Cannot Connect to Install Search and Destroy

[KB3NRY]

My parents have a virus that is apparently effecting their DNS and directing or blocking their internet access as it wishes. It seems to be specifically blocking anything related to Spybot such as this forum and safer-networking.com.

Anyway, I downloaded then setup to a flash drive to install on their computer, but the setup will not complete. When I click install, at the very beginning of the install, I get the following error:

"Error Sending Request
A connection with the server could not be established"

I would've though that a program that is often installed on infected computers would not need internet access. Anyway, is there a way for me to get around this. I do not know how to get rid of the problem otherwise. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Tom.K]

You should uncheck this checkbox in components list "Download updates immediately".
Note about your flash drive: Some viruses can infect flash drives when they are connected to an infected computer. Flash drives support autoplay, but they should not run even with autorun. If the icon of your flash drive looks diffrent, you should scan your flash drive for viruses and to explore it after cleaning (if viruses are detected) using right-click > Explore (not Open or AutoPlay).

[KB3NRY]

Thank you very much! That solved the install problem. BUT after it is installed, it shows up in my programs but when I click to run it I get an hour glass for a few seconds and then nothing ever runs. When I first installed it I had an icon in the bottom left tray, but could not open it to do anything. Now I can't get it to open at all.

Does anyone know what might be causing this?

Thanks in advance.

[drragostea]

KB3NRY, this is a malware infection or possible a virus. I'm betting it is more of a malware infection because not does it restrict access to sites, it disables security programs from starting up. What you'll have to do is rename the Spybot desktop icon and run it again.

[129260]

1.) try changing the name of the spybot icon to something like "sd.exe" Then try to launch the program.

2.) Try booting into safe mode and run spybot from there. Don't know how to boot into safe mode? See this page.

Let us know if that helps you, or if you experience any more problems.

[KB3NRY]

Thanks for the advice.

I tried renaming spybot in my programs, there is not spybot.exe but a SDMain and SDFiles. I tried renaming both of those and it still would not run. A black box pops up quickly and then nothing runs. It does show Spybot.exe in the task manager. But I can't find Spybot.exe in the folder inside Program Files.

I tried running in Safe Mode as well and it did the same thing.

Any other advice. Thanks again.

[KB3NRY]

I will add that this is Windows XP and it will not even allow a System Restore.

[md usa spybot fan]

KB3NRY:

... I tried renaming spybot in my programs, there is not spybot.exe but a SDMain and SDFiles. I tried renaming both of those and it still would not run. A black box pops up quickly and then nothing runs. It does show Spybot.exe in the task manager. But I can't find Spybot.exe in the folder inside Program Files. ...

Starting with Spybot 1.5.2 some of Spybot's executables are hidden as protected operating system files. To see them:

• Using Windows Explorer navigate to:
  
  • C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy
• In the Tools menu select Folder Options…
• In the Folder Options dialog select the View tab.
  
  1. Under the "Hidden files and folders" options:
     
     • Make sure "Show hidden files and folders" is selected.
     • Not "Do not show hidden files and folders".
  2. Uncheck the following option:
     
     • Hide protected operating system file (Recommended)
• Click the Apply button.
• Click the OK button.
• The files should now be displayed

Once the protected operating system files are displayed you will see a randomly named file with a .scr extension (JLOSSAOBEIIZCOIQOD.scr for example). Look for the .scr file that is the same size as the SpybotSD.exe file. Double clicking on that file should also execute Spybot.

Note: If you uncheck the "Hide protected operating system file (Recommended)" option to view Spybot's executables, I suggest that you return the option to its original setting when you are done.