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15 Replies Last post: Sep 23, 2007 3:05 AM by piyushsingh   1 2 Previous Next
Click to view Teksonik's profile New Member 5 posts since
Sep 28, 2006
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Sep 17, 2007 7:44 AM

PC Tools Spy Doctor

After reading about the highly ranked Spy Doctor program I installed and purchased a license. Since then I have been having a lot of problems with the program. It causes a problem with boot-up on the first start of the day. The program won't fully load and the drive continues to run as if a scan were taking place. I have " Scan at Windows Startup" unchecked so no boot scan should take place, at least not one that takes over five minutes. Several times I've had to shut the computer down using the power button as the Shutdown/ Restart option does not work. Just today while simply changing between sections of Spy Doctor it locked up, showed Not Responding in the Task Manager and despite repeated attempts could not but shut down causing the need for another power switch shut down. I'm still dealing with their Tech support over the issue but at this point I'm about to uninstall Spy Doctor. I'll give them another chance to actually read my support ticket and try to answer the issues. I urge caution when considering installing the program. Another thing, after a full system scan Spy Doctor found nothing. Out of curiosity I ran SpyBot Search and Destroy and it found five tracking cookies. Today SpyBot found a tracking cookie even though Spy Doctor's "Cookie Guard" has been enabled since last scan. Anybody else have issues with SpyDoctor?
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Click to view flingwings67's profile New Member 22 posts since
Mar 11, 2007
1. Sep 18, 2007 10:30 AM in response to: Teksonik
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor
Spy Doctor came under a lot of fire here and on other sites (take a look at PCTools site forum) over the last year. Almost all that wrote in were taking it off their computers. We had both Spy Doctor and Registry Mech. Had a lot of trouble with Spy Doctor and finally removed it. Reg Mech seems to still be working fine and we renewed that one this year. Recommend you remove Spy Doctor. Don't know if the new version fixed things but we aren't taking the chance. Hope this helps.
Click to view rgreen4's profile Member Moderators 4,212 posts since
Oct 22, 2006
2. Sep 18, 2007 10:43 AM in response to: flingwings67
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor

It is a shame. PC Tools has such a good utility in Registry Mechanic and such a bad one in Spyware Doctor. I was going to try the free trial, but it locked up my laptop when trying to install. I quickly dumped it.

Based on forum member SpiritWinds suggestion I have installed Superantispyware on both of my XP machines and both my Vista machines. The only problem it has with Vista is that Windows Defender (included in Vista) always gives an alert when Superantispyware starts and I have to click on "Continue". This is not a UAC issue, and not a big deal. I use Webroot's Spysweeper on the two XP machines. You will note that I have two anti-spyware programs on all machines, as you can have more than one running. That's a no-no for anti-virus, but ok for anti-spyware.


RGreensig2B
Click to view techie4fun's profile Old Hand 2,030 posts since
Oct 18, 2006
3. Sep 18, 2007 4:24 PM in response to: rgreen4
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor
What's a shame is PC World didn't include in their review of any bugs they encountered when using Spyware Doctor on their test machines. But I didn't do the analysis so maybe they did do a test, but their review online states nothing but the detection rates and the programs weaknesses/strengths.
Click to view Car54's profile Member 366 posts since
Nov 16, 2006
4. Sep 18, 2007 4:41 PM in response to: Teksonik
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor
This was one of my posts from someone else who had a bad experience with "the Dr".


I also had problems with Spyware Dr. (last Aug. 2006, don't remember
what version it was). I had at times, 90 to 100% cpu usage, svchost.exe
(Task Manager) and couldn't figure it out. With the help of Microsofts
Tech. dept., we narrowed it down to Spyware Dr., and once I uninstalled
it have had no problems like that since.(Something to do with the
update module, even though I think I had shut it off, w/o it being
resolved until a total uninstall)


Happy user of Vista, XP, Firefox, IE7, of paid for, and free security software. I’m an equal opportunity user, lol
Click to view Car54's profile Member 366 posts since
Nov 16, 2006
6. Sep 18, 2007 7:54 PM in response to: Teksonik
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor

Teksonik, just a thought, I had purchased mine via online/ download. Last month I noticed a charge on my bank account for PC Tools, it was a auto renewal for Spyware Doctor. I called them (the number was listed in the bank account info.) and they credited my account, and took me off the auto renewal list.You might want to check on that. :-)

By the way, from myself, and the others, your welcome.


Happy user of Vista, XP, Firefox, IE7, of paid for, and free security software. I’m an equal opportunity user, lol
Click to view mphenterprises's profile Member Moderators 9,119 posts since
Feb 19, 2007
7. Sep 19, 2007 3:40 AM in response to: Teksonik
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor
Hi Teksonik. Since you have your Discussion labeled as "Answered," please do not forget to distribute the remaining points to the post you feel helped you the most.


This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself
Click to view mphenterprises's profile Member Moderators 9,119 posts since
Feb 19, 2007
9. Sep 19, 2007 8:18 AM in response to: Teksonik
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor
Hi Teksonik. No need to apologize. :-) Basically, when I said "...distribute the points..." I meant to indicate which of the remaining posts provide the correct response for your problem. You have selected two posts as "Helpful" and there is only the "Correct" indication left.


This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself
Click to view mphenterprises's profile Member Moderators 9,119 posts since
Feb 19, 2007
12. Sep 19, 2007 6:37 PM in response to: Teksonik
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor
:-) You only get two "helpful" choices and one "correct" choice. Don't view the points as a contest or a competition. The points are merely "incentive" for people to provide the best response possible.


This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself
Click to view flingwings67's profile New Member 22 posts since
Mar 11, 2007
13. Sep 22, 2007 9:18 AM in response to: Teksonik
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor

Teksonic, ditto on your high marks for PC Tools customer service. I, too, got the automatic renewal notice for both Registry Mechanic and Spy Doctor (after similiar experience with SD, I'd removed it).

Simply hit reply and told them I did not want Spy Dr. and they sent back asking me a couple of questions to make sure they understood (*not* the same as trying to talk me into keeping it). I replied and I got the credit memo before the email telling me it was coming. These guys are five star in the customer service arena.

Click to view rgreen4's profile Member Moderators 4,212 posts since
Oct 22, 2006
14. Sep 22, 2007 10:11 AM in response to: flingwings67
Re: PC Tools Spy Doctor
Because of their good customer service, their willingness to admit that there maybe a problem with Spyware Doctor, and the good experience I have had with Registry Mechanic, I still keep them on my list. Maybe someday they will be able to solve the problems with Spyware Doctor


RGreensig2B

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