I nearly fell for it / give us the facts!

[robwild]

I read Anthony's sticky about the newly released SDv.5.0.0.174, and rushed to download it, could it be the solution to my problem? It sounded like it:-

We would like to announce that we have released a new package of Spyware Doctor version 5.0.0.174. This package is different from the previous packages in that we have not only resolved some issues, but decided to remove from the default installation some of the additional tools that we believe may be impacting performance on some people’s PCs.

If you are running the original package and experiencing problems we apologize and respectfully request you try this new version and provide your comments.

But before I ran it I read the already mixed forum comments:-

- was the link pointing to the correct version?

- which version had I downloaded?

- why was the version number not shown? It would not mean a lot to many but it would mean a hell of a lot to the recently enlightened (or should that be frustrated) upgraders!

-they state that they have "resolved some issues"/ why not tell us which ones? Are they the ones on the resolved list on the sticky at http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44951

- what of the reported issues? Have any of them been included?

For Pete's sake PC Tools treat us like adults, give us the facts! If SDv.5 is the product of 18 months development and testing gawd help us! It's a flawed product which should still be in beta development, not released on the unsuspecting public!

Because of this fiasco I am currently trialing Webroot's Spysweeper and Pareto's XoftSpy, sad to say PC Tools both are working seamlessly with my current set up! You may soon loose another customer!

[mjq424]

Hi
I think the announcement is a fairly big step...this was actually the first apology from PC Tools regarding all the SDv5 problems. They are now acting more in the way of a professional company trying to make amends by removing "flawed" sections for re-writing.

[Paulas]

Yes I agree, the company announcement is a big first step - albeit well overdue.

Even so, I am going to steer clear of Version 5 for quite some time yet.

Having been bitten badly on the commercial full release of V5 due to my blind faith in PC Tools, I will no longer be amongst the first of their paying guinea pigs ever again.

[Keith Warner]

I fell for it, and .174 still isn't right, and if you got a/v on the first go around, you automatically get it again. See my ("When will I ever learn?")

I now have no Spyware Doctor on my machine and am using Prevx1 with thirteen days remaining on free trial. If SD isn't guaranteed fixed by then - BYE BYE

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d186/LuvlyLass/Smileys/07_06_005.gif

[robwild]

Never heard of Prevx before. Just been touring around their site, and reading their software release notes (PC Tools take note) it looks interesting, downloaded it for another day, but by now it is another day! Will put it to the test as (CPU hogging) SD4 (and the other two) have today given my machine a clean bill of health. TTFN

[Jinih]

I don't know about you guys, But the latest version runs better for me.

Here are the cronolgy.

I'm running XP SP2
got Norton AV running.
Upgrade to SD5 but experiencing multiple issues.

Call their 1800 number. The reps advise me that they have just release a new version and asked me to try it. And I asked him to guide me through the correct steps.

first they asked me to uninstall SD5 (the old version)
restart Comp
Download SD5 again from the website (the new version)
Installed.
Cancel the Smart Update (because he says that he wanted to test on whether SD5 can run in my computer or not)
Side note: at this stage I only have Spyware Doctor version 5 only (No AntiVirus feature yet).

Comp runs fine. no conflict of what so ever.
Then he asked me to Smart Update. After that all kind of problems happen (again).
After uninstalling Spyware Doctor again. the rep asked me if I have any other AntiVirus running. I said yes, Norton AV.

Ah, then he mentioned that the SD5 AV feature is conflicting with Norton AV.

I could not quite remember what he actually says but in short. It is not recommended to run or install 2 or more different AV in the same computer.

Then he did something on my profile. Then he asked me to re-install SD5 again but this time allow the Smart Update. Strangely it does not download the AV feature anymore.

Now my comp runs fine with SD5 (no AV) and Norton AV.

[tigertheboo]

I don't know about you guys, But the latest version runs better for me.

Here are the cronolgy.

Then he did something on my profile. Then he asked me to re-install SD5 again but this time allow the Smart Update. Strangely it does not download the AV feature anymore.

Now my comp runs fine with SD5 (no AV) and Norton AV.

Just trying to get appropriate information: how does one download version 174 or later without the AV or if the AV is downloaded make sure that it is not enabled. Spydoctor does (did) have the reputation of being number one in spyware catching but the AV is new and many like myself are quite happy with other AV software.

thanks

[manic]

Hey all, I just downloaded the new upgrade (.174) and it helped me my problems.
I was running on beta before and that really bogged down my system, scans took longer than usual, but it seems that the problem has been resolved with this release.

[AChen]

Just trying to get appropriate information: how does one download version 174 or later without the AV or if the AV is downloaded make sure that it is not enabled. Spydoctor does (did) have the reputation of being number one in spyware catching but the AV is new and many like myself are quite happy with other AV software.

thanks

Hi All,

If you would like to disable the AV plug-in, please private message me your license details and I will have this sorted out for you.

[crashman]

They're still updating it and I don't see any chance of them ending updates for it in the near future but they owe it to everyone to stop selling it and list version 4 for download with version 5 as the beta it still is.

[robwild]

Hi All,

If you would like to disable the AV plug-in, please private message me your license details and I will have this sorted out for you.

Why make work for yourself? Rather than having to do this, would it not be simpler and for most users preferable, to give your paying punters the right to choose whether they want Smart Update to include your new AV plug-in. I for one do not wish to download something that will probably conflict with my current AV. All we need is a tick box to 'check or uncheck' (how I hate that phrase).

[ajm]

Never heard of Prevx before. Just been touring around their site, and reading their software release notes (PC Tools take note) it looks interesting, downloaded it for another day, but by now it is another day! Will put it to the test as (CPU hogging) SD4 (and the other two) have today given my machine a clean bill of health. TTFN

Prevx1 is a non-signature based antispyware tool, which uses some type of behavioral analysis to determine what is and what is not spyware. According to a review in a recent PC Mag, it gets pretty high marks, although Primary Response SafeConnect 2.1 received the Editor's Choice in the non-signature category (it received a perfect score for keylogger blocking and removal, but was not as good as Prevx1 at general spyware blocking/removal). The article also said that it is best to run a non-sig product alongside a sig-based product for full coverage.

That said, I have never used Prevx1 or any other non-sig antispyware app, so I can't say from firsthand experience how well they do, but after the SD 5 mess, I may just check one out soon.

[robwild]

Thanks for this, I've read the review. I'm currently trialing Prevx1 with Webroot's Spy Sweeper 5 (PC Pro's A List product) for this reason, both working seamlessly so far with NIS 2006 :) . I will have another look at SD5 when stability returns and issues resolved as I still have 50 weeks subscription left and I doubt I'd get a refund!

[tom.tdw]

I don't know about you guys, But the latest version runs better for me.

Here are the cronolgy.

I'm running XP SP2
got Norton AV running.
Upgrade to SD5 but experiencing multiple issues.

Call their 1800 number. The reps advise me that they have just release a new version and asked me to try it. And I asked him to guide me through the correct steps.

first they asked me to uninstall SD5 (the old version)
restart Comp
Download SD5 again from the website (the new version)
Installed.
Cancel the Smart Update (because he says that he wanted to test on whether SD5 can run in my computer or not)
Side note: at this stage I only have Spyware Doctor version 5 only (No AntiVirus feature yet).

Comp runs fine. no conflict of what so ever.
Then he asked me to Smart Update. After that all kind of problems happen (again).
After uninstalling Spyware Doctor again. the rep asked me if I have any other AntiVirus running. I said yes, Norton AV.

Ah, then he mentioned that the SD5 AV feature is conflicting with Norton AV.

I could not quite remember what he actually says but in short. It is not recommended to run or install 2 or more different AV in the same computer.

Then he did something on my profile. Then he asked me to re-install SD5 again but this time allow the Smart Update. Strangely it does not download the AV feature anymore.

Now my comp runs fine with SD5 (no AV) and Norton AV.
running 2 anti-viruses should not be done. this is not a pctools specific issue. i think that a lot of users experianced a well known rule that is applicable for all anti-viruses and took it to be a problem with spyware doctor

[Keith Warner]

Greetings! I had already known it was unwise to have two a/v programs knocking heads, but when I upgraded SD from v4 to v5 and was then offered the free a/v, I completely forgot that my avast! was running as well. What a disaster! After disabling avast! things calmed down somewhat, but I soon found out there were other problems. Now, thanks to Anthony Chen, my system is running fine with v5 without a/v, and no conflict with avast! a/v or Sygate firewall.

Prevx1 is something I ran across last summer when my other machine was infected with a nasty little bugger called Safetyhomepage. It was the usual "Show me the money and you can have your browser back". At the time, Spyware Doctor didn't remove it, but Prevx1 did. Shortly thereafter that machine was damaged in a flood and I forgot about it, until I recently discovered SD v4 did not support Firefox. That's when I remembered Prevx1 and installed it on this machine.

http://img126.exs.cx/img126/997/36_1_11.gif

Keith Warner

[robwild]

Hi Tom,

I have never run two AVs, I have no desire to run two AVs, I don't want to download SD5 with the AV plug-in, I want control over the option not to have to do so! Spy Sweeper gives you this option, I chose not to install the AV.

Although I have tried various AVs over the years I have always relied on Norton products since long before Symantec took them over. I am currently running NIS 2006 and it suits my needs.

Perhaps you should read my first tale of woe in this sorry saga:-
http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46071&page=4

Having installed and uninstalled SD5 four times now in the last 10 days, I finally got cheesed off and looked around at what else was out there. So in the few days I have downloaded other products and tried them in different combinations. The only constant has been NIS 2006. Until earlier today I only had NIS and Spy Sweeper running in the background (SD4 and XoftSpySE are loaded but not running except if I choose to do a comparative spyware scan, like yesterday when all 3 gave my machine a clean bill of health).

According to the manufacturers blurb Prevx1 "has been proven to work collaboratively with all of the major security products significantly strengthening the systems' defenses against all forms of cyber attack."

PC Magazine's review of it which can be found at :-
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2084591,00.asp

similarly states that "Prevx1 is meant to work alongside a more traditional signature-based antispyware program. The traditional product thoroughly cleans out known threats, whereas Prevx1 keeps out those that aren't yet known." This was why I downloaded it last night and ran it today.

I currently have a stable and clean system (famous last words) with:-
- one Anti virus programme - Norton
- one signature based anti spyware programme - Spy Sweeper and
- one heuristic scanner - Prevx1
running seamlessly in the background without any significant impact on system performance.

I'm currently a happy bunny!

Hope this helps!

[anastrophe]

my experience with 5.0.0.174:

so far, not bad. no cpu hogging, but network-related activities are still sluggish - just not nearly as sluggish as before (think 'cold molasses' for before, now 'warm syrup' after). i'd say my networking functionality is about 85% to 90% of normal, which i can live with for the most part. browsing generally means that if i click a link, it takes two to five seconds for the browser to actually update to the destination page, as opposed to the normal half a second or less. it's unpleasant, but not unbearable. it's still troubling of course that much of the actual spyware functionality is disabled in order to be able to use an anti-spyware product. however, PCTools has demonstrated that they want to fix the problems, and they are making much good faith efforts to satisfy unhappy customers. Normally i can be a pretty nightmarish customer - if you don't give me what i want, flames shoot out of my mouth. but i'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt to PCTools based upon two things: the excellent performance that version 4 provided, and the excellent responsiveness PCTools support has shown in dealing with these issues. all is not well yet, but it will be, i'm reasonably confident.

oh - regarding the antivirus - i don't understand why it's such a problem for people. if you don't want to use it, just go into the settings and disable it. no muss, no fuss. works fine for me.

[fbroce]

I tried all the vs 5's They all had problems. I reinstalled v4. Now I remember why I bought it in the first place. It found and corrected some problems.

v5 found a few problems ..said it corrected them but a rescan always reproduced the same problems. I will use v4 until they quit updating it or the forum indicates v5 is fixed (beyond what ..174 does).

v5 also required extensive disabling of web browsing and email. It also seemed to slow down things. I have a fast system so that shouldn't happen.

[robwild]

I have also uninstalled v5 and reverted to V4, but that hogs my CPU much more than the other programmes that I am trialing, so it is currently disabled. I will wait until reading the feedback of the new version of SDv.5, apparently due on April 3rd according to the email I received from PC Tools today, before running v5.whatever again.

[Keith Warner]

I thought I was doing fine until it did an auto-update when I had that disabled. It's been downhill from there (details in other threads). SD is totally OUT of my machine (again!). I'm thoroughly disgusted, as the whole point in upgrading to v5 was to protect Firefox, as previous versions did not.

K W

[996vtwin]

Look people dont be fooled. After installing v4 then 5 then removing them I am still to this date haveing problems with my machine. SD has ruined my machined unless I reinstall windows, dont make the same mistake.

[anastrophe]

Look people dont be fooled. After installing v4 then 5 then removing them I am still to this date haveing problems with my machine. SD has ruined my machined unless I reinstall windows, dont make the same mistake.

i haven't read all the threads here in the forum, but i don't think i've heard of anyone claiming that SD 'ruined [their] machine' requiring a windows reinstall.

i've installed SD4, upgraded to SD5 beta, deinstalled SD5 beta, reinstalled SD5 beta, deinstalled SD5 beta, reinstalled SD4, reinstalled SD5, deinstalled SD5, reinstalled SD4, deinstalled SD4, then finally reinstalled SD5 (all the SD5's being different versions obviously).

not once has it 'ruined my machine' such that i had to reinstall windows.

i think you need to look elsewhere on your machine for the cause of this particular problem.

[DRDRJAY]

Aloha Anthony,

So...what Does Release 5....176 Fix? It Still Really Slows Mozilla From Loading!

P.s. WHEN I Now Click On "about" It Does Not Show Version Number...?
Drdrjay

[cyberay]

I found this old PC World article dated 3/21. Strange this is the same date I emailed their editor about the problems I was having with SD 5.

They say SD 5 is better than nothing but if you have SD 4 it might be better to wait for SD 5.1.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2106192,00.asp

[Bubbba1]

i've installed SD4, upgraded to SD5 beta, deinstalled SD5 beta, reinstalled SD5 beta, deinstalled SD5 beta, reinstalled SD4, reinstalled SD5, deinstalled SD5, reinstalled SD4, deinstalled SD4, then finally reinstalled SD5 (all the SD5's being different versions obviously).

not once has it 'ruined my machine' such that i had to reinstall windows.


I agree. Same here .. numerous install/uninstall/re-installs on XP Pro. In fact, I'm very pleased with how cleanly the v5's have uninstalled.