Hi Strech, fellow Me user...
There is no reason for Me to be crashing all the time because of itself.
So you have two problems, Me is crashing a lot, and your AV core files are not loading. This (below) sounds like a lot, but by next week it'll be second hand.
It would help to know what your AV program is, whether it is a free edition or paid for.
More than likely you AV files have corrupted and you need to uninstall your AV and reinstall it. What is it?
But, in any case, the first thing you can do, if you haven't already, is try to reset to an earlier date. Go to start > programs > Accessories > system tools > system restore, and see if it will reset to an earlier date when you did not have this problem.
If it resets and the problem is gone, voila! yer home free. If it resets and you still have the problem, then you have to consider re-installing your AV.
If it doesn't restore clean, go into safe mode and see if your AV has a repair or re-install function. If it does, do that, then check to see if it works right.
Even if it comes out clean go back into Safe Mode and run one (or both) of these scans:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
security.symantec.com/ (security.symantec.com)
just to be sure. If you get a virus or trojan immediately disable your system restore:
http://download.nai.com/products/mcafee-avert/SystemHelpDocs/DisableSysRestore.htm
and post back here what the bug is.
In any event, you might want to start thnking in terms of maintenance:
Tools > Intenet Options> General Tab > Delete files > check the box to delete off line content > click ok > delete cookies > click ok.
%TEMP% files: Dble click My Computer icon on desk top > type %TEMP in the address bar > click enter > delete all you can delete.
Empty recycle bin.
Go to start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Run disk clean up, then scan disk, if scan disk tells you there are programs running in the background--ctrl+alt+delete and end-task on everything except systray and explorer, then run scan disk > then defragmenter.
I update and run Spybot and Adaware no longer than every three days. These are the settings I use for Spybot and Adaware:
Spybot:
Download and Read the SpyBot tutorial here:
http://s89223352.onlinehome.us/mirror/spybot/index1.php
Download it, Unzip the program, and immediately check for updates, install the updates and then do the scan.
Let it fix everything marked in red. Reboot but not with restart, shut it down for two full minutes. You’ve got two measely minutes and it’s worth it, and let Spybot run if it indicates.
To add an item to your ‘Ignore List” click on the little ‘+’ sign next to the item and left click it to highlight it, then right click it and a menu appears, select the function you want.
When you are done reboot again same way. Two full minutes shut sown is best.
Also, go to the update page. Notice 3 icons across the top. Between "Search For Updates" and "Download Updates" there is an icon for the download mirror location. After you click on ‘search for updates,’ the one in the middle will change. If it doesn't say "Spybot.US by Rootboxen.net USA" click on the dropbox arrows and click on Rootboxen, and use only that one. If you got a "checksum error" trying to download --that's why.
Ad-Aware:
Download AdAware from http://www.lavasoft.de/
check for updates at "webupdate".
I use these settings (green check)
From main window click "Start" then make sure " Activate in-depth scan" has a green check next to it.
Put a black dot nest to "Use custom scanning options” and click Customize" next to it, then green check these options:
"Scan within archives" ,"Scan active processes", "Scan registry",
"Deep scan registry" ,"Scan my IE Favorites for banned URL"
"Scan my host-files"
At the top of the “STATUS” page notice the Tweak (gear) icon. Click on it.
The first setting is “Scanning Engine.” Click on the little plus sign next to it, and in the drop-down green check "Unload recognized processes during scanning", and “include basic Ad-Aware settings in log file”. Next click on the ‘+’ next to "Cleaning Engine" and in the drop-down green check "Let windows remove files in use at next reboot" and Delete quarantine objects after restoring”
Click "proceed", that will save those settings.
Click "Scan"
When the scan finishes, mark everything for removal and delete it. Right-click the window and choose "select all" from the drop down menu, press ‘next’ and then ‘yes’ to the prompt: “remove all these entries”.
However, if you have certain programs running that will give a false indicator of a browser hijack attempt, such as Script Sentry, which places a monitoring function in the registry and looks like a browser hijacker but is not, then you may want to add that to the ignore list because you want to keep it there to do it’s job. To add an item to the ignore list, put the a cursor on the file it reveals and left click it to highlight it, then right click it and a menu appears. Click on ‘ignore list.’
Then I shut down for two full minutes, optional for you of course, and let Adaware run on reboot if it indicates.
When you are downloading here is a tip for you, try it this way:
One other thing I do on downloading is, after you get the download (M$ does not structure its downloads so you can’t do this for some reason on an MS download), after download, AS SOON AS YOU SEE THE INSTALL SHIELD, BEFORE YOU CLICK THE INSTALL ICON, #1. log off the net, #2. disable AV (right click tray icon), #3. then ctrl-alt-delete to close AV in close-program, THEN (and only then) #4. click on the install procedure. Otherwise your AV might read the install as an invader and mess with it. Then I manually shut down for two full minutes.
If you do not have a firewall or want a great free service, I use:
Free Sygate firewall:
http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm
I used to use AVG free edition but I have just changed over to AVAST free edition. I like AVAST better but AVG is fine.
Here are some diagnostic tools to check the integrity of your browser:
Jason’s Browser Security Test:
http://www.jasonstoolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
Gibson tests:
http://www.grc.com/default.htm
I use LeakTest, DCOMbobulator, ShieldsUp, and UnplugNpray
Read this yet?:
http://www.burzurq.com/forum/trevtweak.html
Thresher
