Spyware Doctor - No Update Run?, SD possibly making my pc freeze

[Lefty11]

Had a problem earlier today which disrupted my whole computer, SD behaviour guard blocking my norton360 completely, saying my norton was expired, couldn't update, big hassle. It was blocking a norton file SYMLCSV1.EXE which appears harmless and was resolved when i told sd to allow it, i also had to reinstall norton to solve it completely. However my sd is also problematic, saying attention required and no update run, i also think it's causing my pc to freeze (i have to unplug it at the socket and turn it back on). The norton 360 is fine and i updated it to 3.0 a few hours ago....any help with what could have caused this and how to resolve it?

[haapy]

SD and Norton 360 do not really play well together.

My recommendation is to choose one or the other.

My recommendation would be to go with SD with Antivirus and uninstall Norton 360. However, Norton 360 does not uninstall cleanly (says something about the product), you have to use a special tool from Symantec to do this which can be found here:

http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56318

If you choose to go with Norton, then you might have to live without SD.

However, that is only my opinion, there might be more expert advice out there.

[Lefty11]

nah i've had the norton360 for a long time and had sd for about six months and this is the first problem, i'm getting that blue screen every time i start up telling me trouble but i restart it after that and it starts up, somethings not quite right, but thanks for the advice bud

[mjq424]

Hi
Can you attach the memory minidumps located in C:\WINDOWS\Minidump\ to this thread as a zipped attachment so that the developers can look into the bug?

[Lefty11]

sd worked for short time earlier, enough to do a short scan, but is back to "no update run, attention required". I've attached the zip file.

[AChen]

Many thanks for the minidump. We are currently looking into this :)

[zyang]

sd worked for short time earlier, enough to do a short scan, but is back to "no update run, attention required". I've attached the zip file.

Thanks for your info. Can I know your SD's version number?

[AChen]

Lefty11, could you please confirm what version of SD you previously installed and what version you are currently running?

[Lefty11]

the version i'm running is 6.0.1.440, not sure how to know what version i previously installed?

[Lefty11]

I've disabled my SD and my pc runs fine again, the registry even goes clean which is a first so SD is definetly the problem. Any update?

[haapy]

Lefty,

I am telling you that SD and 360 do not play together.

Uninstall 360 and see for yourself. You have the license key, you can alwayws re-install it.

And you will probably have to go to the symantec web site to get the tool to really uninstall it.

Norton leaves a ton of crap behind that inhibits other products from functioning properely besides SD.

Do yourself a favor and try it.

[Lefty11]

this is the first problem i've had, and i've had norton a good 4 years longer than SD (which i've had for 6 months with no problem). The problem is to do with the new updated version of SD, not norton. I've also said that when SD is disabled, my pc is fine, with the registry clean. So do yourself a favour and don't preach this geeks against norton bs because i'm not a follower, understand?

[haapy]

No problem, sorry that I offended you. I totally understand.

[tds]

I've used Spyware Dr since Windows 98 days, many years with not many problems and recommended to all. And would give it a A-1 rating(the best) for spyware protection. I still have my old windows 98 computer with the compatible Spyware Dr installed on it, no problems at all. A very simple but effective program. But on my XP Pro/sp3 computer with 4GB memory and AMD64bit CPU the newer versions of Spyware Dr are awful, they are memory hogs, slow my system down to a crawl, no other program on my computer will do this and I can load over 10 at a time and not bring this system to slow down like Spyware Dr does. Version 6.0.1.440 was the one that kicked me off the program. Why did they have to go so automated and block so many user settings? And not leave a simple EXIT or CLOSE to program instead of a uninstall when you want to shut the program down?

[AChen]

I've disabled my SD and my pc runs fine again, the registry even goes clean which is a first so SD is definetly the problem. Any update?

Lefty11, many thanks for the info. We've managed to locate the problem and the developers are currently working on a fix :D and then hopefully the fix will be available soon.

Tds, could you please send us some additional info so we can investigate this further (please see PM).

[Lefty11]

great, thanks for the update

[Lefty11]

it's been 3 weeks since you reported the bug was going to be fixed and even with constantly updating the sd, it still has the "no update run" and freezes my pc. Anything?

[AChen]

it's been 3 weeks since you reported the bug was going to be fixed and even with constantly updating the sd, it still has the "no update run" and freezes my pc. Anything?

Sorry for the late reply. This should be resolved in SDv6.0.1.441 which was released earlier this week. For more info, check out http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56223.

[Lefty11]

not got it done i'm afraid. Works to begin with like before, leave for half an hour and it becomes "no update run" where the "last update" info should be, "smart update failed" pops up soon after, and it then proceeds to slow my computer drastically and not allow me to shut the SD or my pc down, so i have to unplug at the socket and then disable sd when it starts back up. Should i be reinstalling it? i've got no threats or other problems bar the sd, which was updated to the latest version of 441.

Over a month now, am i getting this time added on to my subscription as i paid for a working copy.....

[AChen]

not got it done i'm afraid. Works to begin with like before, leave for half an hour and it becomes "no update run" where the "last update" info should be, "smart update failed" pops up soon after, and it then proceeds to slow my computer drastically and not allow me to shut the SD or my pc down, so i have to unplug at the socket and then disable sd when it starts back up. Should i be reinstalling it? i've got no threats or other problems bar the sd, which was updated to the latest version of 441.

Over a month now, am i getting this time added on to my subscription as i paid for a working copy.....

For the minidump files you sent earlier in this thread, the devs have fixed the issues found from this dump. However, it looks like you are still having problems with the updates. What is actually happening when you are trying to run an update? are you getting the 'error while downloading the list of updates' message? and is SD still blocking SYMLCSV1.EXE?

[Lefty11]

when i load the sd (i have it disabled before this), it will work and update and scan, and do everything it should but that doesn't last. By itself, within half an hour, a yellow warning sign with "no update run" appears where the last update info usually is, sometimes it will have popups with smart update failed, but only after the "no update run" appears. Once it appears (you have to open the sd to see it, no pop-up), it slows the pc and doesn't allow you to shut it down because the pc becomes too slow to react to commands. SD is still blocking the false positive trojan that is the temp file you've named, and norton works ok.

[Lefty11]

bump......

[tigertheboo]

Because of the historydisplay problem I've been intermittently using manual update. About half the time manual update fails, then if I try it a second later it works fine. I suspect server problems at PCT end

[PennP]

I'm having the same kinds of problems Lefty is describing. XP Pro SP3, all up-to-date SD w/AV, using it several months.

All was well until the update to 6.0.1.44, or whatever. Some issues seem to have resolved. Others have not. One is updates. Previously, I had SD check for an download updates with my permission. Since I started having problems, I have it check but not download updates 2X daily (not on startup). But it seems to be trying to download them on the sly, because a box will pop up out of the blue telling me that the download failed. When I do an update manually I often get a message that the update failed, and only after repeated attempts do I get either the file update or a message saying my system is already up to date. This is new behavior, as of the past couple of weeks.

I'm also now getting yellow-box warnings out of the blue telling me that I have to reboot to initialize updates--when I haven't downloaded any updates! I cannot close that yellow reboot box--if I try to, the computer hangs and SD becomes inaccessible. In addition, the computer does NOT REBOOT if I do click the reboot box, but exhibits the same behavior I just described.

Most annoying is how hard it is to do a full scan. SD/AV routinely hangs, as it's hanging right now, in LSP Scanner. No additional items are being counted in, yet it seems to think it's scanning. It can stay this way for hours. If I hit "Stop Scan," the systray icon will indicate that it's still "scanning," but the program won't be accessible, and I believe it's nonrsponsive--and not protecting my system when it's in that state. I've left the computer (offline) in that condition for half a day and come back to the exact same state of affairs, so I usually do a cold reboot when that happens.

There also seems to be a much higher draw on CPU resources than there was before this update, and all of my programs are slower to open, and routinely have "timeouts," during which they are listed as "not responding" in Task Manager.

I have no other antivirus/antispyware software running. Any ideas what may be amiss?

[s0nIc]

PennP

can u put ur post on a separate thread? coz u have more problems than Lefty here and we'd like to go through each one without confusing this thread.

[Wrongway1965]

I'm having the same kinds of problems Lefty is describing. XP Pro SP3, all up-to-date SD w/AV, using it several months.

All was well until the update to 6.0.1.44, or whatever. Some issues seem to have resolved. Others have not. One is updates. Previously, I had SD check for an download updates with my permission. Since I started having problems, I have it check but not download updates 2X daily (not on startup). But it seems to be trying to download them on the sly, because a box will pop up out of the blue telling me that the download failed. When I do an update manually I often get a message that the update failed, and only after repeated attempts do I get either the file update or a message saying my system is already up to date. This is new behavior, as of the past couple of weeks.

I'm also now getting yellow-box warnings out of the blue telling me that I have to reboot to initialize updates--when I haven't downloaded any updates! I cannot close that yellow reboot box--if I try to, the computer hangs and SD becomes inaccessible. In addition, the computer does NOT REBOOT if I do click the reboot box, but exhibits the same behavior I just described.

Most annoying is how hard it is to do a full scan. SD/AV routinely hangs, as it's hanging right now, in LSP Scanner. No additional items are being counted in, yet it seems to think it's scanning. It can stay this way for hours. If I hit "Stop Scan," the systray icon will indicate that it's still "scanning," but the program won't be accessible, and I believe it's nonrsponsive--and not protecting my system when it's in that state. I've left the computer (offline) in that condition for half a day and come back to the exact same state of affairs, so I usually do a cold reboot when that happens.

There also seems to be a much higher draw on CPU resources than there was before this update, and all of my programs are slower to open, and routinely have "timeouts," during which they are listed as "not responding" in Task Manager.

I have no other antivirus/antispyware software running. Any ideas what may be amiss?

I'm also running WinXP-SP3 & also having the same troubles as Lefty & PennP.

This is happening 3 to 4 times daily & is VERY annoying.

SD is running version 6.0.1.441 & I have auto updates turned off, so I can manage my online time/access due to a D/L limit.

1st I get the red box telling me update has failed due to an unknown error code -1.
2nd I get the yellow box telling me "Reboot Required, 'Yes or No' ".
3rd my HD starts goin bonkers as if its installing/deleting lots of info.

If I choose yes, it reboots and then around 15-30mins later, it happens again... online or offline... no matter what apps I'm running... I have to reboot because if I choose no, the system locks up... I can't save info, I can't close other apps, I simply have to reboot, or have my system lock up...
which means I loose my info either way.

One more thing to point out, when my system boots, I can run Ad-Aware & without fail, there are 4-9 cookie trackers there.

I stated earlier that this happens 3-4 times/day & I do mean this, after every error message & reboot, there are cookies there.

I turn SD-AV off if I'm offline due to this very problem.

Also since day one, I can't run the maware detective due to an "invalid ticket" message. I cut & paste my registered # from the help/about tab, but no success.

Sorry to say but it makes me sad I paid for this thing...

Wrongway1965

[Bianca150]

when i load the sd (i have it disabled before this), it will work and update and scan, and do everything it should but that doesn't last. By itself, within half an hour, a yellow warning sign with "no update run" appears where the last update info usually is, sometimes it will have popups with smart update failed, but only after the "no update run" appears. Once it appears (you have to open the sd to see it, no pop-up), it slows the pc and doesn't allow you to shut it down because the pc becomes too slow to react to commands. SD is still blocking the false positive trojan that is the temp file you've named, and norton works ok.


I suggest to add SYMLCSV1.EXE in your SD global action list at the meantime while PC Tools dev are working for a fix.

In SD > Settings > General - is 'Enable kernel compatibility mode' ticked or checked? This could help your two security software work together smoothly if you have it checked.

[Bianca150]

I'm also running WinXP-SP3 & also having the same troubles as Lefty & PennP.

This is happening 3 to 4 times daily & is VERY annoying.

SD is running version 6.0.1.441 & I have auto updates turned off, so I can manage my online time/access due to a D/L limit.

1st I get the red box telling me update has failed due to an unknown error code -1.
2nd I get the yellow box telling me "Reboot Required, 'Yes or No' ".
3rd my HD starts goin bonkers as if its installing/deleting lots of info.

If I choose yes, it reboots and then around 15-30mins later, it happens again... online or offline... no matter what apps I'm running... I have to reboot because if I choose no, the system locks up... I can't save info, I can't close other apps, I simply have to reboot, or have my system lock up...
which means I loose my info either way.

One more thing to point out, when my system boots, I can run Ad-Aware & without fail, there are 4-9 cookie trackers there.

I stated earlier that this happens 3-4 times/day & I do mean this, after every error message & reboot, there are cookies there.

I turn SD-AV off if I'm offline due to this very problem.

Also since day one, I can't run the maware detective due to an "invalid ticket" message. I cut & paste my registered # from the help/about tab, but no success.

Sorry to say but it makes me sad I paid for this thing...

Wrongway1965


I suggest to completely uninstall SD from your PC manually and then fresly download the new version and install it.

1. Log into Safe Mode
2. Remove Spyware Doctor folder (which by default would be under 'C:\Program Files')
3. Then delete this file in your registry

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PCTools\Spyware Doctor
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\PCTools\Spyware Doctor
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall\Spyware Doctor

4. Reboot your PC
5. If you have a registry cleaner in your computer like, Registry Mechanic or Ccleaner, I suggest to run them.
6. Download Spyware Doctor
7. Install Spyware Doctor
8. Perform a smart update
9. Reboot
9. There will be another smart update available supposedly, smart update then if needed and I suggest to wait for about an hour before you reboot PC, so Spyware Doctor will have enough time to implement its updates.

Hopefully this will work, and no more reboot poping out afterwards.

You will need to e-mail PC Tools 1st to get a ticket number.

[Wrongway1965]

But it'll have to wait til this weekend..

Any Ideas as to how this got this way ?? Because literally, it was workin fine for a few months & then pow!, it's all screwed up.

thanx

Wrongway

[Bianca150]

I'm not sure what would be the precise reason either, there could be different possible reason like update are not attaching because some applications are blocking it, or the downloader file is broken...etc..

Hope it works when you try it.

[Lefty11]

another beautiful 2 weeks gone, is a fix on the way? Thing sucks, i've had to have it disabled for months now, just enabling to scan every so often and then disable before it messes up. Is there any way i can go back to the previous version, before 441, that's when it started f'in up, sick of postin on here now, anything?

[ohso]

> sick of postin on here now

We're sick of reading it.

My frequent update errors and reboot required alerts went away on 5/14.
See the thread "SWDr with AV constantly asking for reboot".

Obviously, they will occur occasionally, but neither has occurred for a week.
They were previously occurring frequently.

Are you using the paid or free version of SD?
With or without AV?
What version number?
Is "enable kernel compatibility mode" checked?

[Lefty11]

like i give a **** if forum geeks are sick of readin it......i care about the people who fix the problems only. And it is neither "just an update error" or a reboot required alert. It occurs every single time i enable the sd, kernel compatibility is checked, and it says "no update run" not as a popup but on the actual interface. It doesn't ask for a reboot and it doesn't fail to update. It works beautifully for half an hour (scans and updates) but when i leave it enabled, it turns to "no update run" by itself within the half hour time period. And then it ****s my pc to where i have to turn it off at the plug. All the other info needed is in this thread.

Would i be pissed off if it was free? :D