Error retrieving update info file

[chimeratriste]

I just downloaded Spybot (I have had it for ages, just not on this computer), but for some strange reason I cannot download the updates. When I press the "Search for Updates" button, I get the following error message:

'Error retrieving update info file!
Socket Error # 10061
Connection refused.'

What should I do?

[spybotsandra]

Hello,

Please take a look at the security settings of your firewall (if you are using one) and make sure that Spybot-S&D is not blocked. That should help to get into the updates. If Spybot-S&D is not blocked it is also possible that our server is temporarily not available. Please try again a few hours later.

If this does not help please download the updates manually:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
Here is the direct download link:
http://www.spybotupdates.com/updates/files/spybotsd_includes.exe
Just download and run that file - it is self-installing.

Best regards
Sandra
Team Spybot

[chimeratriste]

Thanks for your help!

Just one more thing - can I use the same manual download program for downloading updates every time?

(If this persists, I'll try reinstalling Spybot, perhaps that will help.)

Once again, thank you! :)

[md usa spybot fan]

Just one more thing - can I use the same manual download program for downloading updates every time?
Yes.

If you are unable to get updates via Spybot's integrated update facility you can manually download and execute a program (spybotsd_includes.exe) that will update the detection files. The file is currently updated weekly about the same time as the weekly updates are made to Spybot's integrated update facility. The download is located here:
Downloads - The home of Spybot-S&D!
http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html
The item is:
Detection updates 2007-04-11 - product description
md5: 4C70518AEEBA431408803438AF543E40

This updates the detection rules. Only needed if you do not want to use the update function integrated into Spybot-S&D.
The direct download for the spybotsd_includes.exe file is:
http://www.spybotupdates.com/updates/files/spybotsd_includes.exe
__________________

Please note.

There are also two other updates that should do to bring the Tools.dll and the advcheck.dll up to date. They are both located on the same download page referenced above. The items are:
Tools update 2007-01-12 - product description
md5: 0E4EDF1C77F4992736F4444C86A50BD3

Only needed if you do not use the integrated update.


Advanced check library update 2007-01-19 - product description
md5: 86591705A1D43E8F231364BC69B82D83

This is an update for a detection library. Only needed if you do not want to use the update function integrated into Spybot-S&D.
Unless these updates change it is not necessary to update these files weekly.

__________________


(If this persists, I'll try reinstalling Spybot, perhaps that will help.)
It may help.

The primary causes of Socket Errors during the Spybot update are firewalls and proxy servers.

Do you have a firewall? If you have a firewall:
You must authorize SpybotSD.exe to access the internet through your firewall. If you have a firewall and are not sure if that is the cause of the problem, you could (for a short period) disable the firewall and see if the updates work properly.
Are you sitting behind a proxy server? If you are sitting behind a proxy server:
Go into Spybot > Mode > Advanced mode > Settings > Settings. About 2/3 of the way down the option tree there is a category "Web update". Check the last item in the list "Use proxy to connect to update server". A pop-up will come up were you can enter the information required.

If you are sitting behind a proxy server and need to know what the settings should be, there are hints in the following article on how to find them:
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
The integrated update is not working. Are there any solutions for this?
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/faq/10.html
__________________

Socket Error # 10061:

Socket Errors are documented here:
Windows Sockets Error Codes (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms740668.aspx)
Socket Error # 10061 indicates:
WSAECONNREFUSED
10061
Connection refused.
No connection could be made because the target computer actively refused it. This usually results from trying to connect to a service that is inactive on the foreign host—that is, one with no server application running.
To the best of my knowledge the cause of and cure for Socket Error # 10061 has never been definitively determined (many people don't post the results of there findings). There were two posts that seem to indicate that uninstalling and reinstalling cleared the problem:
Error 10061 Again!
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=2550
error#10061
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=5497
Notes on uninstalling:
How to uninstall
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=howto&detail=uninstall