For unknown reasons I have been unable to run AdAware after installing it, although I have been able to run SpyBot after installing and it only detected some common tracking cookies no particular threats however and have never had any problems with these before. When I first attempted to install the updates SpyBot seemed to have a problem with a temp file and stated that it couldn't continue, but now has seemed to update just fine? I also ran Avast which didn't seem to detect anything and SmitfraudFix that seemed to run and then state that items may not inevitably be a threat or something, but didn't seem to detect anything either? Any ideas what may be causing this, WinXP Pro SP3 perhaps? Thanks.

I do not know what is causing your problem but I would suggest that you drop adaware and spybot as there are better solutions and I guarantee that you will not have ANY problems whatsoever. I'm also using XP SP3. First ensure that you start with a clean OS. To do this run malwarebytes http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyt... Once you done that update your host file. Read through the following link, register with them and you will get a new host file whenever it's updated. Just a click on the bat file installs it for you without any input on your behalf. Here is the link http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hos... Secondly, and this is an overkill, install BOClean http://www.comodo.com/boclean/bocle... Those two bits of software will do all the work for you and you will not need to constantly check whether you have some spyware on your OS. I used to use adaware and spybot but since my OS came up clean each time, I have stopped using them.

Although I agree Malwarebytes is a good program, isn't having your computer come up clean after a scan a good thing? That's what comes up with me when I use it ... and Spybot. Of course if I suspect foulplay I turn to more advance alternatives like HJT, but I don't suggest that unless you really know what you're looking for. Also with Spybot, a lot of people don't realize that it's practically useless if they don't immunize it everytime they update it. Additionally, Spybot can also update your hosts file, plus the ability to lock the hosts file as read-only. Personally, I don't care for Adaware myself, but that's irrelevant. Have you tried to redownload the file? Maybe it got corrupted somehow during the download. Good luck. Greg

Thanks for the information guys, I tried to install AdAware on another system that has WinXP Pro SP3 and the same thing occurred and AdAware failed to run after being installed, so apparently AdAware has issues with SP3. I will look into these other anti-malware programs, thanks.

You may have found an obsolete version of AdAware. I don't think much of Adaware myself anymore. I still use Spybot S&D. As was stated above you must update and immunize. That said, Using CCleaner and then running Spybot ends up with Spybot finding no additional spyware. I still think S&D is useful because it does find some items that wouldn't be removed by a normal spyware tool. Malwarebytes is equivalent to S&D in the results IMO. More importantly Spybot S&D blocks all the sites that contain known nasties.