MS Antispyware

[Guest]

I've been running MS antispyware (Beta 1) on my PC for sometime. I recently
got an update for Beta 2 and I downloaded it. Beta 1 still shows as an icon
on my toolbar and is running. Windows defender (Beta 2) was downloaded into
my programs and is also running. I expected when I downloaded Beta 2, it
would replace Beta 1. Do I need both?

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

No, you do not need both, and this occurrence indicates a failure of some
kind in the installation process, which should remove the old program.

Is Microsoft Antispyware listed in add or remove programs? Can you remove
it via that listing?

 

[Guest]

Both Ms Antispyware and Windows Defender appear in Add/Remove Programs.
Should I remove one or both?

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

I'd recommend stopping real-time scanning by your antivirus, and disabling
any other "protective" or anti-malware programs you have running.

Then I'd try just removing Microsoft Antispyware. It wouldn't surprise me
if you get an error of some sort--that may be why it is still there--but
lets cross that bridge when we come to it.

If you are not having any difficulties with Windows Defender, I'd leave that
alone for now--if some problems do turn out to exist in the install, doing a
repair via add or remove programs, Windows Defender, change, update--would
be the route I'd take.

--

 

[Guest]

Thank you. I'll start by trying to remove MS Antispyware.

 

[Guest]

I disabled my antivirus and spyware programs. I removed MS Spyware via
Add/Remove however, when I did a search I found the program folder and files.
I went into safe mode and deleted the folder and all associated files. I am
not aware of any problems with Windows Defender but now I'm a little gun shy.
I use Adaware, Spybot, Spyblaster, Windows Cleanup and CCleaner. My
antivirus is EZTrust. Would you advise removing Windows Defender anyway,
Bill? Thanks so much for you help.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

What you saw left behind (when Microsoft Antispyware was removed) is normal,
I suspect--I don't know the reasoning, but quite a bit is left
behind--perhaps enough to enable retrieval from quarantine--not sure.
Removing it also won't hurt anything, assuming you don't need to get
anything back from quarantine.

If Windows Defender is updating reasonably well, and doing scheduled scans,
I'd leave it right there. I provides protection not provided by even the
combination of other things that you listed--specifically, better real-time
protection against spyware. And it is unlikely to cause any problems.

--

 

[Guest]

Thanks the reply and info, Bill. Windows Defender is causing no problems that
I'm aware of. I will have to check as to whether it's doing scheduled scans
and updates and if it is, I will leave it.