Windows Defender Beta 2 hangs while scanning

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  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Often during a full system scan Defender hangs. It is usually around 30-40
minutes into the scan. The hang occurs at different file locations so I can
not give a file that it hangs on. The progress bar at the top appears normal
and appears as if it is still scanning. I have uninstalled Defender more than
once (even using MSI cleanup tool once) and reinstalled it. I have totally
removed the signature files during each uninstall and updated and everything
as far as that aspect is concern works fine.
The times that Defender worked the scan lasted 46 to 47 minutes. During the
hang I have left it for 2-3 hours and it does not go beyond the file that it
is hanging on.
Has anybody else seen this?

Windows XP Home SP 2 (Fully Patched)
AVG Pro
ZoneAlarm 6.1.744.001
Spybot S&D
Winpatrol
Linksys Router BEFSR41
 
Hello Sanitylost,

Have you tried the scan operations running in safe mºde?
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

Also in safe mode:
You can clear prefetch files by going to Start menu and Run and typing
prefetch, and then click OK, delete the files.
This folder may accumulate useless junk, especially if you change your
configuration a lºt. There's no harm in emptying it. Simply delete all the
files in that folder; Windows will rebuild it as needed.

Open a Internet window and go to Internet Options, Delete Cookies and Temp
Files and included all offline content then also go to Start and Run and type
%temp% and clear that fºlder.

Enable Hidden Files and folder's.
To enable hidden files and folders Go to taskbar, click Start > My Computer.
On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
On the View tab, uncheck Hide file extensions for known file types.
Make sure that 'Show hidden files and folders' is enabled.
Display the contents of system folders' is checked & 'Hide extentions for
known file types ' is not checked then press ªpply.
You can set this back later by opening the same page and pressing 'restore
defaults' then pressing ªpply,
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339

Empty your IE cache and your other temporary file folders, eg: c:\temp,
c:\windows\temp or C:\Documents and Settings\<name>\Local Settings\Temp (the
path to your temp folder will change depending on your name) - sometimes
programmes can be hidden in there - watch out for mysterious *.exe files or
*.dll files in those fºlders.
and c:\Documents and Settings\username\local settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5 and delete all the files in those directories and
subdirectºries).
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm

Clear your temporary files automatically
If you're really serious about keeping people out of your browsing business,
you can automatically delete your cached files every time you close your
browser. To do this:
1. In Internet Explorer, open the Tools menu and click Internet Options.
2. Click the Advanced tab and then scroll to Security.
3. Select the Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed
checkbox, and then click Apply.
Now, every time you close your browser, your cached files are automatically
deleted.

Check yout drive
By going to Start menu and Run and typing CHKDSK /R and then click OK.

Defrag your drive
By going to Start menu and Run and typing DEFRAG and then click OK.

Reboot

Go here:
http://safety.live.com/site/en-US/default.htm
Look for the broom Clean up, also Tune Up..

Scan your drive with WD

Good luck

Let us know how it works ºut.
--
 
Complicated for the average user ......

Stu

Engel said:
Hello Sanitylost,

Have you tried the scan operations running in safe mºde?
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm

Also in safe mode:
You can clear prefetch files by going to Start menu and Run and typing
prefetch, and then click OK, delete the files.
This folder may accumulate useless junk, especially if you change your
configuration a lºt. There's no harm in emptying it. Simply delete all the
files in that folder; Windows will rebuild it as needed.

Open a Internet window and go to Internet Options, Delete Cookies and Temp
Files and included all offline content then also go to Start and Run and type
%temp% and clear that fºlder.

Enable Hidden Files and folder's.
To enable hidden files and folders Go to taskbar, click Start > My Computer.
On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
On the View tab, uncheck Hide file extensions for known file types.
Make sure that 'Show hidden files and folders' is enabled.
Display the contents of system folders' is checked & 'Hide extentions for
known file types ' is not checked then press ªpply.
You can set this back later by opening the same page and pressing 'restore
defaults' then pressing ªpply,
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339

Empty your IE cache and your other temporary file folders, eg: c:\temp,
c:\windows\temp or C:\Documents and Settings\<name>\Local Settings\Temp (the
path to your temp folder will change depending on your name) - sometimes
programmes can be hidden in there - watch out for mysterious *.exe files or
*.dll files in those fºlders.
and c:\Documents and Settings\username\local settings\Temporary Internet
Files\Content.IE5 and delete all the files in those directories and
subdirectºries).
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm

Clear your temporary files automatically
If you're really serious about keeping people out of your browsing business,
you can automatically delete your cached files every time you close your
browser. To do this:
1. In Internet Explorer, open the Tools menu and click Internet Options.
2. Click the Advanced tab and then scroll to Security.
3. Select the Empty Temporary Internet Files folder when browser is closed
checkbox, and then click Apply.
Now, every time you close your browser, your cached files are automatically
deleted.

Check yout drive
By going to Start menu and Run and typing CHKDSK /R and then click OK.

Defrag your drive
By going to Start menu and Run and typing DEFRAG and then click OK.

Reboot

Go here:
http://safety.live.com/site/en-US/default.htm
Look for the broom Clean up, also Tune Up..

Scan your drive with WD

Good luck

Let us know how it works ºut.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Stu, you have been absent, I hope you hang around more often ;-)

How is the weather in U.K.

Righ here in CA is getting hotter than the usually heat.

Take care.
--
 
I clean and defrag regularly. I use chkdsk as well and there are no problems
with the disk. The prefetch I clean about once a week. I have not scanned in
safe mode though and I shouldn't have to. If I need to scan in safe mode
every time I use Defender then what's the point...no other anti-spyware app
needs to be run in safe mode just to do a scan. Remember, my computer is
running fine and I don't believe I am infected with any adware or malware. I
just run scans regularly and recently noticed that about 2/3 of the scans
hang.
I thought maybe this was a problem...any other suggestions?
 
Hi Engel

Yes. Just took a summer break - that time of year. I see you have been doing
good work in our beloved Bill S`s absence. I see him as the father of all MS
NG`s I never had. LOL!! BTW. Congrats on your promotion to a silver star
general ! Keep up the good work. You are a trusty and stalwart advisor.

Weather here is great - 24C would you believe? It could be argued that since
most of our weather eminates from the GOM, we Brits are full of `hot
air`anyway on such occasions.

My WD has been performing impeccably - not something that Steve D wants to
hear at this stage of Beta I guess - if only to say. "Well Done MS"

Best Regards

Stu
 
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