PDF file opening blocked by 1.6.31 scanner

[JohnMich]

Afternnoon all!

When I try to open a PDF file in My Documents a box opens that shows the filename of the file twice with a status of 'waiting' which changes after scanning is complete to 'nothing found'

If I then close the box and click on the filename the whole thing starts again.

I have tried not closing the box and clicking the filename in the box (panic moves!) with no result.

This only happens with PDF files.

How do I fix this please?

[md usa spybot fan]

JohnMich:

Right click on a PDF file and select Open. Does the file open properly?

When you right click on a PDF file what is the first item listed in the context menu?

[JohnMich]

Hello again.

The file opens correctly with 'Open with ...'

The first item is 'Scan using Spybot- Search&Destroy'

Regards, John

[DougCuk]

I suspect that md usa spybot fan is heading toward suggesting you are experiencing a bug that has been seen before. Can you tell us what version of Windows and Spybot you are using?

It would appear that in your case the settings for opening PDF files has accidentally been changed so that the Default action is set to open the file via a Spybot scan rather than with Acrobat Reader or whatever PDF reader you are using.

You may find your answer in the following two threads:
Spybot and doubling clicking file - http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=32011
Troubles when I'm trying open some files!! - http://forums.spybot.info/showpost.php?p=210998&postcount=9

If this is truly ONLY affecting PDF files you should be able to correct this by resetting the DEFAULT "Open With" setting for PDF files.

Different versions of Windows require different techniques to access this option. Try right-clicking on a PDF file and see if you have an "Open With" option - if so then select "Choose Program" and identify your PDF reader (usually Adobe Acrobat Reader) and then most importantly tick the box that says "Always use the selected program to open this file".

[JohnMich]

OK slowly getting there I think.
I am using W2000 v5 sp4, and have 1.6.31 SBSD installed, I also have Adobe Reader 8.1

If I click on a PDF file in My Documents it goes into SD scan mode. If I right click the top item in the context menu is Scan with SBSD but I also have an Open with... I have gone that route and Choose program... AR8.1 AND clicked on always use. I have done this with three different files with no change in result.

Additional info. If I try to open a PDF which is in a Google search results list then it goes into the scanning blocking routine but if I try to save the file that works no problems. However the saved file can only be opened by using the Open with .... AR8.1 at top of list or the Choose program option.

Wither now please?

[md usa spybot fan]

JohnMich:

DougCuk had it right.

To disable the "Scan using Spybot-Search&Destroy" feature in Spybot 1.6, see this post (http://forums.spybot.info/showpost.php?p=210998&postcount=9) by Zer0 Voltage (http://forums.spybot.info/member.php?u=40178) in:
Spybot 1.6 questions
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=30678
If you would like the feature still installed, try disable and then re-enable it and see of that puts the "Scan using Spybot-Search&Destroy" option below the open. If that does not work, try to uninstall and reinstall Spybot. That worked for Un Claudio de la vida (http://forums.spybot.info/member.php?u=44804) in this thread:
Troubles when I'm trying open some files!!
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=31332

[JohnMich]

I got a fair way with this including re-installing S&D to no avail and then got sidetracked onto more urgent things. However I've just found that I have a fair number of .pdf files to look at and having to save them and then "Open with AR8.1" is a pain in the fundamentals.

I am not computer literate enough to know what to do with the Zip file of registry commands without explicit instructions. Would you please lead me gently along the right path to see if that works.

Regards, John

[md usa spybot fan]

JohnMich:

To disable the "Scan using Spybot-Search&Destroy" context menu feature:
Download the Enable+Disable Spybot-S&D Context Menu Entry.zip (http://forums.spybot.info/attachment.php?attachmentid=2394&d=1215674077) file. The zip file The zip file contains the following files:
Disable Spybot-S&D Context Menu Entry.reg
Enable Spybot-S&D Context Menu Entry.reg
Unzip (extract) the contents of the file to a known location.
Double click on the Disable Spybot-S&D Context Menu Entry.reg file.
Answer Yes then OK.

[PepiMK]

After looking more and more into the problem based on that other thread about PDF associations, I tend to believe that an Adobe update has just broken the proper file association for PDFs (OpenWith is different from that), and that restoring that would return everything to the proper state.

So, I would recommend re-installing Adobe Reader. 8.1 is not the newest one anyway, and I personally would not us it for its security holes (went to Foxit Reader until Adobe Reader 9 came out).

[JohnMich]

Thank you everyone who contributed to assisting me with this problem. The solution? Remove AR8.1 and install AR9 - works like a dream!