Spybot not loading in Vista

ChrisWar666

New member
Hi guys, I'm running Vista Starter, and Spybot doesn't want to run!
The shortcut is automatically set to admin rights, i continue on the Control for the program without a filename... a black screen (SDMain?) comes up, then nothing happens!

Intel 1.8ghz proc (i think), 512 MB RAM. anything else? ;) - ChrisWar666
 
That happens when you doubleclick the Spybot shortcut?
i continue on the Control for the program without a filename
Is that User Account Control?
 
Hi guys, sorry for the delay in responding but I've been busy taking care of a month-old puppy... and the wireless connection i 'borrow' at home has been dodgy...

Anyway, to the problem:
drrag: The problem is I can't even get into Spybot, teatimer -is- running, and the security centre (if you mean the vista SC??) shows that spybot is not updated....

zeno: I'm going through the start menu on a shortcut automatically configured for admin, but also happens when i right-click the SDMain file. updated to a 1.5 beta after i posted, but now it seems to not load at all, even without admin privileges. going to try 1.6....
Yep, twould be the User Account Control screen. it's after that that the black window (i guess sdmain) shows up, disappears and then nothing happens.

Any ideas? - Chris

Edit / p.s.: Also have AVG 8, which I understand mistakes some immunizations for threats, but that wouldn't stop Spybot opening, would it??
 
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Chris: The latest version of Spybot-SD (stable) is 1.5.2.20. Beta 1.6 is a beta, which means it is not perfect. If you want to consider trying out for v.1.6 I would recommend that you wait until the RC (Release Candidate) is released.

You have tried the Run as Admin" correct?

I would suggest you upgrade to 1.5.2.20. Then update and immunize. Can you uninstall the version you have now?
 
ChrisWar666 said:
I'm going through the start menu on a shortcut automatically configured for admin, but also happens when i right-click the SDMain file
Not sure if this is the problem,but it's worth mentioning,just to check.If you're rightclicking SDMain.exe in Program Files,then that isn't the main
spybotSD.exe. SDMain.exe is the Spybot-S&D security center launcher.(I checked and doubleclicking it does open a black window,though Spybot does launch after that for me.)

And your start menu shortcut,is that a custom shortcut you set up,or did you just set Spybot in All Programs to always run as Admin?

If it is a custom one,is it possible maybe you created a shortcut to sdmain.exe on the start menu,thinking it was the main SpybotSD.exe?

spybotSD.exe is now hidden in Program Files.
http://www.xtra.co.nz/help/0,,4155-1916458,00.html#vista

You do have a 1.5 beta Spybot?What version do you have?If you're not sure,click Help,then About.
 
Are you running any firewall that prevents Spybot from starting?
It wouldn't start at my PC with ZoneAlarm - I had to de-install both and re-install Spybot first and then ZoneAlarm...
 
lion: A firewall will not prevent any program from starting up. It will, however, enable it permission whether to access the Internet though.

I've never heard of any HIP programs such as Comodo Pro that might hinder the activation of Spybot.

Chris, when you double click or "Run as Admin", do you see the loading bar?
 
lion: A firewall will not prevent any program from starting up. It will, however, enable it permission whether to access the Internet though.

I know how a firewall is working, Mr. WiseGuy :eek:

I can only tell what I have experienced - Spybot was not starting and TeaTimer was not working when I installed Zonealarm before Spybot.
After deinstalling Spybot and ZoneAlarm and installing Spybot first it worked.

So, drrragostea, you see it is never too late to learn...
 
Well, lion, your experience may be very different from others.

Thank you for the compliment.

Lion, as I see too there's always more to learn.
 
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Cheers All (Zen)

OK, I was using the RC, then I had this problem and decided to try the beta (it was a 1.5 beta only).
Thanks for the firewall help, I checked (and rechecked and rechecked and rec...) but it was all ticked (looked like it wasn't that).
drrag, running as admin -just- showed the black screen, the loading bar didn't appear.

Zenobia, thanks for that! I've corrected the shortcut (I can't remember if it was mine or SB's..)
I did set the SB shortcuts already existing to run as admin, but how it moved from spybot to SDMain I don't know!
As above, do/did have a 1.5 spybot, was showing hidden and system files, but didn't know about there was -another- system files option in vista! have now seen the file and it seems to be running now, hope it'll work after!

- Chris
 
Twas shortlived.. last night when i made that post i managed to open up the spybot interface in admin mode, it acted as though it was a fresh install (technically a fresh install for the beta, not for SB), taking me thru the setup/tutorial screens.
As it was late (11! i know, i'm getting old ;)) i went to sleep. shut the laptop up, which puts it to sleep. opened it up today, and SB's gone back to not opening. Will have to see if it works after a reset.
I have a 1.5.2.2 beta. will probably try and get the 1.6 beta (i like to try, even if i'm not -that- clever) - Chris
 
I hear you,my eyelids start to droop around 11:00 p.m. now,too.

The non-beta final release of Spybot is version 1.5.2.20.If that is the version number listed under Help,then About,then you should have the most current final release.

Is the black sdmain window still appearing when you try to start Spybot?
 
Here you go Zen, have some Brasilian coffee :D

Mmm I didn't go through Help | About (can't start the program..), I went through Props | version number of the spybotSD executable.
I adjusted the shortcut to point to spybotSD instead of SDMain...
I also downloaded the distributed testing service, and i'm getting (Could not start service!)... seems to work when i use the stand alone tho!

I think I mentioned that I have AVG 8, which is what prompted me to see what spybot picks up regarding adware...

ah well, any help, again, would be appreciated :) - Chris
 
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I hear you,my eyelids start to droop around 11:00 p.m. now,too. ...

Here you go Zen, have some Brasilian coffee :D ...
Compared Energy Drinks, Starbucks (I don't know if it is Brasilian coffee or not) will cure those droopy eyelids (or give you a heart attack):
  • Starbucks:
    • Starbucks Brewed Coffee - Average Caffeine Level: 210mgs in each 16 ounce cup (13.2mgs per oz.)
    • Starbucks Doubleshot - Average Caffeine Level: 120mgs in each 6.5 ounce can (18mgs per oz.)
  • Energy Drinks:
    • Red Bull – Average Caffeine Level: 80mgs in each 10 ounce can (8mgs per oz.)
    • Amp – Average Caffeine Level: 71mgs in each 8 ounce can (8.8mgs per oz.)
    • XS - Average Caffeine Level: 85mgs in each 8.4 ounce can (10mgs per oz.)
 
Thanks,lol.Looks like I need it,of course you can't go through Help,About if you cannot start the program. :red:

I haven't tried the distributed testing service as yet,so I'm not familiar with it.

Okay,in SpybotSD.exe Properties the file version listed should be 1.5.2.20 on the details tab for the latest version. Spybot 1.5 versions below that number are outdated beta versions,and should not be used,as 1.5.2.20 is the latest final release.
If your file version is below that,then you might want to uninstall the older version,and install the latest final version.
http://www.spybot.info/en/howto/uninstall.html
http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
If your file version on the Details tab in SpybotSD.exe Properties is 1.5.2.20,then you have the correct version.
If you want to beta test,you'd need a current one,which is 1.6 and up,as I understand it.

So,after adjusting your shortcut the sdmain window doesn't open anymore,but Spybot still will not start?

Lol,md,no Starbucks close by.But Tim Horton's coffee can keep me up for a week or so,if I get an extra large. :D:
 
md, that proves it! Coffee pawns everything else ;) (i can't/don't want to drink energy drinks. red bull says it's taurine is synthetic... but i don't trust them! :D)
looks like starbucks coffees come from various places, but they -do- have a brasilian blend (maybe only sold in packets...) :P

Yep, it is 1.5.2.2, but I'm sure i downloaded the beta version before 1.6... strange!
That's correct, adjusted my start menu shortcut, then (when it doesn't want to work) my computer thinks for a bit, then goes silent again.
When it does want to work, it thinks for a bit then shows the loading bar and loads normally. Ran a scan afterwards and everything's ok, looks like it was just AVG picking up spybots immunization (although bizarrely, i quarantined in AVG and spybot didn't detect any un-immunized entries...)
Also Spybot is set-up to request admin permission from within the program, by default, so we(I) don't need to set to always run as admin.

Thanks for the help, but still not sure why it works sometimes and doesn't others!
 
Hi again Zen. Will do a safe mode boot when I get home. Spybot didn't show anything unimmunized after the quarantine, but that could be something to do with the startup pattern of SB (look at the other post about someone really ANGRY with SB; everytime SB starts the hosts file is rewritten, not sure if it does so with other immunes..)

Other problems.... not really, just a bit of lag in games (more to do with bad connections and bad graphix card than adware, as HL1 & 2 lag when they have to process complicated things offline, and the sims 2 doesn't show textures correctly..)

- Chris

Adware found by AVG: Generic, ISearch, TitanShieldAntispyware, NewDotNet. All in HKLM/Soft../micro../IExplor../ActiveX Compatibility
 
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