SpywareBlaster 3.4....Error Code 4.

Discussion in 'SpywareBlaster & Other Forum' started by Mikebo429, Aug 3, 2005.

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  1. Mikebo429

    Mikebo429 Registered Member

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    Hello. This may get a bit lenghty, but, it's to let you know you're not alone. Also, hope fully, others might benefit from the issues I'm going to cover. First of all, my OS is Windows Me. I have the same problem with the "error code 4" message. To date, I have had all versions of spywareblaster since v2.6.1, and have never had a problem. I'm guessing within the last two weeks my v3.4 started bringing up the code 4 message. I went back and tried all other versions, and none would work, except for v2.6.1. It can't be updated, however, it's better than nothing. All versions produced the code 4 message. Next, I began receiving the "Windows Security Center" message, approximately every 10 minutes after I closed it. It always appeared in the middle of my screen. I called Microsoft and they said more or less, that this was not their message. They then directed me to a site: http://housecall.trenmicro.com, which apparently is an online spyware detection they use, that isn't Microsoft related. Now here is where it gets a little screwy. You mentioned an icon appearing in your taskbar. I was getting the same thing. And I will attempt to insert a picture of it in the body of this posting. If you don't see it, then I will place it in an attachment. Anyway, the icon began appearing at the same time as the Window's message, but, before I ran the "trendmicro" spyware detection. To make things a little more bizarre, the icon in the tray beside my clock, is identical to what "trendmicro" uses. Go figure. Since I ran the online utility, I've seen the Window's message one time in the last week. The other message and it's icon still appears by the clock, but not near as frequent. By the way, the icon by the clock, it's message says also, to click on the "baloon". To me, it looks like an armor shield, with an exclamation mark in the center of it. Two more things I'd like to mention. In my msconfiguration, in the startup tab, I have two new entries: "WareOut", and "KB891711". I don't have a clue where they came from. But for all the good it may do, I turned them off. The first one is in Program Files, and the other is in Windows System. And both are .EXE. I did have a similar problem with the Windows Media Player, that you mentioned; which I've got that problem fixed. If anyone has any suggestions on how to resolve this annoying crap, feel free to email me, and/or respond at this site. FYI, in addition to SpywareBlaster, I also use AD-Aware SE Personal, and Mcafee Anti-Virus and Firewall. *And this stuff still gets through*.
     

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  2. Bubba

    Bubba Updates Team

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    Hey Mike....Welcome to Wilders [​IMG]

    I have split your post out of this thread in order to offer you better assistance. I am also explaining these from least critical to most critical.

    1) In my msconfiguration, in the startup tab, I have two new entries: "WareOut", and "KB891711".

    KB891711 is a known issue that breaks some Win 98/ME systems. While we did have a thread or two concerning this matter....and you'll find many others via a Google search for KB891711....my suggestion to you is to un-install that update via Add\Remove programs until Microsoft fixes the problem. That problem right now is the least of your concerns.

    Related thread---> KB891711 patch breaks some Win 98/ME systems
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    2) In my msconfiguration, in the startup tab, I have two new entries: "WareOut", and "KB891711".

    WareOut

    Wareout....Unsolicited commercial software database
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    Last....but not least

    3) "Windows Security Center" message

    Microsoft is indeed correct that the pop-up you are seeing is not their's. Also....while it might look like a Trend Micro icon....it is also the same balloon icon used by Microsoft Security Center. As for the mouse over message you are displaying....in particular Spyware Activity Detected....that is a known clue of Malware infection....along with a balloon.wav file in the Windows folder [​IMG]

    This is just one explanation of many concerning the alert you are seeing:

    Adware.WinProtect

    ------------------------------------------------------------
    Long way around the barn....In the case of the Spywareblaster "error code 4" message....malware infection is almost always the cause.

    Given the info you have provided....I suggest you visit a speciality Forum that can further assist you by posting what they refer to as a HighJackThis log....and the Spyware Experts can help rid you of the possible CoolWebSearch and other malware lying on your system. Since we no longer offer HJT and system cleaning services....the "three sites we've often recommended in many replies here are: SpywareInfo, CastleCops and Net-Integration, though certainly there are many other qualified sites we could include."

    I also recommend you visit a couple of the below online scan faciltiies before posting a HJT log somewhere.

    http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/
    http://housecall.trendmicro.com
    http://www.kaspersky.com/service?chapter=161739400
    http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php
    http://uk.trendmicro-europe.com/enterprise/products/housecall_launch.php

    Good Luck....and let us know how it goes.
     
  3. Dustie

    Dustie Guest

    sorry for inviting myself into this topic, but hey, others need help too...

    i also had that WareOut software-thingie, but just after the infection, i runned Ad-Aware and it managed to get rid of the darn thing. i also manually deleted it's folder in Program Files, today i checked the install-uninstall programs window, and it was there on thel list - but after i clicked Remove, a message appeared saying the uninstall info had been deleted and WareOut was automaticlly removed from the list. most probably, it's gone from my system.
    i didn't have that K-smth. file problem, though.

    Microsoft Security window and taskbar icon:
    i checked the link for Adware.WinProtect and read Symantec's solution, but i only have the baloon.wav file in my Windows folder -- i haven't found dosxpd.exe nor chmredir.chm file anywhere.

    also, i don't have any of Symantec's antivirus software, so i couldn't check if i have Adware.WinProtect infection.
    i used the scanners you recommended, but none of them detect Adware.WinProtect - only some trojans, which constantly keep crawling into my _restore folder (which is protected by System Restore). besides some of them fail to install (i.e. Java VM support) or get stuck either in the middle of scanning or before showing any results after scanning.

    in my HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run key and similar keys there aren't any suspictious programs listed to be started. i have checked that already, as i do many times to see if there isn't anything stuffing my computer up.

    Symantec also suggests, that this spyware must be run manually (execution trough dosxpd.exe) -- that's what surely DID NOT happen in my case, as i got infected when viewing websites, as it usual.

    i have already asked for help at castlecops.com, but posting HJTlog (what they constantly ask about) will be no use, as none of the things that it finds concern the infecting spyware.

    in the end i discovered another issue -- clearly my Regedit tool crashes when i use Find option or when i try to export the registry to a .reg file. i tried the fix .inf file that Symantec suggested, but it didn't help...
     
  4. Bubba

    Bubba Updates Team

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    Hey Dustie,

    With problems such as this....you can either follow along with what transpires with Mike's situation....or for best assistance....you really need to start your own thread explaining just what you did in your above post.

    I also ask you not to start a thread in the Spywarebalster Forum....since the problem you have needs to be cleaned up first....then a possible Spywareblaster problem can be investigated.

    I would ask you to Please start a thread in our other security issues Forum for further assistance.

    This Forum---> Other Security Issues
     
  5. Mikebo429

    Mikebo429 Registered Member

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    Attention Bubba: This BUDz fer you. I want to explicity thank you for your input, and links to pursue, concerning my recent problems. Some of the fixes took me to the deep dark regions of my registry editor. Once in, the deeper I went, the more critters I found. Which by the way, is not a route for the inexperienced user to go. I mention this for those who are considering using the registry editor. "When in doubt,...get out". Simply because you can really, easily, send your PC out into left-field. Now, back to the issues. To make a long story short, after following through with the info supplied: "so far,...so good". I know I still need to give the fixes a little more time to prove themselves out, however, up to now, and still is,....smooth sailing. Again, many, many thanks Bubba, and to all else who contributed. Sincerely, Mike
     
  6. Bubba

    Bubba Updates Team

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    Keep a sharp eye on things....and be sure and let us know if something similar crops up again. In fact....Please report back after say a week and let us know how it's going....good or bad :cool:
     
  7. Mikebo429

    Mikebo429 Registered Member

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    This has to do with the "Error, Code 4" message, but not spywareblaster. Yesterday I came across Spyware Doctor, which appears to cover a lot territory in it's scanning process. Sounded good to me. So I downloaded it and installed it. Well, guess what message popped up when I tried to run it. yes, "error while unpacking program, code 4. Please report to author". I'm assuming that whatever this is, that it is designed to prevent anti-spyware programs, and anything of the like, from functioning on any given computer. Am I even close on this assumptiono_O I'm telling you, In the last month, I spend more time just trying to keep my PC running and keeping my hard drive clean, than just plain enjoying the dang thing. In all my years of computing, I've never had to do such intense maintenance.............all the time. I get one thing cleared up, to get two or three more headaches added on. I keep all my anti-this & anti-that software updated, and this stuff still creeps in. Even when I'm not online. I've got Broadband, so I guess that explains getting infected while offline. Sorry; I really didn't intend to give the readers an ear full. Although I do feel somewhat better now. It's just that I get a little irritated with this mess, and hope the a_ _holes who do this, get their due someday.....................soon. Thank you for your time. Mike
     
  8. Dustie

    Dustie Guest

    dont exactly get what you mean... it's clear now, the problem with SpywareBlaster is streight couse of spyware infection. just like "program has been damaged" error, which also occoured some time ago on my comp. when i got infected wih a rare CWS spyware...
    that's why i posted on Spywareblaster forum, to see if other ppl who get that sort of message maybe got infected with the same spyware -- and it seems to be exactly that way.

    there is no sense to start my own thread, i will follow what's posted in these threads -- if u don't mind...


    Mikebo429 >> do u still have the spyware infection? do u expirience problems with saving *.reg files using Registry Editor? and do you have trouble playing some type of Divix files?...

    cuz it's another thing i've discovered, some type of divix movies crash my system - a green arrow appears on the taskbar when opening a movie and Windows crashes... i'm not sure if it's becouse of the spam - but since it all worked fine before the infection...
     
  9. Bubba

    Bubba Updates Team

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    Don't mind at all....and commented to that effect in my above post to you...."you can either follow along with what transpires with Mike's situation". What we want be doing is attempting to fix your problem within this thread. If you feel the need to post your info and specifics of your problem....I'll create a thread for your problem and We will assist you in that thread.
     
  10. Mikebo429

    Mikebo429 Registered Member

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    Posts:
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    Hi Dustie. I'm not sure which part of my posting you didn't understand. If you could be more specific, I will try my best to explain. To answer your other questions, yes, I still have spyware problems. I think until someone can write a program that can detect, and at the very least have the ability to alert you, and ask for your permission before being granted access to your computer, we are still going to be susceptible to these threats. By the same token, the utility, or, program should be able to detect any other type of potentially unwanted intrusion. Moving on; I've had no problems with my registry editor, however, I've had numerous files that have shown up in a scan where the results reveal: "The Disk is Write-protected", for each entry. In which case, the removal of these file are not completed by the software I used. To make matters worse, this software is not able to clean or quarantine the files in addition to removing them. Now, as far as the movies go, I haven't had any problems. Yet. I would suggest, for your movies, and if I am understanding this problem correctly, go to Windows updates, and let it scan your PC for the updates available. Be sure and read the info supplied to make sure it's compatible for your Windows products version, and your specific need. What I've learned is, make sure you download the Critical Updates on the days they are issued. Which is usually on the second Tuesday of each month. I corrected a major problem with my Media Player, and ended up with the latest version (a plus), for my Windows Me OS. I hope at least, I've answered your questions, and maybe even given you an answer or two. Mike
     
  11. Dustie

    Dustie Guest

    mikebo429 >> i understand all of your posts ("i don't get what u mean" was about bubba's post).

    it's surely what i have to do, to download all the security updates for WinMe. i'm constantly putting it off, due to the fact, i tried to update my Win98 once and the updating tool crashed, making my Windows completly useless even after reinstalling. so there was again a day lost on fixing what the brilliant "Windows Update" brought to me. i hope it's gonna be different this time with WinME.

    besides to that, i've consulted ppl at CastleCops who suggested carefully using PandaActivescan - the results were astonishing, as i've managed to find few files containing spyware unknown to me, also it showed that the _restore folder is a major issue in my case, as all the viruses/spyware have their copies made by System Restore function or simply infect the restore files.
    i'm gonna try to shut the system restore function down temporairly to have the _Restore folder deleted. then i'll scan everything with antivirus/spyware scanners again and see if it gives any result.

    if it maybe works, then i'll update my WinME...
     
  12. revanent

    revanent Registered Member

    Joined:
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    Posts:
    1
    I had the error code 4 on spyware blaster and the fix i used was as follows:
    removed the KB191711 update in the add and remove programs restarted and it worked ...pretty simple ...the os was windows me :)
     
  13. mikeb0429

    mikeb0429 Guest

    Hey. Preciate the input. I did that a while back. Also I finally upgraded to XP since then. And, for a little added protection, after I installed XP, but "before" I reconnected my broadband and went online for the first time, I installed an anti-virus (a temporary free version), anti-spyware, and spywareblaster. Then I immediately logged on to AOL and installed my firewall first, and then the virus-scan. Then updated the anti-spyware and spywareblaster, etc. I did all this to reduce the chances of anything sneaking into my hard drive, when I went online for the first time. I forgot to mention that I went to Microsoft Updates, and installed all the critical updates. Everything seems to be working very well, and haven't had any problems whatsoever to date. Thanks again, Mike
     
  14. Dustie

    Dustie Guest

    shame i don't have any K.... update in my add-remove software list. i don't have any updates listed in there at all, which is no surprise, since i haven't installed any.

    i'll be now trying to shut down the restore function, before that i'll do a scanning of my system for viruses etc. with Panda and Kaspersky online.
     
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