Spybot S&D prog. keeps shutting itself down!!

[stargazer777]

Hi, All --

OK, I hope this isn't the tip of a horrendous iceberg. I tried launching Spybot S&D for a routine scan, and the window never came up. After several tries, the SS&D window came up, but as soon as I clicked the "Search for Problems" button, SS&D just shut down ... no, it didn't simply freeze ... it was as if I closed the window!
The next thing I tried was removing SS&D and reinstalling. On the first attempt, the window closed itself as soon as the download completed! I finally got SS&D reinstalled, and got the updates. Once again, I got SS&D launched, but as soon as I clicked the "Search for Problems" button, SS&D just shut down again, all by itself.
Do I correctly guess someone has distributed malware that specifically tells SS&D to shut down? Obviously, I can't use it to solve the problem ... that's like needing your glasses to go and look for your glasses ... heh.
So, what course should I take now? HijackThis isn't really a solution, is it? I mean, it's pretty much for just highjacker nasties, right?
BTW, my CA EZTrust AV is updated and runs nightly, and hasn't found anything . . . please help.
Thanks in advance,
Dave in VA, USA

[ProfessorU]

Well I don't know offhand which nasty you might have caught, but you could try the slew of other freebie scanners.

Microsoft has one, www.lavasoft.de has adaware, there are more than 100 listed at www.download.com. If you have problems getting those to launch, then you might need to try the scan in safe mode or resort to more desperate measures.

[Carol30]

Dave..

You may want to give Ewido Security Suite (currently renamed Ewido anti-malware) a shot. I don't see where you have it within your "arsenal".

1. Download trial version of Ewido Security Suite

2. Install.

3. See ''Additional Options'' uncheck the following:
''Install background guard''
''Install scan via context menu''.

4. Run Ewido from icon on Desktop.

5. Update > Start Update

6. Update Finished > Start Computer in SAFEMODE
(Turn on the computer. Immediately begin tapping the F8 key (or F5 on some computers)

Using the arrow keys .. highlight Safe Mode and press the Enter.)

7. Click on Ewido>Scanner

8. SETTINGS > Scan Every File > Complete System Scan > OK

9. Scan can take a long time.

10. Clean> ''Perform Action on All Infections'' > OK

Pay specific attention to running it in Safe Mode (#6)

You can continue to use it when the 2 week trial version expires.. as Ewido describes it 'This setup contains the free as well as the plus-version of the ewido security suite. After the installation, a free 14-day test version containing all the extensions of the plus-version will be activated. At the end of the test phase, the extensions of the plus version are deactivated and the freeware version can be used unlimited times.

It won't hurt to try. It's come in handy for many that I know..
Carol

[SpywareDr]

If you have Spybot Search & Destroy installed in "C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy", you might try the following command:

"C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SpybotSD.exe" /autoupdate /autoimmunize /autocheck /autofix /autoclose

The command parameters are fairly self-explanatory. The command will: load SpybotSD, check for/download/install any available updates, immunize, check your computer for spyware, fix any problems found and then close. And it will do all of this without any user interaction a-n-d without having to load the main Spybot Search & Destroy window.

[stargazer777]

Thank you everyone, for your replies and comments.

SpywareDr., I tried your command, everything worked fine until it reached the point where it begins checking the system, and then it suddenly shut down as usual.

My feeling is, there is nastyware out there that whacks SS&D during operation, but I have no idea what it is . . .
I'll continue with the other suggestions, scans, etc.

- Dave G.

[SpywareDr]

Tried it in Safe Mode?

[stargazer777]

Nope, sorry . . . no good in Safe Mode either. I tried the following, with the results posted with both methods:
(1) going to Start > Run and using the command line you gave me
It gave a failure message about updating files, I assume because I have no internet connection. It went on to check for problems, and immediately shut down.
(2) going to Start > Run and browsing for SS&D's .exe file, selecting it and clicking "Run"
As before -- even in Safe Mode -- SS&D started up, but as soon as I clicked on "Check for Problems", it shut down abruptly. If this won't work in Safe Mode, I have no idea what to do. This was even after a fresh reinstall of SS&D.
- Dave

[Carol30]

Dave..

I was looking around Spybot's forum thinking I might see something, as your problem sounded familiar. You may want to follow this thread , since the poster seems to have "somewhat" the same problem as you. It's a shot in the dark, but may be worth following.

Carol