[nevertooamazed]

Has anyone else had problems with (1) Spyware Doctor, highly recommended by PC World, not being compatiable with either Kaspersky or Norton? ANd, (2) Has anyone had problems with Kaspersky crashing Windows Vista (and slowing XP considerably)?



Man, oh, man...have I ever had a time with these programs. I ended up having to format, reinstall (i.e. restore) Vista on my HP desktop. The laptop with XP fared somewhat better but I had to uninstall both Kaspersky and Spyware Doctor (version 5.0). I have been of the opinion that one could run a couple different anti-spyware programs without problems (I know you cannot do this with antivirus and firewall programs, however). From what I've gleaned via other forums, Spyware Doctor is a "no-no" per compatibility with other security software. I also discovered that many other computer users have had huge problems with Kaspersky and any other anti-spyware and firewalls. I certainly (and quickly) found that Norton (the free trial version) shut down Spyware Doctor. This was after I gave up on the retail version of Kaspersky Internet Security ver. 7.0 and went to Norton ver. 10.1.

PC Tools' tech support (parent co. of Spyware Doctor) wants me to run the program alone, without any anti-virus program, so I gleaned from a long, detailed email (told me to clean up my system tray which I keep at a bare minimum anyway). Huh? When I attempted their tech's solution of booting up via safe mode, trying to open Spyware Doctor, my computer crashed "time after time" to the point that I was no longer able to get it to boot up regularly or via safe mode...and I was forced to go with the HP recovery routine for Vista. I really wasn't certain whether Kaspersky or Spyware Doctor was responsible for this fiasco but I am avoiding both to be safe! Besides, Kaspersky has constant, highly irritating permission screens (two sequential per event) popping up every time I try to run any program on my desktop (Vista)--and no way to disable this "feature." At least Norton doesn't do that but I am not a fan of Norton...

Kaspersky's tech support wants me to download a "spy" program to send to them so they can see what my computer is running after I uninstall any anti-spyware, firewalls, etc. I have ONLY Micro$oft programs on my computer, with the exception of Norton, so the programs are not the problem...Kaspersky is!

At this point, I have decided to get/purchase Trend Micro's PC-Cillin and one of the free spyware programs (which have never given me any trouble in the past).



So, what do you experts think (and "Thanks" for your comments)?

[lilxkid24]

1. Spyware Doctor should be compatible with windows xp and vista so how can it now be compatible on your system. Is Kaspersky blocking it or something? I have Kaspersky 7.0 suite and nothing crashes, by crashing do you mean blue screen of death or does everything just freeze and not respond?
Another thing i want to point out I don't recommend spyware doctor because its not that good at all, something like superantispyware would be one of the best and its free. Heres the link to that http://www.superantispyware.com/
Remember only run ONE FIREWALL,ONE ANTIVIRUS,ONE ANTISPYWARE program at once, do not run more than one because it might conflict. Another thing Norton is basically crap too, its just a big hogger that cant even scan well. I advise you get rid of norton and either get Avast or AVG, both are free. http://www.avast.com/
http://free.grisoft.com/

Your problem is that you have too much BOUGHT programs lol. I would say lose them all and get simple ones, a good combo would be this. There all free btw
Firewall- your router, or zone alarm-http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp
Antivirus- AVG, Avast, both are very good programs to use
Antispyware- Superantispyware, Lavasoft 2007, AVG antispyware, spybot search and destroy (i would recommend having at least 2 installed but only run 1 at once so they don't conflict).
Spyware prventer- Spywareblaster also free and good program to use http://www.javacools...areblaster.html

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/adawarefree.php - lavasoft 2007
http://www.safer-networking.org/ - spybot
http://free.grisoft....pyware/us/frt/0 - AVG antispyware

[nevertooamazed]

Thanks for the info.

Guess I didn't make it clear: I am NOT running Spyware Doctor anymore, even though Spyware Doctor tech support recommended that I run it alone (without other security programs). I, too, think Spyware Doctor is being recognized as malware/virus by my security programs. PC Tools will not own up to their program, Spyware Doctor, being defective and not compatible with Kaspersky and Norton (as far as I have determined).

And, too, you are right: why did I PAY for an anti-spyware program? Because PC World, my guru, said Spyware Doctor was a superior program, that's why!

As for the freebies per antivirus programs: my past experience is that they will identify the presence of an invader but will not remove it until you purchase the program (AVG and Avast, at least)...maybe this has changed in recent times. I only run one firewall, disabling Windows Firewall. I only run ONE antivirus program. But I do run 2-3 anti-spyware/malware programs, including Windows Defender. I have read good things about Spyguard and Spyblaster, and definitely about Superantispyware, and have used Ad-Aware with success, so guess I'll download one or more of those, sending that $%@# Spyware Doctor to the trash can!

[rgreen4]

I attempted to install Spyware Doctor on an XP Home laptop and the install program locked it up. This was a free trial version. I deleted the whole thing. I run AVG free anti-virus on two machines along with Webroot's Spysweeper (a paid program). However, on my newest machines with Vista, I run Avast, and both Windows Defender and Superantispyware combined. The only interaction I have noticed, is that on boot, Windows Defender pops up a window asking if Superantispyware is authorized or not. (This is not the UAC confirm window).

Avast updates the virus database every day or so, and a pop up window announces when it is updates, which is different and something I like. I tried Avast and Superantispyware based on the reccomendation of our resident anti-malware expert SpiritWind, and have not been dissapointed.

My firewall - the hardware firewall in my router.

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi "Nevertooamazed" :

Generally speaking, for my recommendations for a Vista 32 bit OS, see what I wrote at

http://forums.pcworl.../23015|t-23015] . I will add I use an antiVIRUS program mostly for its


"real-time" protection", not for its "Detection rate" . Anything "Detected" by an antivirus program


should be initially "Quarantined", NOT "Deleted" or "Removed" .


SpywareBlaster may or may not successfully install on a Vista 32 bit OS and


I doubt SpywareGuard from [www.javacoolsoftware.com will .

"Security Suite" type programs are NEVER compatible with another security suite type program .

[piyushsingh]

kaspersky slowed my xp lapotop so much that i m not using it anymore.
i use spyware doctor on xp without any problems but on my vista ultimate their smart update was not working and now it is crashing. i had to run in safe mode and uninstall spyware doctor from my vista system.

[nevertooamazed]

Thanks to all of you for informative answers. Also, it's "nice to know,
" piyushsingh, that I am not the Lone Ranger per having issues with
either/or Kaspersky Internet Security and Spyware Doctor.
Since posting my original question, I have contacted PC Tools (Spyware
Doctor's author) and requested my money back. I had a very nice email
from them in about 48 hours telling me they were processing my refund.
I checked yesterday (Nov. 3) and my credit card showed the credit that
had been posted Nov. 1, the day the tech support person sent me the
"request being processed." Even though PC Tools' Spyware Doctor is
buggy, the company backs their product and immediately refunds the
money if the client is not happy.










Kaspersky is also gone, as well as the Norton trial versions I was
running in the interval--and I made sure both were not listed in my
registry. I just installed Trend Micro's PC-Cillin Internet Security
Pro...with absolutely no problems. I also installed Superantispyware
(thanks to suggestions from forum members), which I set aside to run
scans periodically (it is NOT running "real time"). So...all is
well...so far!

What's with the formatting here?? It went south and I cannot find the solution...