Spybot will not run,will not display and will not uninstall

[dunnjt]

I am using windows XP. When I attempt to run spybot search and destroy, the loading screen will be displayed but only for about 2 seconds. It then will disappear. Apparently spybot does not run after it disappears. I have tried to update, uninstall and reinstall but nothing I have tried has yet worked. I also have noticed the same behavior in the Avast antivirus program. When I try to run that, it displays for about 2 seconds and then will disappear. It also does not run.

Can someone help me get my Spybot back up and running. I love the program and feel like my computer is very vulnerable without it.
any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thank yo,
Jerry

[md usa spybot fan]

In the following thread, diowrite (http://forums.spybot.info/member.php?u=14754) appears to have a similar problem:
Spybot S+D will not start
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=9099


I doubleclick the Spybot icon and the load bar appears for a second or two and then disappears. I never even get the OK button.
Although a suggestion I made in that thread did not work for diowrite (http://forums.spybot.info/member.php?u=14754), I suggest that you try the following:
There is a variant of Coolwebsearch that closed Spybot and some other anti-spyware programs when they start. If this is the problem, there is a removal tool that may help.

Please read the following:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/news/2004-01-21.html
Ugly new CoolWWWSearch variant

That article points to a page that contains a download for:
CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch (v1/v2) MiniRemoval (http://www.safer-networking.org/files/delcwssk.zip)

Download delcwssk.zip, unzip it, and execute miniremoval_coolwebsearch_smartkiller.exe. Then see if you can get Spybot to run.
If that does not work and since Avast antivirus is also experiencing the same problem, it may be wise to post in the Malware Removal (http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22) forum and having someone take a look at your system. Follow the instructions here (without the Spybot scan):
"BEFORE you POST" -Preliminary Steps and scanning with SPYBOT-S&D
http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=288
Then post in the following forum:
Malware Removal
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22