Real-time Protection and System Tray Icons

[Jeff]

I have been running MAS for a number of months without
problems. Today, I am getting multiple bullseye icons in
the system tray with more being generated at apparently
random intervals. Also, my realtime protection is inactive
and I can't seem to force it to become active.

I'm run AV scans and MAS scans and I'm still clean. I'm
running XP SP2 (Tablet PC if it matters). Any thoughts?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

I'm surprised that you haven't seen the multiple icon issue before--this is
common on Tablet PC's. I don't know a workaround, but it's well
known--should be fixed in beta2.

As to the inactive agents--try an update install. Start, control panel, add
or remove programs, Microsoft Antispyware, change, update.

 

[Jeff]

I thought I'd post a follow up. I forgot to mention that
if I moused over the icons they would disappear. I had
seen a similar behavior with two system tray icons but
never more than that. Last night I has easily 20+ in the
system tray.

At any rate, it took two reboots to clear this problem for
me. I have no idea why but everything is working fine
again. I didn't have a chance to reinstall or update but
it appears the problem has resolved itself now. No idea
why the first reboot didn't correct this either. If I
notice it again I'll try to nail it down better.

- Jeff

 

[Jeff]

OK, I have found the source of my problem. It has to do
with the speech recognition and voice commands section of
the Tablet PC input panel. Basically, I'm getting an extra
icon for every voice command I issue. I can use other
sections of the input panel like the pen without problems.

The weird part is some of the icons are delayed. They show
up anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes after I give a
verbal command. However, there is definite correspondence
between the commands I issue and the number and order the
icons show up.

I suspect I generated so many icons that this overloaded
the realtime protection. If I stay away from speech then
everything is fine as I said in my previous email.

Bill, I'm assuming you'll pass on these details to the
appropriate people if they are not aware of this already?

 

[Bill Sanderson]

Bill, I'm assuming you'll pass on these details to the
appropriate people if they are not aware of this already?

Thanks Jeff, for doing the analysis--I've never seen anyone else post in
detail what behaviors elicit the extra icons.

I'm going to assume at this point that the developers are well aware of this
one--it's been a long-standing complaint, and tablets are ubiquitous at
Microsoft. I went to a meeting at a Microsoft Regional office, and was
talking about Microsoft Antispyware over wine and cheese after the meeting
and a Microsoft staff person came up and asked about exactly the issue
you've raised.

Beta2 will be a very different product than the current beta1--if you see
this issue then, please raise it immediately.

 

[Alan]

Actually just posting and replying to the threads in the
newsgroups will get it to the right people.

The design team for Mircosoft Windows AntiSpyware checks
the threads and sees what problems people are having.

So, in a way, you have done some of the debugging that
the design team would have had to undertaken to determine
the root cause of the bug. And your reporting it here
has helped them see what's going on, and hopefully they
can fix the bug.

Alan

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE]

I think I can confirm your analysis.