Updating Spyware Definitions and other beta problems

[John McAdon]

I am running Windows 2000 at work (I know its a big yuk).

Problem #1:
Narrative: Each morning I click on "Spyware Definitions"
to manually assure that I am using the latest definitions.

Problem: In the morning, I find that Microsoft Antispyware
does need to download an update. And the update is often
the same update as I downloaded the day before.

Strong Possibility:
Does the manual update of "Spyware Definitions" sometimes
not take? Or does the software fail to remember the
latest downloaded definitions file number?

I notice just now that each time I click on "Spyware
Definitions" to do a manual update, it goes and downloads
and seems to apply the same update.
"Contacting update server..."
"Updating definitions version 5729 to 5749"
"Downloading new spyware definitions..."
"Spyware definitions 5749 being installed..."
"New spyware definitions 5749 installed"
"Updates have completed."

Problem #2: Why the inconsistancies?
Under "Settings...Definition update notifications" it says:

"[] Apply new spyware updates without interrupting me
(recommended)."

But the heading at the top of the page says:
"Microsoft Antispyware Autoupdater Settings".

Is your software Spyware or AntiSpyware? I suppose it is
AntiSpyware (and y'all wear the white hats and not the
black hats). I understand that it downloads "Spyware
Definitions" and not "AntiSpyware Definitions". But the
checkbox I quoted above should say "[] Apply new
AntiSpyware updates without interrupting me (recommended)."

Recommendation:

On the "Advanced Tools" page, please include "Summary" on
the "Take Me To:" menu in the upper right.

Problem #3:
On the default page "System Summary", when I click
on "Last Scan" it takes me to "Select your Scan Settings"
and seems to be setting me up to run a new scan. I can
only get to the information about the "Last Scan" by
clicking "Back to Spyware Summary" in the upper right
corner. So what is with that? When I click on "Last
Scan" I should be directly going to the "Last Scan Run"
screen. And any button that claims to take me to the
Spyware Summary should really be taking me there.

 

[Alan]

The problem you are having with updating is likely
because you DO NOT have the latest release of the
software. The current build is 615. My guess is you are
running 614, correct? If so, this build had a problem
with it's installer. It didn't update a critical file
that was needed to decompress the update files that were
downloaded. Go to
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
FamilyId=321CD7A2-6A57-4C57-A8BD-
DBF62EDA9671&displaylang=en to get build 615.

The Microsoft AntiSpyware AutoUpdater Settings title IS
correct! The tile refers to the product AND the specific
part of the product's settings you want to change. This
case Microsoft AntiSpyware AutoUpdater Settings. It DOES
NOT take a genius to figure this out!

Should not include a take me to the summary page,
period! You can get there from Tools > Summary. No need
to add it to the Advanced Tools section, as it IS NOT a
part of Advanced Tools!

On the initial startup screen IT displays the last date a
scan has been run in the right side of the System Summary
window pane. Guess you might be a little slow in finding
things, as most of us found it the first time we launched
the app. Also, the functionality of the Last
Scan "hyperlink" is correct. It directs one to the scan
screen so they CAN run another scan.

Alan

-----Original Message-----
I am running Windows 2000 at work (I know its a big yuk).

Problem #1:
Narrative: Each morning I click on "Spyware Definitions"
to manually assure that I am using the latest definitions.

Problem: In the morning, I find that Microsoft Antispyware
does need to download an update. And the update is often
the same update as I downloaded the day before.

Strong Possibility:
Does the manual update of "Spyware Definitions" sometimes
not take? Or does the software fail to remember the
latest downloaded definitions file number?

I notice just now that each time I click on "Spyware
Definitions" to do a manual update, it goes and downloads
and seems to apply the same update.
"Contacting update server..."
"Updating definitions version 5729 to 5749"
"Downloading new spyware definitions..."
"Spyware definitions 5749 being installed..."
"New spyware definitions 5749 installed"
"Updates have completed."

Problem #2: Why the inconsistancies?
Under "Settings...Definition update notifications" it says:

"[] Apply new spyware updates without interrupting me
(recommended)."

But the heading at the top of the page says:
"Microsoft Antispyware Autoupdater Settings".

Is your software Spyware or AntiSpyware? I suppose it is
AntiSpyware (and y'all wear the white hats and not the
black hats). I understand that it downloads "Spyware
Definitions" and not "AntiSpyware Definitions". But the
checkbox I quoted above should say "[] Apply new
AntiSpyware updates without interrupting me (recommended)."

Recommendation:

On the "Advanced Tools" page, please include "Summary" on
the "Take Me To:" menu in the upper right.

Problem #3:
On the default page "System Summary", when I click
on "Last Scan" it takes me to "Select your Scan Settings"
and seems to be setting me up to run a new scan. I can
only get to the information about the "Last Scan" by
clicking "Back to Spyware Summary" in the upper right
corner. So what is with that? When I click on "Last
Scan" I should be directly going to the "Last Scan Run"
screen. And any button that claims to take me to the
Spyware Summary should really be taking me there.
.