SP2 and third-party security issues: Need help!

After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each time,
after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender. I'm
also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe to
install? Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time.

Brian

....

SpywareBlaster by Javacool

Spybot Search & Destroy

Windows Defender

Spyware Guard

IE-SPYAD

....

ZoneAlarm (with the Windows firewall turned off)

"iwoolman" <iwoolman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:49268E26-E368-415F-A61A-072024675239@microsoft.com...
> After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
> suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each
> time,
> after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
> fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender.
> I'm
> also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe
> to
> install? Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
> insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.
>
> Thanks for taking the time.
>
> Brian
>
> ...
>
> SpywareBlaster by Javacool
>
> Spybot Search & Destroy
>
> Windows Defender
>
> Spyware Guard
>
> IE-SPYAD
>
> ...
>
> ZoneAlarm (with the Windows firewall turned off)

I suspect that I am going to be critisized by a number of people but I
suggest that you use Spybot and get rid of the rest. The only possible
exception is that if you know what you are doing, you might want to install
ZoneAlarm.

Furthermore, based on your question, I suspect that you have Norton or
McAfee Antivirus. I'd rather have a virus. Get rid of either of them. I
strongly suggest AVG or Avast. AVG can be downloaded (true freeware) from
http://www.download.com/3001-2239_4-10669237.html. Avast can be downloaded
(Again true freeware) from
http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-E...ml?tag=lst-0-2

Okay everyone, I'm ready to be slammed!

Dave H.

On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:13:00 -0700, iwoolman
<iwoolman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
>suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each time,
>after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
>fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender. I'm
>also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe to
>install?


All are safe to install. And it's generally a good list, except for
Spyware Guard. Although there was nothing wrong with Spyware Guard, it
hasn't been updated in years, which makes it near useless now.


>Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
>insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.


I doubt *very* much whether any of these caused your freezes. Look
elsewhere for the problem.


>Thanks for taking the time.
>
>Brian
>
>...
>
>SpywareBlaster by Javacool
>
>Spybot Search & Destroy
>
>Windows Defender
>
>Spyware Guard
>
>IE-SPYAD
>
>...
>
>ZoneAlarm (with the Windows firewall turned off)

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:d7d963lm8d0e532qt0uibt10p7g291n8d5@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:13:00 -0700, iwoolman
> <iwoolman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
>>After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
>>suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each
>>time,
>>after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
>>fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender.
>>I'm
>>also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe
>>to
>>install?
>
>
> All are safe to install. And it's generally a good list, except for
> Spyware Guard. Although there was nothing wrong with Spyware Guard, it
> hasn't been updated in years, which makes it near useless now.
>
>
>>Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
>>insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.
>
>
> I doubt *very* much whether any of these caused your freezes. Look
> elsewhere for the problem.
>
>
>>Thanks for taking the time.
>>
>>Brian
>>
>>...
>>
>>SpywareBlaster by Javacool
>>
>>Spybot Search & Destroy
>>
>>Windows Defender
>>
>>Spyware Guard
>>
>>IE-SPYAD
>>
>>...
>>
>>ZoneAlarm (with the Windows firewall turned off)
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Ken:

Isn't it likely that the OP did not prepare his SP1 system for the update?
I have Norton and ZA on one system, and Nod32 and ZA on the other.
I have never had a freeze.
Jim

"iwoolman" wrote
> After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
> suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each
> time,
> after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
> fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender.
> I'm
> also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe
> to
> install? Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
> insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.
>
> Thanks for taking the time.

> SpywareBlaster by Javacool
>
> Spybot Search & Destroy
>
> Windows Defender
>
> Spyware Guard
>
> IE-SPYAD

They are all good products. Spyware Guard is outdated and hasn't been
updated in years. I don't recommend the latest releases of Zone Alarm - too
bloated. For 3rd party firewall there is Sunbelt Software's Kerio Personal
Firewall (free and paid versions) and Comodo Personal firewall. I have run
both (on different systems) with no issues. Only have one firewall active.

Impossible to say if one of these caused the freezing problems. To be sure
install one at a time and test after each one.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]

On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 20:31:32 -0500, "Jim" <j.n@nospam.com> wrote:

>
>"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
>news:d7d963lm8d0e532qt0uibt10p7g291n8d5@4ax.com.. .
>> On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:13:00 -0700, iwoolman
>> <iwoolman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>>>After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
>>>suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each
>>>time,
>>>after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
>>>fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender.
>>>I'm
>>>also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe
>>>to
>>>install?
>>
>>
>> All are safe to install. And it's generally a good list, except for
>> Spyware Guard. Although there was nothing wrong with Spyware Guard, it
>> hasn't been updated in years, which makes it near useless now.
>>
>>
>>>Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
>>>insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.
>>
>>
>> I doubt *very* much whether any of these caused your freezes. Look
>> elsewhere for the problem.
>>
>>
>>>Thanks for taking the time.
>>>
>>>Brian
>>>
>>>...
>>>
>>>SpywareBlaster by Javacool
>>>
>>>Spybot Search & Destroy
>>>
>>>Windows Defender
>>>
>>>Spyware Guard
>>>
>>>IE-SPYAD
>>>
>>>...
>>>
>>>ZoneAlarm (with the Windows firewall turned off)
>>
>> --
>> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
>> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>Ken:
>
>Isn't it likely that the OP did not prepare his SP1 system for the update?


Yes.


>I have Norton and ZA on one system, and Nod32 and ZA on the other.
>I have never had a freeze.



Nor I. None of the programs he mentions would cause a freeze, as I
said.


--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Ken Blake, MVP" wrote:

> On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:13:00 -0700, iwoolman
> <iwoolman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
> >suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each time,
> >after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
> >fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender. I'm
> >also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe to
> >install?
>
>
> All are safe to install. And it's generally a good list, except for
> Spyware Guard. Although there was nothing wrong with Spyware Guard, it
> hasn't been updated in years, which makes it near useless now.
>
>
> >Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
> >insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.
>
>
> I doubt *very* much whether any of these caused your freezes. Look
> elsewhere for the problem.
>
>
> >Thanks for taking the time.
> >
> >Brian
> >
> >...
> >
> >SpywareBlaster by Javacool
> >
> >Spybot Search & Destroy
> >
> >Windows Defender
> >
> >Spyware Guard
> >
> >IE-SPYAD
> >
> >...
> >
> >ZoneAlarm (with the Windows firewall turned off)
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

I tried installing just those and SP2. Nothing else. And also tried it
without any of the Fujitsu software that came with my Tablet. Still froze up.

"Jim" wrote:

>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
> news:d7d963lm8d0e532qt0uibt10p7g291n8d5@4ax.com...
> > On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:13:00 -0700, iwoolman
> > <iwoolman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> >>After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
> >>suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each
> >>time,
> >>after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
> >>fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender.
> >>I'm
> >>also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe
> >>to
> >>install?
> >
> >
> > All are safe to install. And it's generally a good list, except for
> > Spyware Guard. Although there was nothing wrong with Spyware Guard, it
> > hasn't been updated in years, which makes it near useless now.
> >
> >
> >>Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
> >>insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.
> >
> >
> > I doubt *very* much whether any of these caused your freezes. Look
> > elsewhere for the problem.
> >
> >
> >>Thanks for taking the time.
> >>
> >>Brian
> >>
> >>...
> >>
> >>SpywareBlaster by Javacool
> >>
> >>Spybot Search & Destroy
> >>
> >>Windows Defender
> >>
> >>Spyware Guard
> >>
> >>IE-SPYAD
> >>
> >>...
> >>
> >>ZoneAlarm (with the Windows firewall turned off)
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> Ken:
>
> Isn't it likely that the OP did not prepare his SP1 system for the update?
> I have Norton and ZA on one system, and Nod32 and ZA on the other.
> I have never had a freeze.
> Jim
>
>
>

I like this answer. Only because I don't know what it means to prepare SP1.
What I did do was wipe the disk with a fresh insall of Windows XP. Then
installed all the updates. Then installed SP2. One time I installed the
security stuff right away when first installing XP. Another time I went all
the way to SP2 before installing the security stuff. Most recently, I
installed what I described above: everything and SP2, followed by AVG and
Windows Defender. I also updated Explorer, installed the Experience Pack for
Tablet and Media Player. Would preparing SP1 make a difference?

"Rock" wrote:

> "iwoolman" wrote
> > After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
> > suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each
> > time,
> > after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
> > fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender.
> > I'm
> > also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe
> > to
> > install? Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
> > insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks for taking the time.
>
> > SpywareBlaster by Javacool
> >
> > Spybot Search & Destroy
> >
> > Windows Defender
> >
> > Spyware Guard
> >
> > IE-SPYAD
>
> They are all good products. Spyware Guard is outdated and hasn't been
> updated in years. I don't recommend the latest releases of Zone Alarm - too
> bloated. For 3rd party firewall there is Sunbelt Software's Kerio Personal
> Firewall (free and paid versions) and Comodo Personal firewall. I have run
> both (on different systems) with no issues. Only have one firewall active.
>
> Impossible to say if one of these caused the freezing problems. To be sure
> install one at a time and test after each one.
>
> --
> Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]
>
>

I first had this problem some time ago. I think I did install one at a time.
Several restarts later, the freeze came. I could move the cursor, but click
nothing. When I move over the task bar, I get the hour glass.

Thanks all for taking the time. I'm going to investigate "preparing SP1."
Are there any shortcuts from where I am now? Uninstalling SP2, then prepare
SP1 and reinstall SP2? Or do I have to start from wiping out the disk again?

installing SP2 should bring the computer up to date as of SP2.
you would need to do the updates that have come out after SP2.



mikeyhsd@comcast.net



"iwoolman" <iwoolman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6ED41653-E5A4-407E-AE4F-61187389670C@microsoft.com...


"Jim" wrote:

>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
> news:d7d963lm8d0e532qt0uibt10p7g291n8d5@4ax.com...
> > On Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:13:00 -0700, iwoolman
> > <iwoolman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> >
> >>After a nasty infection, I went to safer-networking.org. I followed their
> >>suggestions to the word and installed the security programs below. Each
> >>time,
> >>after a restart or two, SP2 would freeze. All those programs seem to work
> >>fine in SP1. So, I now have SP2 installed with AVG and Windows Defender.
> >>I'm
> >>also using Microsoft's Firewall. Which of the following, if any, is safe
> >>to
> >>install?
> >
> >
> > All are safe to install. And it's generally a good list, except for
> > Spyware Guard. Although there was nothing wrong with Spyware Guard, it
> > hasn't been updated in years, which makes it near useless now.
> >
> >
> >>Which caused the freezes, and what should I replace it with? Any
> >>insight or suggestions would be much appreciated.
> >
> >
> > I doubt *very* much whether any of these caused your freezes. Look
> > elsewhere for the problem.
> >
> >
> >>Thanks for taking the time.
> >>
> >>Brian
> >>
> >>...
> >>
> >>SpywareBlaster by Javacool
> >>
> >>Spybot Search & Destroy
> >>
> >>Windows Defender
> >>
> >>Spyware Guard
> >>
> >>IE-SPYAD
> >>
> >>...
> >>
> >>ZoneAlarm (with the Windows firewall turned off)
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
> Ken:
>
> Isn't it likely that the OP did not prepare his SP1 system for the update?
> I have Norton and ZA on one system, and Nod32 and ZA on the other.
> I have never had a freeze.
> Jim
>
>
>

I like this answer. Only because I don't know what it means to prepare SP1.
What I did do was wipe the disk with a fresh insall of Windows XP. Then
installed all the updates. Then installed SP2. One time I installed the
security stuff right away when first installing XP. Another time I went all
the way to SP2 before installing the security stuff. Most recently, I
installed what I described above: everything and SP2, followed by AVG and
Windows Defender. I also updated Explorer, installed the Experience Pack for
Tablet and Media Player. Would preparing SP1 make a difference?