Spybot S&D will not start

[Darkstar66]

Downloaded Spybot 1.6.2.46 2 days ago. My PC is expeciencing problems. S-S&D icon shows in system tray. When I launch S-S&D I see an hourglass for a few seconds and then nothng. Each time I do this I see a new process in Task Mgr. S-S&D will not update.

PC freezes unpredictably requiring hard shut-down. Web links are redirected to strange sites. Punning XP sp3; IE7; Trend Micro Internet Security is my firewall.

[Alligator_100]

Hi Darkstar66

I posted a similar reply in another thread yesterday with no response yet but I noticed your thread Topic is more descriptive of the same Problem I am having. In fact we also seem to have a very similar config (WxP Proffesional + SP3 + IE7 etc.)

My problem has been in setting up an old Laptop for the Kids (WxP with SP3). This is a "clean build" i.e. no Malware etc. but of course with lots of other SW. After installing Spybot S&D (V1.6.2) and trying to start it, I get the little pop-up window with the progress bar (Loading Spybot.....) and it quickly vanishes. Sometimes trying to start (click on either the Desktop Icon or Program Menu) it doesn't even do that. In the Task List it also does not show up.

I have deinstalled/reinstalled Spybot countless times with different variations (using other Languages, Older Versions going back as far as V1.2) with the same Symptom. I also checked to ensure the folder under Program Files is completely deleted after a deinstall as well as any other Spybot install/config Folders left over in Documents & Settings. I also used RegCleaner to ensure all Registry Entries are removed prior to another install attempt. All other SW including Service Packs installed without a hitch. I'm also using IE V7 that shows that Spybot is integrated into the Browser on the install. Only it doesn't start for me.

I have been doing "backups" at different stages during my "SW build" and via one of the older restores i did Spybot does seem to work, but some in between it stopped working. What this seems to suggest to me (since it worked at some point with WXP+SP3 is a conflict with some other piece of SW/setting that happened later on. I have been systematically trying to remove other SW one by one, then reinstalling Spybot but have not been able to isolate the problem. I was hoping to luck out quickly but this is proving to cost me far too much time. I may start the other way and restore an earlier backup, install my SW one-by-one and keep checking Spybot to find out when it stops working.

Crud...of all the SW I have set up, this is the only piece (important one) that does not work.

I hope someone else might be able to share a quick Solution/Workaround to the problem if one exists.

:hair:

[drragostea]

Darkstar, this sounds like the symptoms of a malware infection (redirected links and Spybot particularly will not open). Follow the directions below (I would suggest you visit the Malware Removal Forums to get your problem fixed up):
Consider posting in the Malware Removal (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) forum and having someone take a look at your system.

If you decide to have an experienced malware removal specialist assist you, please follow the procedure in this link to run scans and produce a HijackThis log: "BEFORE you POST"(READ this Procedure BEFORE Requesting Assistance) ( http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288).
After you have completed the required scans and produced the requested logs, start your own thread in the Malware Removal (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) forum, making sure to post the HijackThis log produced from the above instructions.
______

[Darkstar66]

Thanks drragostea. I will do it right away.

[Alligator_100]

Hi,

Just an update to the resolution to my problem in case it helps anyone else.

I resorted to one of several "backups" that I performed during my new SW build of WxP Pro. The one backup I reinstalled with SP3 still functioned with SpyBot. However this was with INternet Explorer V6. What I noticed was during installation of different Software Spybot still functioned until I ended up upgraded IE to V7.

Afterwards the symptoms returned...Spybot would try to start, I would get the "loading progress bar" and then it would quickly disappear into Nirvana. And just would never load. Looking into the Task/Processes, it seemed to be hoarding tons of memory and then quit.

The problem here is, even after a deinstall of Spybot, Cleaning all found/possible registry entries, deleting any left over folders in Program File or Document & Settings and then reinstalling Spybot, it just will not work ....always the same symptoms. Conclusion is, there seems to be some settings/entries in IE6 when after upgrading to IE7 will not allow you to completely deinstall Spybot and you are in a catch-22 situation.

My workaround was to deinstall SpyBot BEFORE upgrading from IE6 to IE7, and then installing Spybot again. Since then I have finished the build of my Kids PC with lots of SW and SpyBot is still functioning okay.

Hope this may help someone with a similar problem,