Spybot exits program on scan. Reinistall no work.

[bbgun]

I have Spybot installed and have had no problems, it always worked great. Then I ran into some serious websites that trashed my system. I could not navigate the problems so I reset windows to a prior restore point.
Now, for whatever reason, Spybot runs fine for everything but doing a scan. I can go in, look around, but when I sheck for problems the program just terminates.
I know I have something going on with the PC because it occasionally does a lot of clicking inside like something is running, and when I disconnect the internet connection from the router its stops. So I have something hiding and running, but I'm not sure what.

So here's what I'm trying to do. I would like to completely take spybot off, and do a reinstall. But the install falls over because the uninstall is not clean. I think that's how I ended up betwix and between with a setup that doesn't scan.

I'm running a resonably new Dell with windows xp professional edition.

How can I take spybot off, and clear out everything so a new install will go clean and get me back to my safe world again.

Be gentle, I'm new on the forum.

[Jim B]

You could try deleting the Spybot folder:

c:\program files\Spybot - Search & Destroy

then try re-installing.

[bbgun]

I tried deleting the folder, but it's as if the install is running into keys that are set up wrong in the registry or something. It installs the all the software but then it exhibits the same behavior.

[Jim B]

Is the program up-to-date?

spybot version 1.4
newest definitions

[md usa spybot fan]

bbgun:

If you want to make sure that all the registry entries that Spybot-S&D added during installation are removed, there is a .reg file available on the safer-networking.org WEB site that can do that. See "this very small fix" in the following article:

• FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
  How to uninstall?
  http://www.safer-networking.org/en/faq/27.html
• The direct download link is:
  remove-spybotsd-settings.reg

To remove Spybot-S&D registry entries:

• Download the remove-spybotsd-settings.reg file.
• Double click on it.
• Answer Yes then OK.