SPYBOT PROBLEMS

Question

Please offer suggestions to fix a SpyBot problem.   I could not find an answer on SpyBot support to the problem of using almost all resources, running very very slowly and eventually freezing of version 1.3.   Do you think the beta version 1.4 may fix this issue?  I am running WIN98SE, AdSubtract, Pest Control (eTrust), Ad-aware and CA eTrust (ZoneAlarm) firewall/AV.  The SbyBot immuniation and other silent features appear to work without trouble.  This is a chronic issue that has gradually gotten worse.  Do you suppose I should run in safe mode or shutdown most programs?  Doing this may help but is very inconvenient.  My other spyware detectors run quickly.  I have no network problems.

joe53 · Answer

Hi Lawrence:

Have you tried minimising the Spybot window after you start the scan? I found that this cut my scan
times in half on my W98SE. Apparantly rendering the Spybot window is pretty CPU intensive. There is also
a way to set the scan priority in Settings>Settings which might be worth looking at, but I haven't tried
this. Mine is set to the suggested 'normal' priority.

Dr. Lawrence Ho · Answer

Joe, I'll give that a try, but SpyBot probably has a few bugs.  From what I've read  about the next version, quite a few bugs have been repaired.  I have tried removing SpyBot and downloading it anew, but that did not help.  I suspect it coflicts with many antivirus programs.

Dr. Lawrence Ho · Answer

Hi Joe,  Your suggestion does not work.  Since installing the latest edition of CA etrust Security Suite, the program does not run.

joe53 · Answer

Sounds like you will have to run Spybot in safe mode- or at least with your security suite disabled ( and presumably offline).

I was interested that you said all your other scans worked well, since for the past year Ad-Aware SE Personal has always scanned to the point of my desktop/cursor freezing, but it will always scan to completion eventually. This is true even in safe mode, with all my other security apps disabled. I'm afraid those of us with Win9x will be forced to get XP, if these apps get much more bloated.

*sigh*

Dr. Lawrence Ho · Answer

Hi Joe, According to Ad-aware support, freezing and then eventually running is a very common problem in the freebie version of Ad-aware but not in paid for versions. It seems related to antivirus programs. When they are turned off, the freeze theoretically does not happen. I solved the SpyBot problem by dumping it. I suppose that two scanner programs is enough. Incidently, if you visit CA-eTrust's home page, they offer a free spy scan. I am going to wait for the next version of Windows due at the end of 2006. This is also when support for WIN98 will stop.

This is a tool for bad programming.

Windows General

SPYBOT PROBLEMS

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