Spyware engine is starting

[chewycanes]

I am running two toshiba laptops with latest updates for spyware doctor version 5.0.1.205. They both running XP with latest updates and four user accounts. Up until a few day ago both laptop Spyware doctor programmes were updating an running with Onguard in limited mode with no problem after power-up.

A couple of days ago one of the laptops kept saying 'Spyware Doctor Engine is starting' after power-up. I have done the Uninstall of Spyware doctor quite a few times now and each time it loads ok and will continue running ok. If though i power the laptop down and up again it comes up with the 'Spyware doctor engine is starting'.

What cause Spyware Doctor to do this ?

[notE]

Originally Posted by chewycanes

I am running two toshiba laptops with latest updates for spyware doctor version 5.0.1.205. They both running XP with latest updates and four user accounts. Up until a few day ago both laptop Spyware doctor programmes were updating an running with Onguard in limited mode with no problem after power-up.

A couple of days ago one of the laptops kept saying 'Spyware Doctor Engine is starting' after power-up. I have done the Uninstall of Spyware doctor quite a few times now and each time it loads ok and will continue running ok. If though i power the laptop down and up again it comes up with the 'Spyware doctor engine is starting'.

What cause Spyware Doctor to do this ?

I dont know the answer but you are not alone. Same thing happens to me sometimes but is very intermittent. Problem may go on for weeks and then go away for weeks.

[Support]

Chewy Canes

It appears that something on your computer is removing/blocking the Spyware Doctor service files.

Can you please confirm each of the following:

1. Goto start menu > run > type in: services. msc > ok
Scroll down the list, please confirm that the following Spyware Doctor services are present, set to started and automatic.

Spyware Doctor Service
Spyware Doctor Auxiliary Service

If they are not started then try starting them manually by right clicking them > Properties > Start

If you are unable to start the service, please confirm which service it is and any error messages you receive when attempting to start the service.

2. Can you try running Spyware Doctor in Safe Mode with Networking, this should confirm if another program is preventing Spyware Doctor from running.


Safe Mode with Networking
_______________________

How to Shutdown and Restart the Computer in Safe Mode:

1. Click on the Start button menu on your Task Bar
2. Select Shut Down from the menu (''Turn off Computer'' in XP). The 'Shut Down Windows' dialog box will appear.
3. Select Shut down (or, ''Turn Off'' in XP) and click the Yes (or OK) button
4. When the computer starts back up, begin immediately by pressing the F8 key repeatedly until the Windows Startup menu appears with various options
5. By using the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard, select 'Safe Mode with Networking' and not any other modes.
6. Login to your account (if asked)
7. Wait and eventually Windows will start in Safe Mode
8. Run Spyware Doctor

Please confirm if Spyware Doctor runs.

Please remember to reboot your computer after you completed these instructions.

Note: If you have any difficult getting the Windows Startup menu to appear at step 6, try the following to get into Safe Mode:

• Try holding down the left shift key instead of pressing the F8 key while booting up it. Begin immediately pressing the F5 key, about once a second, until the message 'Windows is bypassing your startup files' appears.

Hope this helps
Cheers

[notE]

Originally Posted by Support

Chewy Canes

It appears that something on your computer is removing/blocking the Spyware Doctor service files.

Can you please confirm each of the following:

1. Goto start menu > run > type in: services. msc > ok
Scroll down the list, please confirm that the following Spyware Doctor services are present, set to started and automatic.

Spyware Doctor Service
Spyware Doctor Auxiliary Service

If they are not started then try starting them manually by right clicking them > Properties > Start

If you are unable to start the service, please confirm which service it is and any error messages you receive when attempting to start the service.

2. Can you try running Spyware Doctor in Safe Mode with Networking, this should confirm if another program is preventing Spyware Doctor from running.


Safe Mode with Networking
_______________________

How to Shutdown and Restart the Computer in Safe Mode:

1. Click on the Start button menu on your Task Bar
2. Select Shut Down from the menu (''Turn off Computer'' in XP). The 'Shut Down Windows' dialog box will appear.
3. Select Shut down (or, ''Turn Off'' in XP) and click the Yes (or OK) button
4. When the computer starts back up, begin immediately by pressing the F8 key repeatedly until the Windows Startup menu appears with various options
5. By using the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard, select 'Safe Mode with Networking' and not any other modes.
6. Login to your account (if asked)
7. Wait and eventually Windows will start in Safe Mode
8. Run Spyware Doctor

Please confirm if Spyware Doctor runs.

Please remember to reboot your computer after you completed these instructions.

Note: If you have any difficult getting the Windows Startup menu to appear at step 6, try the following to get into Safe Mode:

• Try holding down the left shift key instead of pressing the F8 key while booting up it. Begin immediately pressing the F5 key, about once a second, until the message 'Windows is bypassing your startup files' appears.

Hope this helps
Cheers

In my case it is the tray icon that says spyware doctor starting.If I start a scan the icon changes to say spyware doctor. If I close SD and restart icon is OK. This has not plaged me for a few weeks but it has come and gone several times in the past few months.

[Reodor]

I had the same problem some time ago and to me it seemed to be RAM related.
Se theese posts:
http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48060
http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48120

However one never knows exactly what is going on inside SD.

[chewycanes]

Ok I followed the instructions and the results were as follows :-

Spyware Doctor Serivice was 'Starting & Automatic'.
Spyware Doctor Auxillliary service was 'Started & Automatic'.

Running spyware doctor in Safe Mode with networking allowed spyware doctor to start immediately.

Powered down and up to go back to normal operation and 'Spyware Doctor engine is starting returned '

How do i now find out what is stopping it working when not in safe mode with networking ?

[chewycanes]

I have just checked the memory configuration of each laptop and found:-

Working laptop
Total Physical memory 512 MB
Available Physical memory 228.84 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.13 GB

Failing laptop
Total Physical Memory 256 MB
Available Physical Memory 112.34 MB
Total Virtual memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page file space 618.45 MB

So would the 256MB cause this problem ?

[Reodor]

Originally Posted by chewycanes

I have just checked the memory configuration of each laptop and found:-

Working laptop
Total Physical memory 512 MB
Available Physical memory 228.84 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.13 GB

Failing laptop
Total Physical Memory 256 MB
Available Physical Memory 112.34 MB
Total Virtual memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page file space 618.45 MB

So would the 256MB cause this problem ?

Seems to me most probably.
Do You have the possibility of 'borrowing' the RAM chip from the working one and put in the non-working? (Check specs first - do not kill it!)

[chewycanes]

Will order larger ram for laptop in next few days. Will post back results when fitted.

[AChen]

It appears that something may be preventing Spyware Doctor from running in normal windows. It appears that another application could be conflicting with the SD service, not allowing it to launch as it should. The reason being, if SD launched normally in safemode, no other processes were running, and we'll need to determine what is causing the problem in order to resolve this.

As a troubleshooting step, try starting up your system with no programs running, if you are able to run Spyware Doctor then try enable the first 5 services, repeat steps for next 5 until you are able to determine which service may be causing the problem.

When enabling the services, ensure you group them if they are related services for the one program.

Start the computer with no programs running.

To clean boot Windows with a Selective Startup

- Click on Start Menu > Run > Type: msconfig > OK

- The System Configuration Utility appears

- Click on General Tab > Under Selective Startup, make sure that "Load System Services" is the only item checked. (You will be unable to unselect "Use Original BOOT.INI." This is OK).

- Clearing all the boxes (except Load System Services) provides for a basic clean boot. For a complete clean boot

- Click the Services tab.

- Check Hide All Microsoft Services (You must hide the Microsoft Services before continuing)

- Uncheck all Services which are displayed in the list except for the two Spyware Doctor services

- Click Apply and then OK.

- Click Restart

When your computer reboots, connect onto the internet and try updating Spyware Doctor

To restore your computer to its original settings:

1. Click Start, and then click Run. The Run window appears.

2. In the Open box, type msconfig and then click OK. The System Configuration Utility appears.

3. Click Normal Startup.

4. Click OK.

5. Click Restart.