[Timax47]

c'mon guys .. do you like being ripped off?

As a single voice I am nothing

but with you we can bring them to thier knees

are you in?

[Dawndd]

I am sorry for all the problems that you are having. I recently read an article about how iolo software messes up other common software programs. I'm hitting myself in the head for not clipping it. I understand that their System Mechanic screws up numerous other stuff. (You can see my technical computer level here). One thing that was mentioned was Vista. You may be able to find this article with a good Google search. Apparently they recently supposedly came up with a revised version and claimed they fixed the bugs but that was total B.S. and it fixed nothing. I didn't stop chasing iolo after my credit card company creditied me after they ripped me off. I have this thing about thinking about them getting away with ripping off other people. Plus they treated me like total crap and I you don't want to make me mad. It may make you feel better to file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. If everyone who got ripped off by iolo filled with them they wouldn't be able to keep up with the complaints. Write the California attorney general and the FTC. It might make you feel better, and if these governmental organizations are overwhelmed with complaints they might actually do something. They all have online complaint forms to make it simple. Actually, the Attorney General is the one who can take action. I think the division there is the Dept. of Consumer Affairs or something like that. Unfortunately, you don't need a license to sell software in Califonia or I'd go after that too.
Good Luck,
Dawn

[Timax47]

Thanks for the support Dawn,

As I mentioned previously, I am a uk resident and I have had previous experience with trying to deal with the authorities in the US.

I used to trade on Ebay and I had a very expensive item go missing at JFK airport (in the US mail), even though it was insured door to door the US postal service did not accept resposibility and I had to refund the purchaser and I lost my goods. That was a nightmare and I just don't have the time to go through another scenario like that.

But of course I will lend my voice to any further action that my friends on your side wish to take against this company.

Regards

Timax

[escalader]

Timax47:

I have given iolo SM 7 the boot on my xp system.

The ZA firewall kept reporting security alerts that SM7 wanted to access privileged resources on the PC! Look like they hid their rootkit but want to report back to the mother ship on my PC!

IMHO they have a very large Trojan horse called SM. Even if you ever got a vista ready version, it may not be prudent for you to use the product.

[harry_potter]

Hi,

SM 7.1.7 still does not work on vista. When I perform a full scan, it gets until 18% and it stops. Any one can give me the link to that Tim Sneath blog?

If iolo does not support us with help or fix the problem, then I'll use a serial number generator to use their product for free!! They don't give a damn.

My best regards

[harry_potter]

Hi,

I keep reading on this forum about Tim Sneath and his blog but I see no link!! Any one please post the link?

Thanks a tlo

[epsilon_10]

It was a pain in the *** at first but, albeight it does not work on 64-bit Vista but ever since release 7.1.6 or greater, System Mechanic 7 Professional works just fine on Windows Vista 32-bit. If you are installing from a CD like I was, chuck it and download from their website instead.

They should at least put a disclaimer that it is not "FULL" Vista compatible but only compatible with Vista installed as a 32-bit operating system.

Frankhauzer Farvegnugen! Volkswagens are boils on the butt of society!

[Dawndd]

I've gotten into it a lot more with iolo technologies than just specifically with their System Mechanic. The company itself is just horrible. Check out System Mechanic 7 under Amazon.com and look at the comments that people have made. It looks like Amazon set up one page which is a duplicate of their iolo System Mechanic 7 Professional page and they put no rating or comments on it. The don't put "iolo"in front either.
I'll take another opportunity to ask this of anyone new who is seeing this. If iolo made false promises (constantly), won't refund your money (never), or generally defrauded you in your estimation; then you might think about taking a few minutes to join in with those trying to close them up. One place I use to tell people to write was to the Better Business Association but they can't give any lower than an "F" rating and iolo doesn't care. BBB has no enforcement powers. A letter to the FTC also doesn't get enforced. Drop a letter about what happened to you to the California Attorney General. Sorry, I still haven't learned to do links. They have a Dept. of Consumer Affairs, or something like that. You want the branch that handles LA, since that's where iolo is headquartered. It's the people who get ripped off and who can write enough letters to bring some action down on iolo. I was lucky, I got my money back from my credit card company after iolo literally charged the card and delivered nothing. Even if you get your money back this way you can file a complaint. iolo is counting on not enough people taking the time to come after them, and also on the extreme difficulty it would take to make a class action suit out of buyers all over the world. Also, if you see iolo mentioned on the web in an article or a place that you are allowed to respond to then take a few minutes and set the record straight. Help save somebody else. Some one once responded that a company that put out such terrible products and never gave any customer support couldn't survive in this country. Maybe I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it either.
Thanks
Dawn

[escalader]

Well for what it is worth the ad for SM is on this very thread top left of the advertisers.

[Dawndd]

that when an advertiser offers money the one taking it isn't always going to run home and try the product. Also, no one should assume that an advertiser knows anything about the product accept that the advertiser is getting bucks from the maker. System Mechanic is advertised all over the web with glowing reviews - iolo is excellent at that part of the business. At least Amazon was semi-honest. Comp USA must have had a staff member write their great System Mechanic reviews. The product can't be this bad on one hand and then work great for others on another. Often it's a paid ad or, if you trace the trail, it leads back to something written by iolo itself. No one said this was an easy battle. I read one guy complain about whoever gave System Mechanic the award on the box. Think maybe they either invented it or paid for it? He was also "never going to buy anything from Best Buy again". However, he said nothing about telling Best Buy what they did wrong. How would they know? How would Tech Guys know? I have a moderator friend here -I'll do what I can. In the meantime, check out the Better Business Bureau site for iolo (sorry about not doing a link again). It's all you really need to know. Maybe I should learn how to do links and then just send that to every advertiser I see.
Dawn

[harry_potter]

Hi,

How can I remove this rootkit from SM?
Thanks a lot

[escalader]

Originally Posted by harry_potter

Hi,

How can I remove this rootkit from SM?
Thanks a lot

Harry:

Short of a magic wand, there are several points hidden in your question:

1) I think you are on vista so maybe you don't have a RK!
2) The easiest way is do what I did, drop the product , uninstall it! Why use an unsupported product?
3) Run one of many rootkit removal tools most are free Ice Sword and F-Secure's BlackLight but these tools may not apply to vista, so check before you try them

Here is a site but not for vista

Rootkit Unhooker/RkU
Copyright © 2006 - 2007 DNY, EP_X0FF, MP_ART
www.rku.xell.ru
Rootkit Unhooker (RkU) is an advanced rootkit detection/removal utility. It runs under 32bit Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server. Windows NT4.0 and Windows Vista is not supported.

[harry_potter]

Hi Escalader,

Yes, I have Windows Vista. That means I have no rootkit?
Thanks a lot

[escalader]

Harry:

My reply was not useful since I don't use vista!

All I wanted you to know is how one goes about it in xp!

You may have a rootkit or not, sorry.

Post a HJT over on the security forum and a guru can do much better

[Timax47]

Dawn is fighting our cause guys, Iolo appear to be a very successful company with a great product>>>> so many authoratative sites lead us to believe. Truth is, they are shysters, they dont care about us at all. If they did then they would respond when we have a problem.

Take for instance .......... Norton, they respond within 24 hrs... should you need it... alternatively they have a brilliant FAQ and help service

That is why they are still no 1... because they care about the people who spend the bucks.

I have a theory about Iolo>>>>>>>>> they are a company who cannot respond to the demands that Vista has placed upon it (having to become compatible) and that it is quite happy to roll along with xp users (being the current majority of users) >>> product works fine in xp>>> not Vista>>> dont buy it

Go Dawn

Tim