[dennisthechemist]

Hi Blues Harp,

Took your latest advice and shut down progs in the task bar. To cut down job time I took them out in blocks, binary chop style, and soon came to the conclusion that none of these had any effect on settings saving time. I then unchecked Stopzilla in the services list, shut down, booted back up. On the second and all subsequent shut downs the settings saving took less than one second. All credit to you, you were right about Stopzilla's causing the shutdown delay!

I then installed the Microsoft Security Essentials you recommended and this does not affect shut down time at all. What about Superantispyware and Malwarebytes? Could I now remove them if I decide to continue with MSSEssentials? I have reservations about MWB anyway, because as it was scanning, Stopzilla blocked and reported an infection "GASF" - see http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images...quickscan.jpg/
which passed MWB by, just as happened with AVG, which is why I continued with SZ before.

You can see why I feel safe with SZ. I need to weigh up whether to risk going with MSSEssentials (with or without MWB & SuperASWare?), or to continue with SZ and sacrifice the shut down delays, which I need to take up with SZ anyway.

I want to thank you for showing me the way to point out the culprit in the settings saving delay. Have you any comments on the above?

PS
I just discovered that MWB and SuperASW are only trial versions and MWB lasts only another 12 days. Presumably that means they're not free, and I've already paid a lifetime sub to SZ, which rather alters the considerations here.

[blues_harp28]

MSEssentials is for your Anti-virus protection.
Malwarebytes and Superantispyware offer Free versions of their program - check their website.
Malwarebytes will go back to the Free version after the trial period is over - not sure if Superantispyware does the same.

Both are very good programs - just check what they removed from your system.
Update and scan your Pc once a week.

I would not trust StopZilla over Malwarebytes - I know that StopZilla is a paid for program but I would stop using it.

What is PUP (potentially unwanted program)?
http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/PUP

[dennisthechemist]

Hi Blues Harp,

I hear what you say about Stopzilla vs Malwarebytes, but wht did SZ spot the infection that MWB missed? I'm research based (chemist mainly, but with some computing) and I tend to lean on my experience, limited though it is in this particular problem, and it tells me that SZ is spotting things that both AVG and MWB missed, so I am impressed with SZ (so far).

I contacted SZ and they have sent me a clean-up program which apparently cleans up unwanted data, claiming it will solve my "Saving Settings" problem, and a fresh download. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Will report progress here on the pudding eating.

[blues_harp28]

Ok - thanks for the update.

StopZilla may have picked up what's called a 'false positive' - a file that may or not be infected.
If an antivirus - spyware program finds what it thinks! is an infected file [false positive] - it then quarantines it just in case all is Ok and the file may in fact be needed.

[dennisthechemist]

Hi Blues Harp,

I hear what you say about the False Positives theory, but by the same logic the same could be said about what MWB picked up to produce its log.

Still dealing with SZ. Their "cleanup" program didn't work, and I'm back at stage one (except thanks to you I know it's their prog that's the problem) -so I'm knocking at their door again. Watch this space....

[hewee]

One way to check on a "False Positives" is to report it to who found it and the wait for updates to see if it goes away.

Also most "False Positives" are just pointing to one file.

This file can be uploaded to scanning sites.

Scan Files with Multiple Antivirus Programs
http://www.selectrealsecurity.com/online-file-scan

Then you can post the outcome here for a Trusted Advisor to look at.

[dennisthechemist]

Thanks Heewee for the virus scan site.

Blues Harp: thus far, Stopzilla have provided me their latest (AVM 2013) version in the hope the "Settings Saving" hang-up would go away. It didn't. Then they asked me to use their software do perform a "diagnostic scan" to see if there was a rogue infection, and there wasn't. They told me to get on their chat line which I did just now, and they've drawn a blank and told me they've handed it to their development team. At least they're holding their hands up and admitting SZ has a problem which they're tackling.

So at the moment I'm still faced with either ditch SZ for a free AV like Microsoft Security Essentials when I've paid for lifetime service with SZ, or put up with the delayed power down at least until they've had a chance to sort it out.

Either wasy, you've really answered my question by revealing the culprit. Do you want me to close this string by clicking "solve", or shall I keep updating you here with SZ developments?

[hewee]

You're welcome

[blues_harp28]

Thanks for the update.
It will eventually be closed, if there is no more posts from you, me and other members.
But you can always ask a Moderator to open it, if you have any more updates.

[dennisthechemist]

Hi Blues_Harp28,

Update: a week ago I got on a chat line with one of StopZilla's customer service people, and he threw the towel in and handed it over to their development guys. I haven't heard from them since. Just sent another email to SZ today, telling them that you are monitoring progress on this (well you got to apply pressure don't you?), also that, coincidentally enough, the SZ on my wife's laptop is not on a lifetime sub like mine, the annual sub is due on Sep 10 and I'm not renewing it until they sort it.

I'll keep you informed here if that's OK.

Hewee -referring to your 31 July post, it's already gone away - Stopzilla had already removed the virus, i.e. what we are discussing as a possible false positive. Don't all antiviruses work that way?

Regards
Denchem

[blues_harp28]

Considering what Stopzilla missed - as shown in our post # 12.
I am not sure why you would think that it is a good program!
As said - it does not even make the top ten list of Anti-Virus/Spyware programs.

Thanks for the update anyway.

[dennisthechemist]

Hi blues_harp28,

Still no response from SZ.

Sorry, not possible to say what SZ missed unless I perform a full scan first, then repeat the above runs -! You may change your mind (maybe not?).

As I said in an earlier post, I chose SZ because it outperformed AVG when it (SZ) was only pushed as an anti-spyware. How do you rate AVG?

Denchem

[blues_harp28]

AVG - I have used it in the past.
We all tend to stay with what works best for us - ask 20 people and they may list different Anti-Virus/Spyware prgrams that they prefer.

But as you can see StopZilla, would not make my list - I use Avast.

[dennisthechemist]

Hi Blues_harp28,

Latest on this: I told the SZ crew that, although I have paid the lifetime sub for SZ on my desktop, my wife's annual sub was due Sep 10, and if they hadn't solved the issue by then I would go for an alternative package. Their response was to upgrade my wife's sub to lifetime free of charge as compensation!

So, as this problem only occurs on my desktop, and with WinXP, I took their offer and let them get on with it. They just now informed me that they are producing an update for AVM2013 (latest ver which I received a week or so ago) in early October which they say (ahem?) should solve my desktop issue.

As they have upgraded my wife's sub like that, they're obviously taking me seriously, and are trying -got to give them that. Whether they'll succeed remains to be seen. Will keep you posted.

Denchem

[blues_harp28]

Hi Denchem - well they are at least trying!! - so give them 5-6 out of 10 for that.
Thanks for the update and good luck.