Error message when running Spybot, Ad-Aware, etc.

Thanks, timberlandko. I uninstalled both programs, plus their files and folders. Now for the next step, you said: "empty your Temp folder (usually C:\Temp), your Windows Temp folder (usually C:\WINDOWS\TEMP), and your Temporary Internet Files (usually C:\WINDOWS\Temporary Internet Files) - just empty those 3 folders, don't delete them." I know how to empty the Temp Internet Files, but how do I empty the other two? I found the windows temp folder from typing it into "RUN", but I can't empty it, I can only delete it. Can you or Don guide me on this???? Thanks.

Try this
Right Click on the Start button
Click on Explore
Open Explore
scroll to Temp Folder, Click on it so it is highlighted,
Click on Edit, click select All,
Then click File,, Click Delete,
Click OK,

You may have to do this in safe mode, as it may not let you delete all the files and folders inside it

You can get to safe mode by Tapping the F8 key when your computer is starting up

Hi Don, There's nothing in my C:\Temp) folder. There's a lot in my Windows Temp folder (C:\WINDOWS\TEMP), but timberlandko said to empty it, NOT delete it. How do I do that?????

Sorry if I confused you. I do that a lot; I'm a lousy teacher. You want to delete all contents within that folder, but you do not want to delete the parent folder. Prolly best to do while in safemode - navigate to and open the Windows Temp folder, go to your toolbar in that folder, click Edit > Select All to highlight all contents. Then, without closing the folder, on your toolbar click File > Delete, and, if asked, confirm you wish to delete the selected files. That should do it. Note: some files might put up a fight. That may or may not be a problem, but lets not worry about that unless it happens.

Okay, I deleted the Windows Temp contents in Safe Mode, thousands of files, programs, etc. in there. When I checked again in normal mode, there was one item still remaining which cannot be deleted: ZLT003cO.TMP.
Should I completely empty out my Recycle Bin now?

Yeah, empty the recycle bin and reboot, and proceed with repairs. I'm gonna guess that file that doesn't wanna go away is OK for now; you have ZoneAlarm installed, and that looks to me as though it might be a ZoneAlarm temp file - we'll find out soon enough.

Yep, I have ZoneAlarm installed on my computer and find Files in the Temp folder,

See if you can go ahead and download and run Ad-aware and Spybot,
Be sure and check both for updates prior to running, Have Ad-aware fix anything it finds,
Fix what is found in Red with Spy bot.
Then restart your computer,
Restart HJT and post back a fresh log

Well, here's the latest. I reinstalled AdAware and Spybot plus the updates. In both cases, the computer froze up right before the end of the scan. No error message appeared this time. I then downloaded HJT and couldn't save the log. I could see it after the scan, but after hitting "save log," only a blank page showed up in the HJT folder. I tried this several times, and everything kept going in circles, asking if I wanted to save it and to what file, etc.
This is getting weirder and weirder.

Hi Merstar,
Open HJT agin please and this time when you click save log, Notebook should open, keep it open then log into here, copy and paste the log from it in here please,

What was up with the site I couldn't get in over the weekend ????

Site Maintenance, Don ... see This Thread. Every once in a while, its a good idea to check the Announcements Forum :wink:

Don,
I just downloaded HJT once again and saved it my C drive in a new folder named HIJACKTHIS. When I opened the folder, I saw nothing about saving the log, just "You are downloading the file: hijackthis.zip from C:/HIJACKTHIS. Would you like to open the file or save it to your computer?" What am I doing wrong????

You have to unzip it to the folder,
Create a nother folder call i HJT 2 and unzip the file to that,
Save it to that folder

Thanks, but I don't get it. I tried saving it twice, once to zipfile, and once to files, then opened. Neither worked. I had no problems the first time I downloaded HJT, but now I just can't seem to even get the option to scan. How do I "unzip" it to the folder????

Uhhhh .... I think I might see your problem, merstar ... your operatin' system's Win98, which doesn't have a builtin zip utility. Download the evaluation version of WinZip. It'll nag you to buy it, but it'll work and its yuckware-free. Install it, read the "read me" and the built in helpfile/tutorial, then use it to unzip HJT.

Thanks, timberlandko, but I hope I'm not getting into anything over my head - I'm definitely computer-challenged, in case you haven't noticed. LOL. This "zip" and "unzip" stuff is beyond my comprehension.

Here's a computer-challenged question for you, do I need a zip drive for this? I have one sitting in my drawer, but have been putting off connecting it, since this computer is wheezing, coughing, and struggling as it is, and one more piece of hardware could blow it over the top.

Hi Merstar,
Download HJT from here http://www.spychecker.com/download/download_hijackthis.html
No need for zip program

Hi Don,
That's where I originally downloaded HJT, and I could scan, save log to the folder, HJT, then copy and paste to a word document. Now I can't do that.

Here's what I'm doing: I download the program, then create a folder HJT in my C drive, and save it there. It enters file name as Hijackthis, and save as type: application. I click Save, then open, then scan. I see the log file, then click open, then scan, then save log to HJT folder. After that it says, "you are downloading the file hijackthis.log from C:/HJT - would you like to open file or save to computer?" And that keeps going in circles. I simply can't open the folder, and therefore, can't highlight, copy and paste the log.

Meanwhile, I took a snapshot of the log file and saved it, but can't copy and paste it. I don't know how to post the snapshot here, or maybe I would have to e-mail it to someone? Let me know how I can do this! Thanks.

what does hijackthis do? an someone help me out here?

Seed, HJT essentially is a registry tool. Its not a toy; using it injudiciously can and will leave you with a machine requiring a full fresh operating system install. It is a very effective means by which to repair systems compronised by yuckware, provided its capabilities are directed by one familiar with the Windows Registry, the various permutations and actions of yuckware, and the application itself. In the wrong hands it can be like trimmin' fingernails with a chainsaw, but properly used it is neat, clean, safe and efficient. As with most things computer, it will do only what it is told to do, but it will to the best of its considerable ability do precisely what it is told to do. If you don't know what to tell it to do, or why, or how to tell it to do something you want done, you're very likely gonna be quite dismayed by the outcome of its slavish devotion to orders. Once you pull its trigger, its bullets are are gonna hit whatever they were aimed at.

merstar, dunno what is causin' that problem - my guess is that somehow a conflict has been created on your machine. I'd suggest you either redownload, or offload, a pristine copy of HJT to removeable media. Then uninstall HJT with Add/Remove Programs, hunt down and delete all files and folders named, containing, or referencing HijackThis, empty all your temp files once more, empty your recycle bin, reboot, create a new HiJackThis folder on your root drive, load into that folder the previously saved pristine copy of HJT (or redownload it, if saving it earlier wasn't practical), and start from scratch.

In the meanwhile, if you wanna, you can email me your screengrab of your log at

timberlandko - at - hotmail - dot - com
(converting that spambot-foiling gambit into the conventional email address format, of course :wink: )

Put something like "merstar's HJT log" in the subject line if you would please. Dunno when I'll get to it for sure, but I'll try to look it over shortly after it arrives.

Thanks again, timberlandko, I just e-mailed it to you.
BTW, what is "removeable media?"