Melanie -- I haven't thought about restoring yet, though that may be the next logical step.

I've been through two levels of Microsoft tech support in the last two days, and whatever it is that is happening to my computer is flummoxing them. I wish they could solve the problem, though for some odd reason I feel kind of special for being so very difficult. Strange, isn't it?

My computer now won't go into Safe Mode. All I get is lines and lines of what looks like driver files. Yes, I'm something special at the moment.

Oddly, other than being a bit slower than usual, my computer is functioning just fine. I just REALLY want to get rid of those pesky adware programs nestled in the registry.

BTW, the Microsoft tech admits that the Adware "pirates" (my term) have gotten way out ahead of the Spy Sweepers or SpyBots of this world in terms of sophistication and deviousness. Of course, he didn't admit that the pirates are way out ahead of Microsoft techs in deviousness.

Yeah, Katsmom the microsoft tech ignored my brand new SpySweeper and had me install another spyware program from CNET. I guess he wasn't terribly impressed with SpySweeper either (though he wouldn't say anything negative about it).

It's good to use several spy catcher programs, and one will catch what the other doesn't.

One thing about Pest Patrol, which I have and love, is that the free version will find the spyware but you have to manually delete it. If you have a paid subscription (like I do) Pest Patrol will take care of deleting them for you. You should know, though, that after a year you do have to pay $19 for Pest Patrol's renewal.

I also use Ad-Aware (throught lavasoftusa.com) which is really good. Do not do a search on the name Ad-Aware because there is another company out there with a different product that has a url adaware.com, but is not the same thing. lavasoftusa is the correct vendor for Ad-aware. This is also a paid subscription.

Than, I have x-cleaner (www.xbblock.com) which is quite good (paid subscription).

I use Webroot Spysweeper, no problem so far. Also use Spybot, which is free.

I'm using Zonealarm as a firewall, and have Norton Utilities, which includes Norton Antivirus.

Each of these products seem to catch what the other's don't, so it's good to have a few. I run all of my stuff daily, so my computer is pretty clean. It's amazing how much spyware and adware is out there. You can't be too careful.

Jean

Well, my beloved computer has just cut itself off from the net (I'm typing this on my older computer). Interestingly, it will run checkdisk/scandisk now that the internet is no longer hooked up. As soon as the scandisk is finished, I'm trying to reboot in Safe Mode and see if that will work now.

Odd and odderer.

Jean -- after being forced to run several adware-cleaning programs, plus a virus checker every day or so, then backing up the registry and going in to clean it up whenever adware loads something there -- is it even worth it to surf the web?

I've told my family to only go to their favorite, legitimate sites and not to download anything at all, not from anywhere. School isn't in session now, but how will these new adware and virus dangers effect the ability to do research online? I'm not going to want them following just any old link Google tosses up.

We've all become dependent on the web, but if it

Hi Becky:

I'm the only one who uses my computer, so it's probably a lot easier for me than for others who have families to share.

One thing I do is schedule my virus check to automatically run at 10:30 pm when I'm usually in bed, and Spysweeper to automatically run at 2:00 am. That way at least those two get done. PestPatrol, XBlock and AdAware get run when I'm doing dishes or something else that I'm away from the computer. Of course, with kids you have a harder time.

So far I've been lucky and only had to manually go into my registry a couple of times. PestPatrol and XBlock are pretty good about automatically cleaning stuff. Now that I've said that, I've probably jinxed things and my computer will crash. We all know computers have minds of their own. They're kind of like cars -- never let a car know you have extra money or it will break down!

I sure hope you get your problem figured out soon. There's nothing worse than not being able to get online, or play a game.

Jean

Becky,

I think you should try restoring to an earlier time. You won't lose your files, just any new programs.

I use Spybot on my work computer & it doesn't get rid of some of the registry entries. I haven't had any trouble with Pest Patrol getting rid of them. Yes, it is true that you have to renew every year, but it's certainly worth it.

Jean, do your other programs catch things that Pest Patrol doesn't? I never heard of AdAware. I'll have to check it out.

Melanie

Hi Melanie:

I've had both Ad-Aware and SpySweeper find things that PestPatrol doesn't. I've read somewhere that the programs scan for different things, so that's why one will pick up what the other doesn't. XCleaner also finds stuff.

Don't forget if you look into Ad-Aware go to lavasoftusa.com. If you just do a search for Ad-Aware it will bring up another product is a freebie and not as good. The Ad-Aware you get on lavasoft's website has both free and paid for subscriptions. I always get the paid for ones since they usually include better service and more features.

Jean

Hi Jean,

I checked out Lavasoft's site. It sounds like a good program. Thanks for the info.

I think I'll dl the free version & see how it works & if I like it, buy it. I like the fact that it has plug-ins & different versions also. It seems like a professional program.

It certainly can't hurt to have another layer of protection. Pest Patrol found & deleted 3 pests last night after my surfing!

Melanie

Reading this thread prompted me to run the online Pest Patrol scan, which I hadn't done lately.

I'm INFESTED with adware and spyware again -- 32 nasty items! To manually remove all of these items will take me a LONG time.

NOW I know why my Norton Anti-Virus automatic LiveUpdate isn't working anymore. When I try to start my Task Scheduler, it keeps telling me there aren't enough 'resources' available...

I just did an update an hour ago or so, with my Webroot SpySweeper -- and NOTHING whatsoever, is showing up on it. It's worthless and a waste of money, IMO. I'm trashing it ASAP, and getting Pest Patrol!!!

Here's the link for anyone who wants to REALLY find out what adware and spyware is on your computer (for free)! But as someone mentioned, you have to manually remove the items found by the online scan -- or purchase the product.

http://www.pestscan.com/Scan.asp


It takes a few minutes to load, after you click the link. The scan itself is very fast, though -- and incredibly thorough.

I think that's a good idea, Katsmom.

I couldn't believe that I had 3 of them just from one night of surfing! I was looking for an old quicktime version so hit a lot of free download sites.

When I scanned afterwards, my Pest Patrol alarms went off, blaring!

I nearly hit the ceiling. I forgot that I had the sound up for Jazz & Faust.

PP removed them from the registry with one click.

Melanie

Katsmom, my Norton 2003 live update did the self same thing... But it was before the new XP update was installed.

Tig

Becky, thanks for the heads up on this problem. I renewed my Norton about a month ago and thankfully nothing like this happened, but I am so quick to click sometimes that I may have been caught if it did.

As for all the discussion about adware and spyware - my boyfriend is fanatical about not letting this stuff in, and he has set up our firewall and other stuff so that it's never been a problem. We have cable internet and I have had no trouble with adware or spyware whatsoever. So I do think these spyware-catching programs are good for getting rid of things that might already be lurking on your computer, but there are also ways to keep the stuff out in the first place. Lucky for me he's adamant about it because it means I don't have to do the research myself!

emily

Well... I still can't get my automatic LiveUpdate working (nor my Task Scheduler service). I posted elsewhere about everything I've tried -- but if adware/spyware is responsible for 'not enough resources' -- then it sure is well-hidden. Tigger, you're the second person to tell me they've gone through the same thing with Norton. I am using the 2003 program (updated through LU) -- but my Task Scheduler worked just fine until recently. I already have the most recent LiveUpdate version, so that's not the issue. NOTHING seems to be able to get my Task Scheduler working again.

I can't help believing that it's a combination of a Windows HotFix and something about the LU program.

Meanwhile, I got rid of the adware and spyware that Pest Patrol found -- though the programs involved surprised me! One was 'WeatherBug' -- which has been sitting on my computer for 2 years (uninstalled/unused) and never set off a pest search alarm before. And another involved a speech program in my computer, that I don't ever use. I really started wondering about these alleged adware/spyware items... but I went ahead and removed them anyway.

Webroot (SpySweeper) ignored my unhappy comments (by e-mail), and sent me a free upgrade to their newest version of the program. I installed the new version -- but I'm still unconvinced that this program is worth purchasing. It has lots of 'bells and whistles' that the older version lacked -- but (somehow) fewer DEFINITIONS/FINGERPRINTS than the older version had, also...

PLEASE -- those of you who recommend other adware/spyware cleaner products -- could you post the LINKS for us? Then we don't have to risk picking up MORE garbage, by using an online search engine! ('search' is major source of unwanted adware/spyware)

Hi Katsmom,

I know this is a dumb question, but sometimes we look for complicated problems when the answer is a simple one.

Is it possible that your subscription for updates ran out?

If not, have you tried reinstalling? One of the files may have become corrupted.

Melanie

After I learned that Internet Explorer was full of security holes (and got tired of the constant pop-up ads even with pop-up stopper) we switched to Mozilla Firefox. Not a single pop-up has appeared since then and they'll automatically export your IE settings and bookmarks when you download the browser.

I probably sound like an ad for them, but it's free and we really like it. I went back today to IE for one thing (which turned out to be unnecessary) and immediately got pop-ups. Sheesh! I'll never do THAT again!

If you'd like to look it over, you can find it at: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Nelia,

I also won't use IE for that reason. I use Netscape, which is a Mozilla product.

It automatically blocks pop-ups & has a bunch of other features that I really like without the annoying messages from Microsoft constantly.

Melanie

Melanie, my LiveUpdate subscription is current, and I'm still able to use LU manually (by choosing to start it). My problem with the Task Scheduler continues, after trying everything that Symantec suggested to me. I wrote them again.

Thanks for the info. on other browsers. I have the MSN browser, but don't like it; and use IE instead. I wonder if Netscape and Mozilla Firefox would be compatible with MSN? I don't have a problem with pop-ups; just with adware/spyware picked up from search engines like Google and Yahoo and Dogpile.

I just received Consumer Reports (the magazine) for September 2004. They have tested and compared antivirus programs, spamware programs and spyware programs. Results are interesting. Some of the products mentioned here were not included in the tests, but most of them were.

Katsmom, "WeatherBug" isn't spyware or adware, it's a free program that can be set to constantly tell you all about the weather in your town (or anyplace else, for that matter). I have it on my computer, and it has never caused me any problem.
-------------------------------------------------
Ok, I just went to the PestControl site, paid for the download, and ran it. That "WeatherBug" you mentioned, Katsmom, is actually "WeatherCast"--a different program. I know it's not the same, because PP showed WeatherCast on my computer also, I deleted it, and my WeatherBug is still working...

Katsmom, I had the same problem with live updates once with PC-Cillin. I could update manually but not automatically. I uninstalled & reinstalled & it worked.

Becky, Which did they give the highest ratings to?

Melanie

Top rated Anti-Spam: MailFrontier Desktop (Matador)

Top Rated Anti-Virus: Trend Micro PC-cillin 2004

Top-Rated Anti-Spyware: Lavasoft Ad-aware 6 Standard

That's interesting, Becky. Thanks for posting it.

I'm glad to see PC-cillin was rated best. I've thought it was for years.

I see Ad-aware, the one Jean recommended, made the top of the list also. I definitely have to try that one.

I never heard of MailFrontier before.

Btw, how's your computer doing now?

Melanie

Hey Melanie -- well this is odd now. REally odd.

In the midst of the worst of our problems, the computer appeared to completely disconnect itself from the internet. We couldn't get on on either AOL Broadband or Optimum Online Broadband. When this happened, for some reason, we could access the registry for the first time since the trouble began.

We went on and cleaned out most of the stuff we were supposed to. We also stumbled across a file called (as I recall) tcpnut.exe. We had seen an error message regarding tcpnut popping up for months when the computer crashed when we were online. So, on spec and because we're a little crazy, we deleted it even though we could find nothing about it on any of the antivirus sites.

Since then the computer has been running like a charm. Well, as much like a charm as it has ever run. We are back to speeding our way across the net in a way we haven't for months.

Lesson learned? When in doubt, go into your registry and delete away!!!! (Probably a bad lesson to learn.)

If things continue the way they are currently heading, Microsoft will have to make it SO easy to edit the registry that even your mother could do it.