Why is Smartsound Quicktracks a required SpywareBlaster plugin?

[Fitz]

Use this link to get more info about SmartSound:
http://www.smartsound.com/premiere/index.html
It's a third party program that's supposed to work with Adobe Premier Pro.
I use the most current version of SpywareBlaster and have never had a
problem with it.
***

 

[Susan Sharm]

I had the same problem a few weeks ago.
Updating SpywareBlaster 3.4 would bring up the Smartsound Quicktracks
installation window.
In my case I traced Smartsound Quicktracks to Ulead's Video Studio 9 that I
have on my system.
Smartsound Quicktracks is an Audio component of Video Studio that allows the
addition of automatically generated background music to your Video.

That's it!

I too have Ulead Video Studio 8 installed! Maybe that's the culprit
(and to think I was blaming my son!). I don't know why it chose
SpywareBlaster update to cause trouble, but, I think what I'll do,
since I never use the Ulead Video Studio anymore (instead I use
Pinnacle Studio 9 for converting my VCR videotapes to DVD nowadays) is
delete Ulead Video Studio and delete SpywareBlaster and see if that
double whammy solves the problem. I'll let you know the results.

Thank all you experts for the wonderfully thoughtful, precise, and
intelligent advice! You are what keeps the Internet alive and well,
IMHO!

Susan
BTW, what does BWAHAHA mean for this technical question?
Is it an acronym like BTW & IMHO & OP?

 

[Susan Sharm]

It sounds like the Microsoft Installer settings for this "Smartsoud
Quicktracks" is broken. A program installed with the Microsoft Installer
can be "fixed" automatically by it if a missing file or folder is detected.

Hi Adam,

I thank you for the intelligent response. It's so easy to just spout BS
that I really want to thank those like you who have the intelligence
and communication skills to help those of us who have fallen afoul of
the technical complexities of our Windows XP systems.

I picked up the 30-day trialware "Add/Remove Plus" program from
http://www.tomdownload.com/utilities/uninstallers/add_remove_plus.htm
which instantly deleted the persistent entry in the "Add or Remove
Programs" control panel console.

Combined with uninstalling Ulead Studio 8 and removing and reinstalling
SpywareBlaster, this common problem seems to have resolved itself. I'm
not sure WHICH of these three approaches did the trick, but I post all
three so that the many others with this problem can try them and
clarify to us which was the one that actually worked.

1. Remove Ulead Studio 8
2. Really remove SmartSound QuickTracks with a special removal utility
3. Remove & reinstall SpywareBlaster

Again, I thank those with the astute advice. You and your thoughtful
responses are what separates the few from the many who have so little
to contribute they just blather meaninglessly.

Thank you all and I hope this thread helps many others solve this
problem,
Susan

 

[Mitch]

BTW, what does BWAHAHA mean for this technical question?

There are a couple idiots roaming a few groups that think it's terribly
clever and funny to make fun of people with it -- it's supposed to
sound like a laugh.
It just makes me think of people forcing a laugh when they don't know
what they are talking about and are poking fun.
Use it to judge who to filter, because those people are the ones
everyone should ignore.

 

[Far Canal]

Susan Sharm wrote

I too have Ulead Video Studio 8 installed! Maybe that's the culprit
(and to think I was blaming my son!).

No problems with UVS 8 here.

 

[Susan Sharm]

No problems with UVS 8 here.

Hi Far Canal,

Thank you for taking the time to update us as this is important
information we can only obtain collectively if wer'e all to gain useful
information for us and all who follow us.

I must admit I really don't know WHAT caused the problem. Even now, I
really wonder why this problem ONLY occurred with SpywareBlaster. I
mean, what on earth is the connection between this SmartSound
QuickTracks plugin and SpywareBlaster in the first place?

They don't even remotly have anything to do with each other. Yet, I'm
not the only one reporting this exact problem, so, there IS a
connection, somehow, however esoteric & capricious it may seem.

Helpful knights of the Internet such as you and your kind help slay the
dragon who carries up our systems to the Goddess of Windows lying in
repose at the Gates of Athena, playing her mischief upon us all.

You guys, the knights of the Internet, are great!,
Susan

 

[PC]

That's it!

I too have Ulead Video Studio 8 installed! Maybe that's the culprit
(and to think I was blaming my son!). I don't know why it chose
SpywareBlaster update to cause trouble, but, I think what I'll do,
since I never use the Ulead Video Studio anymore (instead I use
Pinnacle Studio 9 for converting my VCR videotapes to DVD nowadays) is
delete Ulead Video Studio and delete SpywareBlaster and see if that
double whammy solves the problem. I'll let you know the results.

Thank all you experts for the wonderfully thoughtful, precise, and
intelligent advice! You are what keeps the Internet alive and well,
IMHO!

Susan
BTW, what does BWAHAHA mean for this technical question?
Is it an acronym like BTW & IMHO & OP?

Susan

Pleased to put you onto the 'reason' if not the 'cause'
I really have racked my brain for what I did to 'fix' it but I have so many
PC's thru here with 'problems' I'm only to pleased to see the back of them
so I can forget about them. Consequently my own PC's get 'fixed' asap &
forgotten asap also!

If I may, could you do me a favour and (leaving UVS8 in place) delete
Spyware Blaster, reboot, reinstall SWB then try the update process in SWB to
see if it 'fixes' the problem. I'm curious to know if this will fix the
problem or if I obviously did something else (I didn't remove UVS9)

And talking of Ulead Video Studio, you say you use Pinnacle Studio 9 now.
May I ask why?
Is it a better program, more powerful?, better interface? should I have
bought Pinnacle Studio 9 instead?

The reason I ask is that when I bought Video Studio I also bought Pinnacles
'Movie Box' to do the AV conversion to Digital.
The agents here sell the Movie box on it's own without software and promoted
Video Studio 9/Movie Box as a 'Deal' when Video Studio 9 came out earlier
this year.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheers
Paul.

 

[J-Walker]

Combined with uninstalling Ulead Studio 8 and removing and reinstalling
SpywareBlaster, this common problem seems to have resolved itself. I'm
not sure WHICH of these three approaches did the trick, but I post all
three so that the many others with this problem can try them and
clarify to us which was the one that actually worked.

1. Remove Ulead Studio 8
2. Really remove SmartSound QuickTracks with a special removal utility
3. Remove & reinstall SpywareBlaster

Happy to hear the issue has been successfully resolved. It's
unfortunate a few juveniles usually surfing gay porn/playing games
decided to muck up the thread. They contributed absolutely nothing
while myself and others offered ideas to address the issue.

 

[J-Walker]

BTW, SWB's database has been updated. )

 

[Adam Piggott]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Hi Adam,

I thank you for the intelligent response. It's so easy to just spout BS
that I really want to thank those like you who have the intelligence
and communication skills to help those of us who have fallen afoul of
the technical complexities of our Windows XP systems.

I picked up the 30-day trialware "Add/Remove Plus" program from
http://www.tomdownload.com/utilities/uninstallers/add_remove_plus.htm
which instantly deleted the persistent entry in the "Add or Remove
Programs" control panel console.

"Add Remove Master" is freeware IIRC and does a similar job. I was going to
mention that but properly removing the software was the issue here

Combined with uninstalling Ulead Studio 8 and removing and reinstalling
SpywareBlaster, this common problem seems to have resolved itself. I'm
not sure WHICH of these three approaches did the trick, but I post all
three so that the many others with this problem can try them and
clarify to us which was the one that actually worked.

Have you considered setting your little one's account to be a limited user?
Although XP Home's implementation of this is poor in my experience (breaks
too many programs) it could work for you. Also talking about not putting
new programs on the computer sometimes works depending on the child
And the final option you can always fall back on: backups!

Again, I thank those with the astute advice. You and your thoughtful
responses are what separates the few from the many who have so little
to contribute they just blather meaninglessly.

You're welcome, thanks for the kind reply. I appreciate the chance to add
to my killfile ;-)
- --
Adam Piggott, Proprietor, Proactive Services (Computing).
http://www.proactiveservices.co.uk/

Please replace dot invalid with dot uk to email me.
Apply personally for PGP public key.
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[PC]

What is the "Smartsound Quicktracks plugin" & why does SpywareBlaster
now require it?

Lately, every time I try to update SpywareBlaster 3.4 on Windows XP I
get a very annoying demand to install the "Smartsound Quicktracks"
plugin. The installation of Smartsound Quicktracks fails every time so
I've learned by trial and error to cancel it, then when it asks again,
to cancel it again - and only after those two cancels can I update my
SpywareBlaster database.

Does anyone know why SpywareBlaster is asking for this "Smartsound
Quicktracks" plugin?

What is a "Smartsound Quicktracks" plugin anway?

Is it good or bad for our PC?

Thank you in advance for your advice,
Susan

Susan

Found it is a problem with 'Quicktracks'

Following the link in the last post on this page
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=97202
I found an update for Smartsound Quicktracks here
http://www.smartsound.com/support/answers/link.php?id=309

I installed the update, ran SpywareBlaster again, the Quicktracks installer
appeared momentarily then disappeared, SWB then carried on as normal.
Closing SWB and reopening it didn't invoke the Quicktracks installer again.

Seems SWB can trigger other installers that have what they believe is
unfinished installs. eg Office as evidenced here:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.info/kb/idx/7/064/article/

Hopefully that's the end of that.

Cheers
Paul.

 

[Susan Sharm]

There are a couple idiots roaming a few groups that think it's terribly
clever and funny to make fun of people with it

Hi Mitch,

Thank you for taking the time to explain the expresson. I am glad I
learned something new.

It seems that there are many here who offer well communicated insight
and ideas and suggestions for those of us in this thread and for the
many thousands who read the thread now and in the future for advice.

We should just ignore those others, members of the hoi polloi, who have
kindly bothered to post, but, who have accidentally neglected to
provide any additional value in their postings aimed at the masses
instead of to the intelligensia.

I, for one, strive constantly to provide well-communicated value in
every one of my posts; and I appreciate your response providing value
to me and to the many others who read this but who may be afraid to
post (for fear those who can only ridicule would somehow denegrate
them).

Thank you for rising above the proletariat,
Susan

 

[Susan Sharm]

I found an update for Smartsound Quicktracks here
http://www.smartsound.com/support/answers/link.php?id=309
Seems SWB can trigger other installers that have what they believe is
unfinished installs. eg Office as evidenced here:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.info/kb/idx/7/064/article

Hi Paul,

You're a genius! The top 1%. You posted the missing solution we've been
diligently searching for!
http://www.smartsound.com/support/answers/link.php?id=309

It's sad that so many of us had the problem (and sadder still that some
of the posters had absoloutely nothing to offer yet still felt
compelled to post negative comments) - but - in the end - it's great
that some of us seriously attempted to resolve the issue at hand!

For others to benefit, here is the rough content of those links Paul
found for us.

Thank you Paul for rising well above the call of duty to resolve a
problem that many posters reported, but, until you came along, nobody
had the documented solution at hand!
Susan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.smartsound.com/support/answers/link.php?id=309
Quicktracks for Pinnacle Studio DV > Every time I launch [Name of
Program] QuicktracksPlugin.msi tries to launch

Every time I launch [Name of Program] QuicktracksPlugin.msi tries to
launch
By SmartSound

This indicates that the Quicktracks plug-in was not completely
installed and that Windows Installer believes there is still work it
needs to complete. The message that pops-up when you run other programs
is there as a reminder that the installation process is not complete.

For what ever reason this problem exists, the solution is the same.
Download and install the Quicktracks updater. Once this file is on your
computer, run the installer. It will complete the installation and fix
the problem. You should no longer receive the message about the
QuicktracksPlugin.msi.

Dowload Quicktracks
http://www.smartsound.com/support/qxpartners_update.html

Related Articles: The Quicktracks installer returns error 1316 and
error 1603 http://www.smartsound.com/support/answers/link.php?id=378
Article added 02/01/2005, last revised 09/13/2005.
This article has been viewed 4037 times, averaging 14 readers per day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quicktracks for Pinnacle / Ulead / Cyberlink - (Update 07/01/05)

Who needs this update?
SmartSound Quicktracks adds soundtracks to a number of video editing
applications. This update is for owners of

* Pinnacle Studio 9 Plus
* Ulead Video Studio 8 & 9
* Cyberlink PowerDirector 4.

What version is this update?
This installer will update Quicktracks to version 3.0.2.7. If you are
not sure what version you are currently running, please open the
SmartSound options window which can be found in the music window of
your program. In this window, under the about tab, you will find the
version number (example). Upon installation, the updater may prompt
you with a message that it is going to uninstall your current version.
If so, click OK, however you will need to run the updater again once
the uninstall is complete.

Why should I update Quicktracks?
The purpose of this update is to provide the latest release of
SmartSound Quicktracks. In addition, the update offers compatibility
with QuickTime 7, faster decompression of single track downloads,
improved purchase process and general bug fixes for older versions.

How do I get the update?
Download SmartSound Quicktracks 3.0.2.7 (9.7mb)
http://www.smartsound.com/support/QuicktracksInstaller3027.exe

Troubleshooting
You should clean your temp folder prior to running the updater. The
temp directory can be found at C:\Documents and Settings\YOUR
USERNAME\Local Settings\Temp
Should you encounter error 1316 or error 1603, please visit this
support article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.javacoolsoftware.info/kb/idx/7/064/article
Running SpywareBlaster™ launches an installation program

SYMPTOMS

When attempting to open SpywareBlaster an installation wizard opens
(e.g. one for installing Microsoft Office).

CAUSE

This behavior can occur for any of the following reasons:

* Your system has a corrupt Microsoft Office (or other Office
product) installation. This error has been seen with other programs,
but the cause seems to be a corrupted Office install.

* A system file is missing.

RESOLUTION

* Insert the Microsoft Office installation media (CD/DVD) when
prompted. Office will copy the missing file(s) and you will be able to
use SpywareBlaster without any further problems.

* If the above does not fix the error, you may need to uninstall
and then reinstall Office (or the affected Office product).
Reinstalling Office should fix the problem for SpywareBlaster and any
other programs that are affected.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Susan Sharm]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.smartsound.com/support/answers/link.php?id=309
Quicktracks for Pinnacle Studio DV > Every time I launch [Name of
Program] QuicktracksPlugin.msi tries to launch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One caveat if you're running this solution (and anyone with Pinnacle
Studio, Ulead, & Spyware Blaster is subject to this problem) ...

Be advised, when the downloaded QuickTracks installer runs on your
local system, Sygate Personal Firewall delivers these admonitions:

Windows installer (msiexec.exe) is trying to connect to crl.thawte.com
[12.158.80.10] using remote port 80 (HTTP - World Wide Web). Do you
want this program to access the network?

Windows installer (msiexec.exe) is being contacted from a remote
machine crl.thawte.com [12.158.80.10] using local port 3297 (CYTEL-LM -
Cytel License Manager). Do you want this program to access the network?

After checking yes to both these requests (why does the already
downloaded QuickTracks installer make these connections?), QuickTracks
was installed.

Updating SpywareBlaster no longer invokes the SmartSound Quicktracks
installer.

Thanks to the top 1% of the posters to this thread, we now know the
circumstances in which this problem occurs, and we know the simple
solution (which is way more than any of us knew prior to the initiation
of this post). Judging from the many similar posts with the same
problem, many users will read this thread in the future and thank us
for all our efforts (and likely curse those who merely obfuscated the
results by their imbecilic banter).

Thank you all, and particularly we all should thank experts like Adam
Piggott, CharlieDontSurf, Fitz, & Paul C for actually raising our
knowledge & abilities above what it was prior to this post.

Respectfully yours,
Susan

 

[Mike Bourke]

Hi Mitch,

Thank you for taking the time to explain the expresson. I am glad I
learned something new.

It seems that there are many here who offer well communicated insight
and ideas and suggestions for those of us in this thread and for the
many thousands who read the thread now and in the future for advice.

We should just ignore those others, members of the hoi polloi, who have
kindly bothered to post, but, who have accidentally neglected to
provide any additional value in their postings aimed at the masses
instead of to the intelligensia.

I, for one, strive constantly to provide well-communicated value in
every one of my posts; and I appreciate your response providing value
to me and to the many others who read this but who may be afraid to
post (for fear those who can only ridicule would somehow denegrate
them).

Thank you for rising above the proletariat,
Susan

You must be a fellow Aussie, Susan - I don't think anyone else would know an
ockerism like Hoi Polloi!

Mike Bourke

 

[Mike Bourke]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.smartsound.com/support/answers/link.php?id=309
Quicktracks for Pinnacle Studio DV > Every time I launch [Name of
Program] QuicktracksPlugin.msi tries to launch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

One caveat if you're running this solution (and anyone with Pinnacle
Studio, Ulead, & Spyware Blaster is subject to this problem) ...

Be advised, when the downloaded QuickTracks installer runs on your
local system, Sygate Personal Firewall delivers these admonitions:

Windows installer (msiexec.exe) is trying to connect to crl.thawte.com
[12.158.80.10] using remote port 80 (HTTP - World Wide Web). Do you
want this program to access the network?

Windows installer (msiexec.exe) is being contacted from a remote
machine crl.thawte.com [12.158.80.10] using local port 3297 (CYTEL-LM -
Cytel License Manager). Do you want this program to access the network?

After checking yes to both these requests (why does the already
downloaded QuickTracks installer make these connections?), QuickTracks
was installed.

Updating SpywareBlaster no longer invokes the SmartSound Quicktracks
installer.

Thanks to the top 1% of the posters to this thread, we now know the
circumstances in which this problem occurs, and we know the simple
solution (which is way more than any of us knew prior to the initiation
of this post). Judging from the many similar posts with the same
problem, many users will read this thread in the future and thank us
for all our efforts (and likely curse those who merely obfuscated the
results by their imbecilic banter).

Thank you all, and particularly we all should thank experts like Adam
Piggott, CharlieDontSurf, Fitz, & Paul C for actually raising our
knowledge & abilities above what it was prior to this post.

Respectfully yours,
Susan

In hindsight (almost always 20/20) I can even see why software like Spyware
Blaster might bring up an unfinished install routine. The fact that install
is incomplete would have to mean that there was a link to the install
routine in the "Run Once" section of the registry, maintained there until
the program was completely installed. There might be many reasons why an
installation was incomplete and not rolled back, but one of the possible
ones is spyware that needs to connect back to its central server for the
installation process to complete - many of the dialer viruses have this
function as part of the install routine from what I have observed of them.
Because there is a suspicious and incomplete process involved,
SpywareBlaster was in effect saying "I can't scan this properly until
installation is complete, but it might be spyware so decide now whether or
not you need to install it. If not, get rid of it and we'll try this again,
if so, finish the process so that I can confirm that it gets a clean bill of
health".
At least, that's might interpetation of what has been discovered.

Mike Bourke

 

[Susan Sharm]

The fact that install is incomplete would have to mean that there was a
link to the install routine in the "Run Once" section of the registry,
maintained there until the program was completely installed.
Because there is a suspicious and incomplete process involved,
SpywareBlaster was in effect saying "I can't scan this properly until
installation is complete
At least, that's my interpetation of what has been discovered.

Hi Mike,

This seems to make sense. The main question of this thread was WHY
would SpywareBlaster insist on finishing a Smartsound Quicktracks
installation.

Here's what I think we have so far by way of scientific hypothesis:
1. A previous SmartSound QuicktracksPlugin.msi installation was left
unfinished.
2. SmartSound Quicktracks adds soundtracks to a number of video editing
applications.
3. Such as Pinnacle Studio 9 Plus, Ulead Video Studio 8 & 9, &
Cyberlink PowerDirector 4.
4. A vestigial "Run Once" registry key was left (too bad we didn't know
to check this).
5. SpywareBlaster update checks the value of this Run Once key data.
6. Spyware Blaster asks twice for you to complete that unfinished
installation.
7. After the second request, SpywareBlaster update fails

Is this the correct current hypothesis for why so many have this
problem?
So that others can start at this point, please correct if I said
anything wrong.

Working together to solve difficult problems,
Susan