Display glitch (scan does not display)

[Ark Mitch]

This just started. I can update OK/normally, & immunize OK/normally, but Scan System does not open a window. It seems to be running, shows up in task bar, but will not open. First time it finished but would not open to display findings & offer to fix, so I rebooted. Still getting same behavior.

OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version 10.0.15063 Build 15063

Spybot Version 2.5.42.0
Start Center version 2.5.42.130

Tried attaching more detailed system/software info but your system apparently doesn't like odt files ...

Mitch
Lincoln, AR

[Zenobia]

That's weird. I can think of a couple possible things, mind you it might not be any of these. But there are a few things to look at.

Could you rightclick the Spybot Start Center, choose Run As Administrator, checkmark Advanced User Mode, click Settings, select the Categories tab. Do the items listed there all have checkmarks next to them?

Could you try shutting down any other non-essential programs running at the time, then running Spybot's system scan as a test to see what might happen?

There are command line parameters available, which vary depending on what type of Spybot you have(free,home,etc.). You haven't been knowingly using any command line parameters on sdscan.exe have you?
https://www.safer-networking.org/com...ne-parameters/

[Ark Mitch]

1) right clicked run as administrator, selected settings and categories - all are selected.
2)When I intend to run a scan, I first shut down browsers, email etc. I leave free Avast running. I open the start center and check for updates. if there are any I install them. Then I run immunize. then I start a system scan. I usually do this just before leaving computer otherwise idle for a while ( eg trip to store etc)
3) I do not run from command line

It ran fine before last install/update - hmmm I can provide logs on request

After next windows update, if it still mis-behaves I guess I'll try R&R (remove & reinstall)

Mitch

p.s. since it does not open a window, I'm not sure if it actually ran since I didn't get opportunity to click start ... but it did post a window to the task bar

[Zenobia]

Okay, sounds like everything is good with those three things.

p.s. since it does not open a window, I'm not sure if it actually ran since I didn't get opportunity to click start ... but it did post a window to the task bar

If the system scan is running you can usually tell by looking at the little icon/window in the taskbar. You'll see the icon, and then when system scan starts it will show a colour on the side of it. My taskbar is black, and when system scan is running it will show a green colour on the side and then move over as the scan progresses. If you're not sure on that, I could give you directions to look and see if there is a checks.logfile from the date when the window would not appear, that might let you know if the scan ran or not. Would you be using the free version of Spybot, or do you have one of the Home or Professional editions?

I think Microsoft Smartscreen would prompt you if it blocked Spybot's System Scan, but it's still worthwhile to check. Down where it says Type here to search, could you type in This Pc, then click that, then click the drive Spybot is on(probably Drive C:\), then Program Files (x86), open Spybot - Search & Destroy 2, scroll down and find sdscan.exe. Rightclick it, then select Properties, and then the General tab. If you don't see Unblock there, then it isn't blocked.
If there is an Unblock checkbox there, click it to checkmark it, then click Apply and OK. You might be prompted by UAC so click Yes. Please let me know how it goes.

[Ark Mitch]

[QUOTE=Zenobia;477339]Okay, sounds like everything is good with those three things.

I think Microsoft Smartscreen would prompt you if it blocked Spybot's System Scan ...

where do I find "Microsoft Smartscreen" ?? I'll go look around ,,,

[Ark Mitch]

Would you be using the free version of Spybot, or do you have one of the Home or Professional editions?

I tried de-installing 2.5.42.x & installed 2.6.46.x - get same behavior - this is free version ... BTW, removal of 2.5.42.x does not remove the Windows 10 post upgrade re-install hack ...)

so summary is, immunizatino pops window as it should, but system scan does not. upgrade from 2.5.42.x to 2.6.46.x does note cure.

"smartscreen" seems to be a browser type option, but I am still searching for it ...

Thanks for continued interest ;-)

mitch

[Zenobia]

You're welcome.

Oh, sorry, it's actually called Windows Defender Smartscreen. I misremembered the name. Somebody was having problems in this post:
https://forums.spybot.info/showthrea...pybot&p=476910
That post was the first time I heard of it, too. Yes, that's correct, reading further on it, it is more web based and tends to block unknown applications being downloaded, so it probably wouldn't block sdscan.exe all of a sudden. Could you still go check the sdscan.exe file, to be certain, though?

Good, glad you tried installing Spybot 2.6. That was my next suggestion, wish it would have fixed it.

Do you have any other security programs besides Windows Defender and Spybot?

Could you rightclick Spybot Start Center, select Run As Administrator, then click System Scan. Next rightclick the taskbar and select Task Manager. In the processes tab you should see Malware Scanner (32-bit) with an arrow next to it. If you click the arrow you should see System Scan (Spybot - Search & Destroy 2.6, administrator privileges). Could you righclick that, then select Bring to Front. Does anything happen when you do that? If that doesn't do anything, could you try selecting Maximize, and see if that brings the window up?