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Lavasoft's VX2-cleaner
Please be advised that there are [at least 3] versions of the Lavasoft VX2 cleaner currently available for downloading from various websites. This has resulted in great confusion, about WHICH one should be downloaded, HOW to go about "installing" it, and HOW to access/use it:
First and foremost, the following site is OBSOLETE, and should *NOT* be used:
BAD ====> http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/plugins/vx2cleaner.shtml <==== BAD
The above site downloads the file plxv2cleaner.exe which still installs the older version, 1.03 , of the VX2-cleaner.
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Rather, you SHOULD use the following site:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/addons/vx2cleaner.shtml
which downloads the file vx2cleaner_inst.exe which installs the newer version/build 2.0 of the VX2-cleaner.
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WARNING - Alternative file format: Lavasoft initially released its VX2-cleaner in the form of a compressed/ZIP file. As of the moment, this zipped version is still available at some sites, including MajorGeeks:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Ad-Aware_VX2_Cleaner_Plug-In_d4283.html
which downloads the file vx2cleaner.zip , which can be used to generate the new 2.0 version. This is NOT an "installation" program (as were the above .exe files)... Rather, if you obtain[ed] this ZIPped version, you need to UNzip ("extract") the files into your Lavasoft Ad-Aware"Plugins" folder.
[If you accepted the default installation, the full path name would be
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE Personal\Plugins ]
It is critical that you extract the files into this subdirectory, and not to another location (such as wherever the .ZIP file happened to be downloaded)!
(Note: If you had an earlier version of the VX2 cleaner already installed there, the UNzip process will ask you if you want to replace these earlier files... so if asked whether to replace, click "YES to all" ).
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On some related issues: If anyone is still using Ad-Aware 6 (build 181), please be advised that this version is COMPLETELY OBSOLETE, and should be replaced by Ad-Aware SE Personal 1.06, which can be downloaded from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ or (more directly) from http://www.majorgeeks.com/Ad-Aware_SE_Personal_d506.html
Make sure you have fully installed (and closed-down) Ad-Aware SE 1.06 BEFORE you install the VX2-cleaner.
Finally, the VX2-cleaner must be accessed and run from within Ad-Aware (i.e., it does not simply run "automatically"):
Start Ad-Aware again. Click on the Add-Ons button. Click on the VX2-Cleaner. Click on Run Tool, and then click OK . If it finds any VX2 problems, follow all the directions to CLEAN things. (I believe this will include a reboot, and directions to run another smart scan. Follow all indicated directions [i.e., various/multiple scans] until it tells you you're clean of VX2.)
Message Edited by ky331 on 09-05-2005 10:47 AM
