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General discussion

ad aware updating problems

by quigonjay Oct 30, 2008 5:53PM PDT

Hi, i am having a problem with with updating.
I have been using Ad Aware SE Personel (free edition) for a while now but recently realised i had not seen the program update for a while and when i checked i could not do it manually either. It usaully says "could not connect to internet/internet connection failed" or "error retrieving update". I can browse the net as normal though and nothing else seems affected. Cant really say for sure when this started happening so dont know if it was after insatlling anyhting new. (using xp btw)
I can not update my anti virus or firewall either so it seems something is stopping the 3 programs from connecting to the net?
I have tried uninstalling and installing newer versions where possible but still the same.
any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
Jay

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
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Re: Ad-Aware updating problems
by Carol~ Oct 31, 2008 6:10AM PDT

Jay..

You said you were using "Ad-Aware SE Personal (free edition)", and added, "i had not seen the program update for a while and when i checked i could not do it manually either". Are you referring to Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06? If so, I believe the free program never updated automatically, although (in the past) you could get the definitions via the program. It's been replaced by, "Ad-Aware 2008 Free". If you are using the older version, you can still get the latest definitions by going here, but not through the program itself. You said you tried reinstalling newer versions "where possible". Was this one of the one's you were unsuccessful with?

You also said you couldn't update your AV and FW either. Are they current? It might help to know their names and versions. Are you getting any error messages? A little more detail would help.

Try scanning with the following:

F-Secure Online Scanner (requires the use Internet Explorer)
http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml

Another thing you can try is scanning with:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware or an alternative link:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Malwarebytes_Anti-Malware_d5756.html

Please read these instructions first, in order to learn how to set it up and scan correctly.

Let us know how you make out.

Carol

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update problem
by quigonjay Oct 31, 2008 7:59PM PDT

hi carol, thanks for the reply
i have now installed the 2008 version (7.1.0.Cool but the problem still persists (running xp btw)
my antivirus is now working as it should (antivir) and i am getting advice about my firewall on the comodo forum
now, when i click the update tab i get an error window saying -

update
no connection to download server

suggested action
check internet connection

i checked again whilst typing this reply so my internet connection is fine
thanks again
Jay

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You're welcome, Jay..
by Carol~ Oct 31, 2008 9:29PM PDT

Jay..

Version 7.1.0.8 isn't the latest version, and may be why you're still having a problem. I know there were issues with that particular version. This post happens to be a few months old, and unfortunately one which no one responded to, but it's typical of what I've seen. And also sounds like what you're experiencing. This thread was started in August, where people were having problems updating to the newer version. Time has passed and you shouldn't have a problem now. Try here:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download5947.html

If it's of no help, you could try going to their forum, and having a look there:

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?act=idx

I'm glad to hear you got your A/V working. I think you were wise to post at Comodo's forum. They should have you up and running. I'll leave the guesswork up to them, but did you happen to read "Current Solutions to Firewall Issues"? One person wrote, in regard to your same issue:

'Another problem some have is CFP not starting up, not allowing connection. One instance that can cause this is a firewall not being installed FIRST. If you have anti-virus which is usually the main conflict, try uninstalling it , uninstalling CFP and install CFP FIRST anti-v SECOND. Many times a firewall, since it allows ALL access in\out to everything, it should be installed first.'

I wouldn't be surprised to hear AAW is a totally separate issue from Comodo's. It's only my opinion and perception, but it seems these latest versions of AAW were problematic for a lot people. Try the latest version of AAW and see if it helps.

Let us know how you make out..

Best of luck..

Carol

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7.1.0.11
by quigonjay Nov 1, 2008 4:51PM PDT

hi again
tried getting the latest version which is described in the link as 7.1.0.11 but when i ran it it says it is the same as i had before - 7.1.0.8?
is 7.1.0.11 supposed to the latest version?
thanks
Jay

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Re: 7.1.0.11
by Carol~ Nov 2, 2008 4:22AM PST

Jay..

The information I first received was through two threads at the Lavasoft forum. I used to use AAW, but don't anymore. I regret not being able to give you first-hand information. What I do know for sure, is that Ad-Aware SE is out-dated. According to this thread the latest version is 7.1.0.10. According to another, they indicate 7.1.0.8. Obviously, I'm reading a lot of mixed information. I suggest going directly to the Lavasoft link below and install whichever version Lavasoft offers for Ad-Aware 2008 Free:

http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

Jay, I can't guarantee you won't have a problem with this version too. You always have the option to post at their forum and ask, if you find you're still having a problem.

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showforum=163&prune_day=100&sort_by=Z-A&sort_key=last_post&topicfilter=all&st=20

I wish you the best of luck..
Carol

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alternative?
by quigonjay Nov 2, 2008 2:33PM PST

ok, what do people use as an alternative to ad aware then?
thanks
Jay

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Re: Alternative?
by Carol~ Nov 3, 2008 6:25AM PST

Hi Jay..

You asked what people use as a alternative. I could suggest creating a new post and asking just that question. Or suggest googling "Ad-Aware alternative" and also try using the search function at the top of the forum. There's a good possibility, for each post and thread, you may only come to find people have different tastes and preferences. If anything, the "Security Tools" sticky at the top of the forum will give you reliable ones.

I don't know what former AAW user's have installed since, but I can tell you I find a lot people use Javacool's SpywareBlaster and Spybot Search & Destroy. Both are free and both perform different functions. You can read an overview of each on the following pages.

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/spybotsd/index.html

If you were to ask me personally, I'd have to tell you I've always found it a difficult question to answer. Everyone has different systems, with different applications installed. I may find one extremely effective, only for you to find , it conflicts with another application you have installed. I do have various standalone scanners, which target different types of intrusions. Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware being one of them. (It's quite "popular" these day Wink ) Most are not running in real-time, so they don't pose a problem for me.

I wish I could give you a short, "neat and tidy" list, but I can't. I would do some looking around. If you search long enough, you may find the same software cropping up, more often than not.

Carol

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