Corrupt files from download

A

A-non-i-moose

This may not be the correct newsgroup to ask this question but I'm at the
end of my rope and don't know what else to do.

WinXP Home SP3.

Running McAfee. A couple of weeks ago, each time McAfee tried to update
itself, it seemed to download updates but then I got an error message
telling me to reinstall McAfee anti-virus. When I tried, I got an error --
file is corrupt.

I bought a new McAfee, removed the old one, installed the new, same thing.

REmoved McAfee, installed Norton 2009. Installed fine but when it updated,
it downloaded 12 updates. Nine of the 12 installed, 3 failed. Spent two
hours online with Norton tech support, could not fix it. When they tried to
download files to my computer, each of them was corrupt.

I removed Norton.

Downloaded free AVI (or whatever it is) Download went okay but when I tried
to install it got to 57 percent and gave me the file is corrupt error. I
tried three more times to download it, same story. Twice I downloaded to my
desktop and installed from the desktop -- 57 percent, corrupt file, stopped.
Twice I tried to run it from the download, download completed then I got an
error "Windows has found a problem with this file" and it dumped.

Meanwhile, over the past few days I have downloaded and installed other
files without a problem -- updates to my astronomy program; FileZilla (a
free FTP program); Microsoft Word 2007; and a couple of others.

Seems as though I get the corrupt file error only when I download updates to
McAfee or Norton, or, download the free AV software.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Right now, I'm running McAfee but it's not updated.
 
T

Twayne

A-non-i-moose said:
This may not be the correct newsgroup to ask this question but I'm at
the end of my rope and don't know what else to do.

WinXP Home SP3.

Running McAfee. A couple of weeks ago, each time McAfee tried to
update itself, it seemed to download updates but then I got an error
message telling me to reinstall McAfee anti-virus. When I tried, I
got an error -- file is corrupt.

I bought a new McAfee, removed the old one, installed the new, same
thing.
REmoved McAfee, installed Norton 2009. Installed fine but when it
updated, it downloaded 12 updates. Nine of the 12 installed, 3
failed. Spent two hours online with Norton tech support, could not
fix it. When they tried to download files to my computer, each of
them was corrupt.
I removed Norton.

Downloaded free AVI (or whatever it is) Download went okay but when
I tried to install it got to 57 percent and gave me the file is
corrupt error. I tried three more times to download it, same story.
Twice I downloaded to my desktop and installed from the desktop -- 57
percent, corrupt file, stopped. Twice I tried to run it from the
download, download completed then I got an error "Windows has found a
problem with this file" and it dumped.
Meanwhile, over the past few days I have downloaded and installed
other files without a problem -- updates to my astronomy program;
FileZilla (a free FTP program); Microsoft Word 2007; and a couple of
others.
Seems as though I get the corrupt file error only when I download
updates to McAfee or Norton, or, download the free AV software.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Right now, I'm running McAfee but it's not updated.

Since it only seems to happen with AV programs, at least 3 I can see
indicated, it would occur to me that the system needs to be checked for
malware before you can proceed.

FWIW, that's typical of some malware and shouldn't be discounted.
Any chance you have access to another computer to download the updates
for whatever you currently have installed? Then you could install it
manually?
If not, go ahead and use what you have now and see what turns up. It
may not be a virus though; it may be a trojan, worm, etc. form of
malware so you also need to throw at least 3 reputable updated spyware
scanners at it, too, 4 if you want to include Windows Defender. Those
may well root out the issues. Personally I find Adaware and Spybot S&D
to outperform most of the others, but ymmv; I also have others I would
use if those didn't find anything. Look thru old posts for
recommendations from others.

It's also time to get your backups current in case this is somethign the
spreads or you need to reinstall the OS. You shouldn't need to
reinstall, but one never knows.

If you can't find anything by these routes, then at least you can pretty
well rule out malware and concentrate on the OS, but I think one of the
spyware scanners may discover something. Be sure they're updated.

Caveat: Do not have more than one AV scanner running at the same time.
They can step on each other and come up with unpredictable problems.
Only have one at a time active.

HTH,

Twayne
 
T

Twayne

Gary said:
Wow-You got 2 of the worse AV programs, in Norton & McAfee, as far as
being resource heavy, intrusive & hard to fully remove-especially if
they are the full blown security suites. (I hope that you can get
your money back) As a matter of fact, they are so hard to remove, that
they even have
their own removal tools:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100376&lc=1033


After you've made sure to uninstall all Symantec programs (add/remove
programs), including Live Update, Parental Controls, Firewall, etc.,
then you reboot & run the Norton Removal Tool.



Same thing with McAfee-Uninstall all instances of it in Add/Remove
Programs, reboot, install & run their removal tool, reboot.
Then you're ready to try another AV install.

You're wrong, I can name at least 5 other programs off the top of my
head that provide uninstallers (for good reasons), have worked fine for
me for many years without problems, and painting the world all with one
color is equivalent to keeping your eyes closed rather then
understanding why some people think that way.
I just removed SystemWorks 2009 from a machine BTW, and no tool was
needed but Add/Remove.

I'm NOT saying there is anything wrong with other AV products. They are
fine, and I use them myself on some of my machines. Except
MalWareBytes, that is, because it doesn't actually look into files to
declare them dangerous; it looks at the folders they may appear in.
e.g. a legit setup.exe in an unexpected place to the program as many VB
programs may do. They are actually asking people to tell them when such
a problem occurs so they can "fix" the program to ignore them. They're
sing their customers to design their software. So I've discarded that
one.

But with those products AV is ALL you get. Symantec/Norton provides
much more than simple AV protection and the company itself is on the
bleeding edge of the detection industry. The freebies in particular
just run along and use their signatures once they're published, so
they're nowhere near as fast or accurate with thei signature lists. I
can't speak for McAfee as I don't use them and have no experience in the
last several years with them, but I see little to indicate they are much
different.

Twayne
 
M

Mick Murphy

There is a possibility you may have Spyware/Malware on your computer.
Some of them stop you getting Security updates, and accessing Windows Update.

If you can not download and install the 2 Programs below, do it in Safe Mode
with Networking.
All info below:

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.
Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.
Then SCAN with it.
Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!
For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from
Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

Download, install, and update.

Important re: Safe Mode
If you happen to find a problem that you can’t uninstall / delete, reboot
the computer, and go into Safe Mode.
To get into Safe mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow
key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.
RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D
while in Safe Mode.

If unable to install above Programs in Normal Mode:
Sometimes Trojans, Viruses, Malware, etc stop you installing and/or updating
Programs to remove them.
If that happens, reboot into Safe Mode with Networking (from F8 list of
Startup Options), and install, update and scan from there.
 
A

A-non-i-moose

Mick Murphy said:
There is a possibility you may have Spyware/Malware on your computer.
Some of them stop you getting Security updates, and accessing Windows
Update.

Mike --

Thanks for the tip.

I downloaded and installed -- after three tries -- PC Tools Spyware
Detector. It ran and detected three "threats," which I removed.

I then downloaded and installed their anti-virus program and all updates
thereto without a single corrupt file.

The PC Tools Spyware Detector and Anti-Virus installed, updated, and are now
running without a hitch.

I'm guessing that the malware it detected and removed may have been the
cause of my download problems.

Before installing the PC Tools application I ran the McAfee and Norton
uninstallers, hoping to clean them out of the system.

So, as things stand, I am running the Windows Vista firewall and the PC
Tools Spyware Detector and Anti-Virus.

Thanks to all who offered sugggestions.

NOW -- another question -- PC Tools Spyware detected 14 cookies that it said
are low threat. I'm assuming these cookies are from sites I visit regularly
and that require registration -- newspapers, blogs, bank and investment
accounts, and the like -- or -- should I remove the cookies???
 
N

Noel Paton

Cookies are so low a 'threat' as to be almost meaningless - the worst they
'usually' do is to direct a particular type of advert at you from a
particular site (which is why they get tagged as nasty) - it's you choice as
to whether to delete them or not.
Some of the cookies contian logon information for sites - which is a
potential threat if anyone else has access to your PC/account, but otherwise
there's not a lot they can do that will harm your system.

--
Noel Paton (MVP 2002-2006)
(CrashFixPC)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.crashfixpc.co.uk
 
I

irvine25

Sometimes I ever wonder what a cookie is, if this is it, Cookies are so
low a 'threat' as to be almost meaningless - the worst they
'usually' do is to direct a particular type of advert at you from a
particular site (which is why they get tagged as nasty). then i guess I
should thank you, this will be great for my students.
 

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