Installation Problem

[Mike48]

Hi all,

It seems that after I install Spyware Doctor, I am unable to reach the desktop after I reboot. I am using XP Professional and it hangs on "Applying User Settings" every time. When I uninstall it in safe mode, I am able to get right in on my next restart.

I've run Smart Update before rebooting, and I've also rebooted immediately without running an update in case it was the smart update causing problems. I hang on user settings both ways. Any idea what could be happening? I've installed this program on a number of PCs here at work and the only one it has an issue with is mine.

Thanks in advance...

[mjq424]

Hi
What processor speed and how much RAM do you have? Any other security programs installed?

[Mike48]

It is a 2.39 ghz dell dimension 4550 with 512 MB of Ram.

I am also running Symantec Antivirus.

Thanks.

[AChen]

It is a 2.39 ghz dell dimension 4550 with 512 MB of Ram.

I am also running Symantec Antivirus.

Thanks.

Do you also have the AntiVirus plugin with SD? and what version of Symantec Antivirus do you have installed? I'll see if we can recreate the problem.

[Mike48]

I do not have the plugin, the Symantec Antivirus is a separate application. I am running version 10.0.2.2000.

The users who are not having problems have the same setup.

[AChen]

I do not have the plugin, the Symantec Antivirus is a separate application. I am running version 10.0.2.2000.

The users who are not having problems have the same setup.

Could you try installing SD in safemode and see if this works? (and then see if it works in normal mode as well)

If you are still having problems in normal mode, you may want to try a selective startup, disabling all applications on startup, but only have SD and Symantec AV running. This will give us a clearer idea of what might be causing the problem? Also do you know if the PC's that are working have any major differences to the one with problems?

[haapy]

You will need at least 1GB to run Spyware Doctor. You should consider upgrading your RAM

That is totally incorrect.

For XP 512MB ram is adequate and the Spyware Doctor will perform just fine.

[EraserOne]

That is totally incorrect.

For XP 512MB ram is adequate and the Spyware Doctor will perform just fine.

Sorry but i have to disagree with that,

I have an Dell pc with Windows XP home with only 512MB of ram. SD may work but it takes forever to load or open up and other programs won't open right away if SD is installed, Once i removed SD i have no problems. So its obviously better to have more ram to use SD.. and i tried different versions of SD makes no differents.. Computer runs alot slower with SD installed.

[ohso]

m48
> I am using XP Professional ...
> it hangs on "Applying User Settings"

I have reported this problem with XP Pro also.
Are you running SD or SD with AV?
What version?
Paid or free version?

khim
> You will need at least 1GB to run Spyware Doctor.

haapy
> That is totally incorrect. For XP 512MB ram is adequate and the Spyware Doctor will perform just fine.

Well, you're both right and you're both wrong.

There's a difference between something "working" and it working well. Yes, it will work. Our oldest computer has 512 MB with XP Home on it. I have just installed SDwAV .440 on it. Prior to that (with .386), it used about 500 MB of memory at startup just sitting there. Launch any app and it's over the line. Slow as a glacier. This computer (XP Home) never hangs at login though.

Now that it has .440 on it, at startup it uses only 400 MB. Hmmm. I'm just stunned at a 100 MB difference.

The one that hangs (well, hung) is XP Pro with 2 GB. If I was logged into one acct, switched user, and tried to log into another acct it would hang every time. (Yes, I had fast user switching on.) Since I brought it up in this forum, it has not hung once. Day and night difference. I didn't change anything that I know of. And it doesn't have any other av product on it.

[haapy]

Sorry but i have to disagree with that,

I have an Dell pc with Windows XP home with only 512MB of ram. SD may work but it takes forever to load or open up and other programs won't open right away if SD is installed, Once i removed SD i have no problems. So its obviously better to have more ram to use SD.. and i tried different versions of SD makes no differents.. Computer runs alot slower with SD installed.

All I can tell you that I have a lot of clients with XP and 512 with SD and are running A-OK. I do agree that 512mb is about the lowest to go with XP.

Do you have a Virtual Memory setting at 2x physical?

Do you have a lot of startup programs?

One other thing to check is the old hidden device thing. I have encountered many problems with old Norton drivers still being loaded at boot.

Worse case is buy another 512MB memory. Out where I live it is around $30.00.

[ohso]

EO, follow haapy's advice on this. Prevent startup of unnecessary programs (GoogleUpdater, ItuneHelper, AcrobatReader, etc.). They make your computer slower _and_ take memory, which further makes your computer slower if you only have 512M. Do the 2X virtual memory. Be certain that your HD is not almost full. Delete, clean up (ccleaner), organize, and archive if it is.

Install SD .440. I did that on our oldest (512) computer and it looks to me like it takes 100 MB less memory. Has anyone else noticed this, or has there been some other change on this computer that I haven't identified that is causing this?

If you have spare memory slots and are willing to put a small amount of money into that computer, go to www.crucial.com and enter your brand and model number. Computer memory is surprisingly cheap now. This one fix will have a bigger effect than anythng else.

[GoneToPlaid]

I have to agree that SD is a dog with only 512MB of ram, but runs nicely with 1GB of ram. If you have to run SD with only 512MB of ram, manually set your swap file size to a min and max of 2GB. This helps. Even with 1GB of ram, SD runs much better if you set your swap file size to 1.5GB.

[Mike48]

I believe the problem was a conflict with Symantec. I uninstalled that and SD worked fine, I was able to log right onto my desktop. I have a new antivirus program being installed today however, so whether or not it will continue to work remains to be seen.

Has anyone ever encountered a conflict like that?

Thanks for all your replies!

[haapy]

The protection programs are getting more sophisticated and therefore may contend for resources with each other causing performance and other issues.

I try to keep it simple with Sypware Doctor with Anti-virus and have standalone anti-virus and anti-spyware programs which I use only for periodic scanning, just to be sure. It works well for me.

[k1gpnet]

i have the same problem my PC FREEZE after installing SPywareDoctor it doesnt matter through GooglePack or not maybe new version conflicts with SuperAntiSpyware Pro,Malwarebytes or AVAST you can stop freeze through SAFE MODE start>run>services.MSC disable PCtools services or make them STOP and set to MANUAL after that Uninstall to resolve FREEZE (there is no messages if causes problems with avast or SAS,MBAM) i think it uses alot of ram

[haapy]

k1.. Superantispyware Pro could be the culprit as it has real-time components that could conflict with Spyware Doctor.

Try temporarily disabling it and see if the freeze goes away.

Avast and Malwarebytes have not been an impact in the past.

[k1gpnet]

Haapy you were right problem was SuperAntispyware must disable it after that install SPywareDoctor and then reEnable it now is OK thanks

[EraserOne]

All I can tell you that I have a lot of clients with XP and 512 with SD and are running A-OK. I do agree that 512mb is about the lowest to go with XP.

Do you have a Virtual Memory setting at 2x physical?

Do you have a lot of startup programs?

One other thing to check is the old hidden device thing. I have encountered many problems with old Norton drivers still being loaded at boot.

Worse case is buy another 512MB memory. Out where I live it is around $30.00.

Thanks

don't know about virtual memory setting at 2x? how do i check and change if necessary?

ya i finally found some cheap memory for 99.00 is the cheapest i can get for 2 256k sticks since i have already 2 256k sticks in computer with 2 open slots for 2 more.. i will have to do that when i get the money...

i'll try GoneToplaid suggestion also..

Thanks for all the suggestions. i really like to use SD, i have it on my vista computer with 4gb of ram :-) and no problems there.

[haapy]

Thanks

don't know about virtual memory setting at 2x? how do i check and change if necessary?



Right click My Computer, properties, advanced, performance, advanced, virtual memory, change, custom, set initial and max to 2048, click set, click apply and OK all the way out.

[EraserOne]

Right click My Computer, properties, advanced, performance, advanced, virtual memory, change, custom, set initial and max to 2048, click set, click apply and OK all the way out.

Thanks will give it a try and will see what happens..

[EraserOne]

Will i did what was suggested about going to virtual and installed SD

and my programs like firefox would take forever to open plus cause my computer to lock up where i had to hold off button on computer to turn off computer

Plus trying scanning in full mode took 1hr 45 minutes but it was only at 26% completed. probably would of take 3hrs if i let it continue to scan. so that was enough and uninstalled SD, Just not going to work with this Dell XP with 512MB, til i can upgrade the memory.. oh well i guess, i have threatfire installed plus have Malwarebytes and superantispyware to scan for spywares and malwares....
should be good enough til i can upgrade, so thought i would let anyone know if they were intrested..

[haapy]

Dang. There must be something else going on. While 512mb is minimum, you should not be having the problems that you are.

Run CCleaner to clean your temp files and check your start up programs. Disable what you do not need.

Defrag your hard drive.

Starters.

[EraserOne]

Dang. There must be something else going on. While 512mb is minimum, you should not be having the problems that you are.

Run CCleaner to clean your temp files and check your start up programs. Disable what you do not need.

Defrag your hard drive.

Starters.

I kind of agree that shouldn't have these problems <G>.

I run CCleaner almost every night... Only thing i have checked in my start up programs is threatfire, roboform and nod32 so that really shouldn't be a problem there either,

Thanks for the replies i think the only solution is to buy more memory..lol

last week i did download Registery Mechanic it said it found 445 something like errors but had to pay for it to fix the problems... i used to have a pay version, maybe will have to renew it and maybe see if that fixes my problems ?

[haapy]

I have found that Registry Mechanic is a solid product and worth the money. As a backup, I use CCleaner's registry component.

[haapy]

[QUOTE=EraserOne;204404] i have threatfire installed plus have Malwarebytes and superantispyware to scan for spywares and malwares....
QUOTE]

Have you disabled the online component of Superantispyware? That could be an issue.

What are the system specs on your dell? If you have a 5400RPM hard drive, that will slow things down a lot.

[EraserOne]

[QUOTE=EraserOne;204404] i have threatfire installed plus have Malwarebytes and superantispyware to scan for spywares and malwares....
QUOTE]

Have you disabled the online component of Superantispyware? That could be an issue.

What are the system specs on your dell? If you have a 5400RPM hard drive, that will slow things down a lot.

I believe Superantispyware is disable i only use it to manually scan,

don't even know where to check to see if i have a 5400RPM hard drive which probably do. had this Dell Deminision 8200 series for quite sometime.., i installed will my brother installed another hard drive for me.

thanks

[Reodor]

May I be a little bit 'naughty'?
You have loaded up SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes and a bit more, and they seems to work.
On top of that You want SD that does not even want to install properly.
Why bother?
I'm i no way negative to SD, but it has its ups and downs as most programs, it does not work for everybody, it does not work in any combination. In general it likes to rule the playing field without any other competitors.
My Dell's were not happy with it, got slowed down too much. To blame SD or Dell who cares. So far my present set up is working. See below.