Possible problem-AdAware/Windows Defender

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rydin4life

New Member
I previously used Ad-Aware until recently it would stop mid-scan and reboot my pc. I found that this is a common error for many pc's and I un-installed and got Spybot Search & Destory. This program find cookies/reg entries and removes them. I also run Norton and that runs but does not find any viruses or anything. I recently ran a trial version of Spy Doctor and it says to have found 93 problems (including 7 trojans) but would not remove them since its the trial version so I don't know how legit that is. I used to have windows defender but removed it. I tried to re-install today and it gives an error message saying something to make sure I have permission to do that? So, I've run Norton and all is well and I ran spybot s&d and it removed some cookies/etc. Is there any other free program I can download and use to find and remove any problems? I was not freaked out about Ad-Aware not working since it hasn't for a while, but when windows defender wouldn't install, I got a little worried.
 
Windows Defender was only a trial version and never a full version of a freeware for continued use. Dump it! It's useless at this time without the subscription to Windows OneCare. Norton is another "lost cause" explaining why you were seeing problems with AdAware SE Personal and others. It's a very demanding software and probably saw conflicts.

A much better antivirus tool as well as free are three different programs. The three top rated freewares are AVG 7.5, Avast, and AntiVir. The best retail program that easily dusts Norton and McAfee alike is Trend Micro's PC-cillin. You can run the 30day shareware to that find and clean stuff that the others combined will miss. In fact one sticky mentions Trend Micro's House Call which requires PC-cillin be first installed onto the system to run the free online scanner.

Another tool under review lately that has no conflicts seen with AVG, Ewido now known as Grisoft's AVG Anti-Spyware Remover another freeware and AdAware is recommeded by PC World magazine. Spyware Terminator. Both that and PC-cillin have been effective finding what Adaware misses while that Lavasoft utility finds the data miners missed by those. They work hand in hand there!

The links here are for the tools advised. First consulting the basic malware removal sticky seen at http://www.computerforum.com/24782-basic-malware-removal.html You'll notice that some of this while still outdated at this time still lists House Call along with Panda. For the free tryout of PC-cillin Norton will be removed as part of the installation process. Afterwards you can remove the trial version for a good look at the others like AVG and ST. For House Call, http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

AVG 7.5 and the other free spyware remover, http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-spyware-free

Spyware Terminator is found at http://www.spywareterminator.com/

AVG, Avast, and AntiVir are also found mixed in with a number of other freeware and shareware antivirus tools at http://www.majorgeeks.com/downloads29.html Once you have given House Call a good run and replace the trial version with AVG, SpywareTerminator that also includes a personal firewall, and some other tool like AdAware you can post a HiJack This log to see if anything was missed.
 
If I download AVG and keep Norton, will I have any problems? I have a few months left on my Norton subscription and don't want to delete it just yet.
 
why wouldnt you want to get rid of norton if it cant get rid of your viruses.... its obviosly not good software, id go for the AVG 7.5 its a great program and is cheap you can get a demo at www.getavgnow.com or buy a one year version for 29.95
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I don't know if Norton isn't working, just want to be sure. Will it hurt if I install AVG 7.5 along side of Norton as long as I don't run both at the same time?
 
First off the AVG 7.5 is the free version of Grisoft's antivirus software. The link posted earlier also inludes the free antispyware tool formerly well known as Ewido until Grisoft bought that out. The spyware remover can be run there without seeing any real problems with Norton provided your subscription doesn't include a firewall. AVG can't run with Norton active and the installer would autodetect Norton being there. But you download and save it for later installation once you say "good bye"! to Norton.

The Spyware Terminator will also go on with the possible Norton firewall issue popping up on you there. Webroot's Spysweeper is another spy blaster that finds things without clashing with Norton. But any firewall usually prompts to allow or deny anything new if it's any good at least. Being familiar with several not one or two programs is even better. One place for finding information on most antivirus and spyware/adware removers is seen at http://www.adwarereport.com/
 
I downloaded the Terminator program, but I guess you have to be careful only to remove those included as threats since it finds a bunch of other normal programs. I did download AVG 7.5 but but my Norton runs out in a few months, but I am leary of removing it completely because I have had no problems with it to date and my system seems to be ok. The only problems I've been having are Ad-Aware shutting down which may or may not be spyware related and the spy-ware doctor finding a so called virus. Well, that program also found 93 total problems, none of which are found by norton, spybot s&d or terminator. Then it says it finds all of this stuff and then wants me to pay for the full version to remove it, sounds like just advertising to me. I just hate to get rid of norton when I personally have not had any problems, and dont' want to get rid of it because of what might be there.
 
If Spyware Terminator didn't even find the usual data miner tracking cookies the crap being thrown in your face with the Spy Doctor whatever is precisely that "advertising crapola"! This is the typical nonsense selling gimic seen on a number of "get you going -get you to buy" sharewares.

As far as AdAware simply remove it for the time being. Something may have corrupted the current installation. Download a fresh copy later after running a good registry cleanup tool. Also delete the Lavasoft folder if you find it remaining later. Once you have used a cleaner like the freeware found at http://www.majorgeeks.com/RegCleaner_d460.html

Have some clutter on the drive? CCleaner is one to use with caution if you like storing a certain file type in folders you create on your own. But it's useful in locating and removing a ton of useless temp files and folders that accumilate after a period of time and take up drive space. Let's get you cleaned up for the eventual install of AVG! http://www.ccleaner.com/ :D
 
I had cleaned everything well the night before, so last night I ran Spyware Terminator and found a few cookies. I then ran spybot s&d and found nothing. I also downloaded two freeware programs designed to search for trojans/worms/etc. from majorgeeks.com and ran both of those. Both found nothing. I then did a norton scan which came up empty. Since none of those found anything, I feel better. My system did not lock up on me last night either. As I said earlier, my Norton expires in the coming months, so I want to read reviews/comparisons on Norton/AVG and see if I want to get rid of norton all together. I am running the 2003 Norton AV, but have all updates but since its like $40 a year or whatever, I may switch to AVG if I find reviews that it is just as good, if not better.

On a side note, last night I could have sworn that my all-in-one (turned off) was making noises like it was about to print. It quickly stopped. I am thinking maybe one of the scans did it, since the device is listed as a drive under my computer for its device slots, but who knows.
 
Look, All I will say on the matter of viruses is that you can never trust Norton, because I have seen so many people stuff their comps up due to norton deleting the wrong files.. I mean it's absolutly hopeless, you're best bet is with avast 4.7 pro and ad-aware and spyware terminator.
 
I just read something about AVG having and update that caused a lot of problems. I've heard good about AVG/Avast/Kaspersky...so far I have been fine (I think) with Norton, but want to make sure. Since I have Norton 2003, this would be an upgrade even to a free one. Which is my best bet for a powerful, real-time protection and good scanning AV that is free with free updates? I'm just thinking "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" so I'm leary about leaving Norton since they are a well-known name and come out with many updates and fixes.
 
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For a retail package the top one found here was Trend Micro's PC-cillin. That incorporates a personal firewall along with adware and spyware removers. AVG has it's own email scanner included and will flag most types of viruses. Spyware Terminator finds the stuff as PC-cillin that AdAware and AVG both miss. No one single program will stop everything. Norton and McAfee just happen to be at the bottom of the scale in most cases.
 
well I have a registry cleaner, spybot s&d, spyware terminator, and will get either avg or avast....which one is better between the two of them?
 
Personally I give AVG an edge over Avast after having tried Avast. AVG has been a success since it was first tried. But none of them will catch "everything". When Avast was tried it flagged one web site copying a trojan onto the drive. AVG has flagged bugs on the drive as well as caught viruses attached to unknown emails. But Avast's antiphising filter isn't needed since IE 7 now includes it's own.
 
I just did a scan with the AVAST virus scanner and it found nothing which makes me think Norton is doing a good job. I guess I'm thinking "If it ain't broke, don't fix it", but then I read all the bad stuff about Norton and all the good about AVAST and AVG, so I find myself at a crossroads.
 
Microsoft introduced their beta tools for a period of time like the MS Antispyware and Windows Defender which mainly flopped. I wasn't convinced with Avast when that was given a good run. AVG on the other hand suddenly came to life one day even though it was totally disabled in the startup and services sections in the msconfig utility to alert on a trojan the instant it was copied to the drive upon reaching some new web site(unknown) during a search.

While not being able to remove some of the "bugs" it points out just where to look and what files have been effected. Any of them will miss things as well. I would say give AVG a run since you haven't given that a chance to see if it spots what the others missed. After to insure that everything has been tried go for PC-cillin and use the House Call online scanner. Someone stated you didn't have to install PC-cillin to run House Call. But that's up in the air at this point. You can try this out at http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
 
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