McAfee & Virus Emails - stops OE download

[Heather]

Hi All......I have asked about this on the MS OE6 n.g., but a few of you
(David Lipman in particular) know way more about McAfee than I do, so
thought I would run it by you......

-----------------------------------------

I am asking this question for my (infamous) really newbie brother-in-law.
It obviously seems to be a McAfee problem, but as he never tells me half the
details, I am flying a bit blind. OE worked fine since Xmas, but this has
just started. He is using XP.

He can download his email into OE6 if there are no viruses in it. But if
there are any Netskys, etc., OE won't download any of the mail. So I have
set him up with Mailwasher and he is deleting them that way.

However....*he says*......McAfee Tech Support (cough) had him download
Stinger and he was clean. Now they want him to run a scan in DOS and he
doesn't have a clue what DOS is. He does have a long list of instructions
though, grin.

I told him if he could download Stinger from the McAfee website, then he was
probably not infected. I was going to tell him how to get to Safe Mode, but
I use WinME, not XP......same method??

Any thoughts on this? Baffles me.

Cheers......Heather

 

[Heather]

Never mind.......I got an answer from one of the MS MVP's on what might be
the problem with McAfee......I will see how that goes. But feel free to add
your 2 cents worth.

 

[madmax]

In

Never mind.......I got an answer from one of the MS MVP's on what
might be the problem with McAfee......I will see how that goes. But
feel free to add your 2 cents worth.

here is link to MS about safe mode in XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315222
-max

 

[Heather]

In

here is link to MS about safe mode in XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315222
-max

Thanks Max.......but believe me, he would not understand that. He has used
a computer for 8 years (we bought them at the same time).....but he still
has not one clue how it works. He thinks news groups are chat rooms, and
accuses me of being in them all day.

So, couple that with an MCP attitude (I couldn't possibly know more than
him.....I am a mere woman)......and a total refusal to *hear* what I am
saying.......and I tear out my hair at times.

It's McAfee that is the problem. But I can't even get him to look at the
settings. So I told him to download Mailwasher and he is using that for
now. I guess I will have to go to his house and sort it out. (shudder)

Cheers.....Heather

 

[FromTheRafters]

.....McAfee Tech Support ...[...]... they want him to run a scan
in DOS and he doesn't have a clue what DOS is.

So, McAfee has him trying to find DOS on an XP machine?
....or are they having him use emulated DOS for some unknown
reason, with XP still up and running?

He does have a long list of instructions though, grin.

That should keep him busy, but I'm not sure the McAfee tech
has determined what file system is in use so that advising DOS
scanning might not work too well.

It might be possible that they are trying to get around an
application killer by trying to scan with a DOS scanner
while XP still supports NTFS (i.e. not *really* DOS) in
this case the malware may still be active and it still isn't
a good idea.

I told him if he could download Stinger from the McAfee website, then he was
probably not infected. I was going to tell him how to get to Safe Mode, but
I use WinME, not XP......same method??

I don't know, I don't have anything that modern. It could be
that holding down the shift key while booting still works too.

Any thoughts on this? Baffles me.

Is there a "timeout" setting for downloading e-mail that he can
tweak to make up for the scanning time of the AV?

 

[Peacekeeper]

Vs8 has a bug in that in some cases a virus laden attachment can lock up the
email download. The normal fix is use Mailwasher or to go to the mail sever
via an internet and logon via webmail and delete the suspect email.

that will allow delivery as will pressing ctrl-alt-del at the same time and
kill the process: "mcvsescn.exe", then launch Outlook Express and try to
send/receive. Any better?

The email scanner is causing no end of issues for some people.

The background scanner will detect the virus if you actualy try to open it.

 

[Heather]

Vs8 has a bug in that in some cases a virus laden attachment can lock up

the email download. The normal fix is use Mailwasher or to go to the mail
sever via an internet and logon via webmail and delete the suspect email.

that will allow delivery as will pressing ctrl-alt-del at the same time and
kill the process: "mcvsescn.exe", then launch Outlook Express and try to send/receive. Any better?

The email scanner is causing no end of issues for some people.

The background scanner will detect the virus if you actualy try to open it.

THANK YOU!! And Rafters too.

First off.....I got the McAfee *tech support* instructions from him, and
while they tell him to get into DOS in XP (G)......they mean to do what
Rafters said.....quoting here....
*Boot the computer to DOS With a Windows Startup Disk*

But on reflection, he ran McAfee (clean).....he downloaded Stinger
(clean).....but he is such a ditz with computers, he didn't know what he was
doing.....it did take me a while to ponder it out.

Also, he got to the Stinger website OK......so no virus on his computer.
But the OE MVP's (once we got the nitty gritty from him)......said exactly
what Peacekeeper is saying......and to disable the download scan....and
something called HAWK if it was enabled.

He downloaded Mailwasher as I instructed and is using that. He is nervous
about going into the settings in McAfee, but I will get him there
eventually. He was using Webmail, but found that to be a PITA.

Peacekeeper......re **kill the process: "mcvsescn.exe"**. Do you mean just
to use CAD and do this once and it will sort him out? Not entirely clear on
that. He used to use EZ Trust, but this is the only person I know that
screwed up downloading F-Prot (chuckle).

I am really thinking of writing a beginner's book......based on some of his
more hilarious screw-ups. They are really quite funny......however, my
dissolving into helpless laughter doesn't amuse him......LOL. (Which way
does the shiny side of the CD go....up or down.....after 20 minutes of
trying to troubleshoot why he couldn't install a game) And this is after
using Win95 for 7 years.....so he is not technically a 'newbie'.

But on the brighter side, he now realizes (begrudgingly) that I do know what
I am talking about. Plus, he now also realizes that I am not playing in
chat rooms......and that news groups are a wonderful tool!! So progress is
being made. I may tear out all my hair in the meantime, tho (G).

Thanks guys.....I will put it into *see Dick run* terms and forward your
posts to him. He was very impressed with the OE advice. And NOT with
McAfee. I had warned him that tech support would insist he had a virus.
They did. Luckily, he listened when I said *do nothing they say* until you
check it out with me......that's when the DOS stuff surfaced.

Phew.....my epistle for today. But I really appreciate your advice.

Cheers....Heather

 

[Heather]

Grin........you are dead right. They think XP has pure DOS....not. But did
follow it up with the proper instructions. However, as he didn't have a
virus, what in hell was the point??? Rhetorical question, I guess.

XX Figgs

.....McAfee Tech Support ...[...]... they want him to run a scan
in DOS and he doesn't have a clue what DOS is.

So, McAfee has him trying to find DOS on an XP machine?
...or are they having him use emulated DOS for some unknown
reason, with XP still up and running?

He does have a long list of instructions though, grin.

That should keep him busy, but I'm not sure the McAfee tech
has determined what file system is in use so that advising DOS
scanning might not work too well.

It might be possible that they are trying to get around an
application killer by trying to scan with a DOS scanner
while XP still supports NTFS (i.e. not *really* DOS) in
this case the malware may still be active and it still isn't
a good idea.

I told him if he could download Stinger from the McAfee website, then he was
probably not infected. I was going to tell him how to get to Safe Mode, but
I use WinME, not XP......same method??

I don't know, I don't have anything that modern. It could be
that holding down the shift key while booting still works too.

Any thoughts on this? Baffles me.

Is there a "timeout" setting for downloading e-mail that he can
tweak to make up for the scanning time of the AV?

 

[FromTheRafters]

Grin........you are dead right. They think XP has pure DOS....not. But did
follow it up with the proper instructions. However, as he didn't have a
virus, what in hell was the point??? Rhetorical question, I guess.

Two techs went to the target range, after firing off one clip
the shooter was informed by the spotter that no holes were
found in the target. The shooter tried again - with the same
results. Then he placed his finger over the end of the muzzle
and shot the end of his finger off.

OUCH! It's coming out fine here, the problem must be at
*your* end.

 

[Heather]

Two techs went to the target range, after firing off one clip
the shooter was informed by the spotter that no holes were
found in the target. The shooter tried again - with the same
results. Then he placed his finger over the end of the muzzle
and shot the end of his finger off.

OUCH! It's coming out fine here, the problem must be at
*your* end.

Love it!! Don't think the *infamous BIL* would get your humour tho!!

Just so you know.....more AdAware updates tonight.....haven't heard of any
AVG ones tho (G).

Do you realize you have Ron and I hooked on watching for that Canadian
question on Jeopardy?? You were so right.....there IS one every night. And
it amazes me that some of the contestants actually get it.

 

[Peacekeeper]

This thread is starting to lighten my day..
Anyway the CAD on the email scanner is every boot sorry there is a wor
around mentioned here
http://forums.mcafeehelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=24795

The file is supposed to stop email scanner from loading always Unfortunately
user beware here as some say it does not work.

There is a new 8.1 version that will fix this mess up BUt time of arrival is
uncertain. My email works fine I have server timeout lengthened to 5mins and
the email scanner set to prompt me rather than auto clean. I have never had
a lockup.

 

[Heather]

Grin......Rafters has a dry sense of humour, which I love.....so I do kid
him.

Checked the McAfee Forum and that is not his problem. His is that his OE
download freezes if there is a virus in the lot. So I am trying to convince
him to turn off the damn download scanner part. But at least I got him
using Mailwasher.

He would never understand anything on the forum anyway......sigh.

Night.....Heather