file is digitally signed. Check your file. PnkBstrA.exe is capable of track other applications.
- A PnkBstrA.exe file has a 36% certainty of being dangerous if it is found in a subdirectory of "C:\Program Files". In this case, the file size is usually 63,040 bytes (81% of all these files), 323,584 bytes or, as the case may be, 66,872 bytes. The file does not contain any exact product information, as would normally be expected today. This PnkBstrA.exe process does not have a visible window, and does not appear on the taskbar. The file was developed by a so-called third party provider - and not by Microsoft. The original file is digitally signed. Check your file. The original file has a digital certificate (see its file properties). This PnkBstrA.exe process is connected to a server on the Internet or in your local network. You may uninstall the related program using Windows Control Panel.
If you see this file on your hard drive or in Windows Task Manager, please make sure that it is not a malicious variant. It's a fact that many trojans try to cloak their true identity by calling themselves PnkBstrA.exe. With the above information or by using tools like Security Task Manager you can determine if, in your case, the file is an undesirable variant.
What do other computer users say about PnkBstrA?
i think it punkbuster for games, but it starts on windows? Patrick | |
it is a game anti cheat, but it is not needed if the game is not running and they can use it as spyware | |
punkbuster an antcheat program when playing online games | |
America's Army DorKyurga | |
I belive this is the Punkbuster application for online games, to prevent cheating. If you do not have one of those games installed, it could be Spyware. |
Summary: 79 users judge PnkBstrA.exe to be an essential file that should not be touched. 18 users consider it harmless. However, 13 users consider this to be a suspicious process and would like to get rid of it. For this reason, 12 users have already deleted PnkBstrA.exe. source: file.net
How to uninstall Medal of Honor Airborne or Need for Speed ProStreet

To remove PunkBuster service Component from your computer, please follow the manual instructions below or use an automatic uninstaller product.
- Click the Windows Start Button. In Windows 8, look for Control Panel.
- Click Control Panel.
- Click Uninstall a program.
- Look for Medal of Honor Airborne or Need for Speed ProStreet in the list of available programs.
- Click Uninstall.
How to tell if PnkBstrA.exe (PunkBuster service Component) was uninstalled cleanly
After uninstalling, restart your computer. Then start Windows Explorer and see if there is still a folder with the name of the software under C:\Program Files. Be sure to check the Registry as well for remnants of PunkBuster service Component. To do this, start "Regedit", then look under "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" > "Software" for PunkBuster service Component or the name of the producer. Always keep in mind that only a computer professional should ever directly delete entries in the Windows Registry.
What to do if a program does not uninstall
The easiest way to remove any kind of software cleanly and accurately is to use an uninstaller tool. Because the uninstaller automatically creates a backup, there is no risk of anything going wrong.
Last but not least
If Windows not working quite right for you, or if startup is taking a long time, or PnkBstrA.exe is causing problems for you, a good Windows diagnostic tool may very well help. This is especially effective when it comes to older computers that have accumulated vast quantities of "garbage data" as the result of many software installs and uninstalls.
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