automatic scan

  • Thread starter Thread starter janis75
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J

janis75

this may seem like a weird question / situation whatever but I have both my
windows defender and my anti-virus program set to automatically scan my
computer at 2 am on a daily basis. I usually put my computer into hibernation
when I am done working on it and for some reason it doesn't seem like either
one of these programs is doing what it should be doing. If I actually do a
complete shutdown on my computer then after I restart it it tells me that my
computer hasn't been scanned in x amount of days. I thought I had everything
set up correctly but I guess I may be missing something. Does anybody have
any suggestions? I have never had an issue like this. Every other computer I
have had things worked and scanned just fine like they were set up to do.
Please help
 
janis75 said:
this may seem like a weird question / situation whatever but I have both my
windows defender and my anti-virus program set to automatically scan my
computer at 2 am on a daily basis.
Click to expand...


Having both scans occur at the same time, if that is really what you've
configured, could easily cause one or both to fail because of
conflicting file access.

I usually put my computer into hibernation
when I am done working on it and for some reason it doesn't seem like either
one of these programs is doing what it should be doing. If I actually do a
complete shutdown on my computer then after I restart it it tells me that my
computer hasn't been scanned in x amount of days.
Click to expand...


*What* tells you it hasn't been scanned. Defender or your anonymous
antivirus application? We can't even begin to help if you won't tell us
which one isn't working.

I thought I had everything
set up correctly but I guess I may be missing something. Does anybody have
any suggestions? I have never had an issue like this. Every other computer I
have had things worked and scanned just fine like they were set up to do.
Please help
Click to expand...

I can find nothing in either Vista's Power Management settings, or in
Defender's settings, that would allow the computer to be awoken from
hibernation. Can't speak to the antivirus applications abilities, as
you've opted to keep that a secret.

Remember, hibernation is the same as turning the computer's power
completely off. The only difference is that the state of the computer
(open applications and files, etc.) when it enters hibernation is
automatically resumed when the PC is powered back on. With this in
mind, I don't think you've ever been able to do precisely what you
describe; you've most likely been putting the computers in Standby or
Sleep mode - not Hibernate.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Yes they were running XP.......I am new to Vista so I don't know if there is
a difference with this or not. that is why I was asking
 
defender will tell me that I haven't scanned my computer in days even though
I could have just got doing a manual scan on it.

that is where I am having issues.
 
okay obviously *I* came across as a complete moron so *I* guess *I* didn't
state the isue the right way.

I understand that normally a computer would have to be on in order for it to
do certain things however, I am new to Vista so I didn't know if it could do
anyting special like that.

just a question is all.......as I said I was just looking for direction
because Vista is new to me.
 
Try using Sleep instead of Hibernate. This keeps the RAM and processor
going in a low power state but shuts down pretty much everything else,
including the hard drives, fans and all lights on the machine so that it
looks like it's off. It does everything that Hibernate does (dumps the
contents of memory to the hard drive) so it's safe in case there's a power
cut, but it resumes A LOT faster, and is able to wake up to perform
scheduled tasks.

I've got a bit of a problem with Defender at the moment, so it's still not
running a scan, but I do know Windows Update is running every morning at 3AM
without problems.
 
Hello Janis,

Am I correct in thinking that you are running Ccleaner or another registry
cleaner?

If so, in CCleaner/applications/Utilities dont mark Windows Defender.

Than the history of WD keeps alive.
- -- ---
 
Thanks for the insight I really appreciate it. I will try using the sleep
mode from now on.
 
t-4-2 said:
Hello janis,
Maybe * I * am the one missing something. I always thought the
computer had to be ON before scanning could be executed. Am I wrong ?
Click to expand...

No.

C.B.
 
Hello t-4-2

I apologize then as well. I guess I shouldn't have been so quick to jump the
gun and assume that you were trying to be offending in any way.

I have been told to put the computer in sleep mode to make sure that the
scanning will take place. However I am afraid that it will overheat itself. I
may just try to do my scanning when I fire up my computer at least that way I
won't have to worry about all this stuff. Thanks for the help though and
again I am sorry for the mis-communication earlier.
 
Hello again t-4-2,

I appreciate the insight again. As I said I may just make it a point to go
ahead and run my own scans everyday for these things. At least then I know it
will get done without any hesitation. In a worse case scenerio I wait a week
to do a scan, I definately wouldn't wait that long but just figuring worse
case scenerio.

Are you running Vista? What are some quirks that I may experience? I have
always used XP so I am not sure what to expect with Vista. So far I guess it
has been decent but I don't really do anything all that involved on my
computer anyway.......just schoolwork.

Any pointers or warnings or whatever you can offer would be much appreciated.

Thanks
Janis
 
This may depend on exactly what is meant by "on"
or "off". Electronic gadgets are seldom really off.

Check Vista's help FAQ entry for "When should I
shut down my computer?"

In help, use search term "turn off" and the first thing
should be the FAQ. It's about halfway down.
 
T-4-2,

By the way......what is your real name or should I just keep addressing you
as t-4-2? I have been talking to you but feel weird using that title. If it
is okay with you then I guess I will keep doing it that way however, I just
thought I would ask.

Okay.....not to computer savvy so please tell me how to set that up. From
the way I'm understanding it and correct me if I'm wrong but I'm guessing
that the purpose of setting up this administrative account thing is so that I
can specifically do things like scanning? Is that right? does it help to have
two different accounts?

I really don't do anything special as far as the CIA, FBI and NSA are
concerened so I am good there. As far as being an accountant for the "family"
alas they felt I was to "pushy", so I am out! Just kidding to anyone who
reads that statement!!! But seriously as I said I am simply using my computer
to take online college courses, so I am not involved in anything to involved.

Thank you for the extension of the offer to help......I may just take you up
on that! I guess after reading this post do you think it is wise for me to
set up another account as an administrator? If yes, I will looking for
direction.

Thanks!
Kindly,
Janis
 
Here's another excerpted from the help system for the
management console.

***
You can also set a condition that tells the task to wake the computer from
sleep mode to run the task when the trigger is activated. Before you set the
condition to wake the computer to run the task, ensure that the task will
not cause the computer to wake at inconvenient times.

***
 
how do I do that?

FromTheRafters said:
Here's another excerpted from the help system for the
management console.

***
You can also set a condition that tells the task to wake the computer from
sleep mode to run the task when the trigger is activated. Before you set the
condition to wake the computer to run the task, ensure that the task will
not cause the computer to wake at inconvenient times.

***
Click to expand...
 
Sorry, I wasn't trying to help really. :o)

I was replying to some who responded to you in order
to get clarification of their apparent position that Vista
was incapable of waking for scheduled tasks.

....and that there really was such a thing as "off" these days.

Start orb
control panel
hardware and sound
power options
choose what power button does
and/or
choose what closing the lid does
remove "hibernate" from the choices because
hibernate is too close to off (really off - if there
is such a thing anymore) for scheduled tasks to
run by "waking" the computer (from sleep).

I'm assuming here that Vista is capable of "waking"
from its hybrid sleep mode.

My knowledge of this comes only from the "help" feature
on my Vista laptop which I was referencing in my posts.

aside -

It still seems awkward trying to find information in Vista.
 
FromTheRafters said:
Sorry, I wasn't trying to help really. :o)


I'm assuming here that Vista is capable of "waking"
from its hybrid sleep mode.
Click to expand...

All this has got me wondering, so I've just edited my Windows Defender scan
task to wake the computer (it's scheduled for 0200 and has never run at that
time). I'll make sure I put the computer into Sleep mode tonight and post
back here tomorrow to let you know if the task ran.

I do have logs in my Event Viewer that Windows Update has been running at
3AM but I've never been around to see it happen.

....and I can't find a scheduled task for Windows Update so some other
process or service must control that.
 
t-4-2 said:
Hello Rojo,
See screenshot link. It apparently applies to windows updates, but
nothing else.

'ImageGrotto: Free Image and Screenshot Hosting'
(http://imagegrotto.com/view-autoupdate11435.JPG)
Click to expand...

I can now confirm that if you schedule a task and tick the box that says
"Wake the computer to run this task", the computer will indeed wake out of
Sleep mode. Your screenshot implies that this ought to work for Hibernate
too. I'll try and remember to try this tonight, and post back here
tomorrow.

Of course, in Hibernate mode the computer is powered off, so I'm guessing
that for this to work your BIOS has to be capable of doing it.
 
Rojo Habe said:
I can now confirm that if you schedule a task and tick the box that says
"Wake the computer to run this task", the computer will indeed wake out of
Sleep mode. Your screenshot implies that this ought to work for Hibernate
too. I'll try and remember to try this tonight, and post back here
tomorrow.

Of course, in Hibernate mode the computer is powered off, so I'm guessing
that for this to work your BIOS has to be capable of doing it.
Click to expand...

Hibernate is as "off" as it gets. It is "off" but "what you were doing"
has been saved to disk so that when "on" again it can resume from
there.

BIOS needs power "on" too in order to execute its code.
 
FromTheRafters said:
Hibernate is as "off" as it gets. It is "off" but "what you were doing"
has been saved to disk so that when "on" again it can resume from
there.

BIOS needs power "on" too in order to execute its code.
Click to expand...

Yes, well perhaps I should clarify. When I say powered off I don't mean at
the wall. I mean still switched on at the wall and with the PSU still
receiving power via its physical power switch (if fitted). As you say, it
can only be off for a given meaning of the word "off". Hibernate mode is
"powered off" in the same way that Shut Down is. Sleep mode does everything
that Hibernate does (saves the RAM to disk) but keeps the RAM alive for a
faster Resume time, therefore using a tiny bit more power.

If the machine is unplugged from the mains (as some people say you should do
with all appliances) then obviously it's never going to wake up (unless of
course it has batteries, as laptops do). Sorry if I caused any confusion.

I'm trying the Hibernate test tonight in an attempt to recreate the OP's
symptoms. If it works then all janis75 should need to do is locate the
tasks in question and put a tick in a box.
 
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