[John Bull]

I have used MBAM for years with no trouble as a desktop manual scanner.

In the past few months, MBAM has repeatedly gone into "Not responding", sometimes after being half finished and sometimes after just a few minutes.

I have uninstalled it and re-installed it, but it made no difference. So finally I have dumped it completely, left-overs and all.

When I searched the web on "Malwarebytes not responding", there were so many items on the issue that I gave up. Some of the measures proposed and tried to fix the problem were horrendous and laborious. Far easier to just get rid of MBAM and have done with it. Simply choose another program - I have several others which are just as good as MBAM and do not give any trouble at all.

Any comments ?

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Hello John Bull

I would like to welcome you to the Malware Removal section of the forum.

Around here they call me Gringo and I will be glad to help you with your malware problems.

Very Important --> Please read this post completely, I have spent my time to put together somethings for you to keep in mind while I am helping you to make things go easier, faster and smoother for both of us!

• Please do not run any tools unless instructed to do so.
  
  • We ask you to run different tools in a specific order to ensure the malware is completely removed from your machine, and running any additional tools may detect false positives, interfere with our tools, or cause unforeseen damage or system instability.
• Please do not attach logs or use code boxes, just copy and paste the text.
  
  • Due to the high volume of logs we receive it helps to receive everything in the same format, and code boxes make the logs very difficult to read. Also, attachments require us to download and open the reports when it is easier to just read the reports in your post.
• Please read every post completely before doing anything.
  
  • Pay special attention to the NOTE: lines, these entries identify an individual issue or important step in the cleanup process.
• Please provide feedback about your experience as we go.
  
  • A short statement describing how the computer is working helps us understand where to go next, for example: I am still getting redirected, the computer is running normally, etc. Please do not describe the computer as "the same", this requires the extra step of looking back at your previous post.

NOTE: At the top of your post, click on the "Follow This Topic" Button, make sure that the "Receive notification" box is checked and that it is set to "Instantly" - This will send you an e-mail as soon as I reply to your topic, allowing us to resolve the issue faster.

NOTE: Backup any files that cannot be replaced. Removing malware can be unpredictable and this step can save a lot of heartaches if things don't go as planed. You can put them on a CD/DVD, external drive or a pen drive, anywhere except on the computer.

NOTE: It is good practice to copy and paste the instructions into notepad and print them in case it is necessary for you to go offline during the cleanup process. To open notepad, navigate to Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad. Please remember to copy the entire post so you do not miss any instructions.

I would like you to run this program for me.

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatibale with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them. Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
• The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply.

Gringo

[gringo_pr]

Hello John Bull

I would like to welcome you to the Malware Removal section of the forum.

Around here they call me Gringo and I will be glad to help you with your malware problems.

Very Important --> Please read this post completely, I have spent my time to put together somethings for you to keep in mind while I am helping you to make things go easier, faster and smoother for both of us!

• Please do not run any tools unless instructed to do so.
  
  • We ask you to run different tools in a specific order to ensure the malware is completely removed from your machine, and running any additional tools may detect false positives, interfere with our tools, or cause unforeseen damage or system instability.
• Please do not attach logs or use code boxes, just copy and paste the text.
  
  • Due to the high volume of logs we receive it helps to receive everything in the same format, and code boxes make the logs very difficult to read. Also, attachments require us to download and open the reports when it is easier to just read the reports in your post.
• Please read every post completely before doing anything.
  
  • Pay special attention to the NOTE: lines, these entries identify an individual issue or important step in the cleanup process.
• Please provide feedback about your experience as we go.
  
  • A short statement describing how the computer is working helps us understand where to go next, for example: I am still getting redirected, the computer is running normally, etc. Please do not describe the computer as "the same", this requires the extra step of looking back at your previous post.

NOTE: At the top of your post, click on the "Follow This Topic" Button, make sure that the "Receive notification" box is checked and that it is set to "Instantly" - This will send you an e-mail as soon as I reply to your topic, allowing us to resolve the issue faster.

NOTE: Backup any files that cannot be replaced. Removing malware can be unpredictable and this step can save a lot of heartaches if things don't go as planed. You can put them on a CD/DVD, external drive or a pen drive, anywhere except on the computer.

NOTE: It is good practice to copy and paste the instructions into notepad and print them in case it is necessary for you to go offline during the cleanup process. To open notepad, navigate to Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad. Please remember to copy the entire post so you do not miss any instructions.

I would like you to run this program for me.

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatibale with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them. Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
• The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply.

Gringo

[John Bull]

Dear Gringo,

I am overwhelmed and somewhat embarrassed by your superbly detailed and comprehensive investigative procedure.

I use windows XP Home, AVG 2014, PrivateFirewall, Sandboxie and SpywareBlaster as sweeper for my online activity. They all work perfectly. MBAM has been one of my ad-lib manual programs for years. I select one of these standalone programs, perhaps twice per week just to see if my primary security package has been breached. It is a pure safety check and nothing significant has ever been found, just minor low risk items which I soon kill off.

My other two manual desktop programs are Emsisoft Emergency Kit and SUPERantispyware. MBAM made a third choice.

So although I am sad to lose MBAM through this recent "not responding" problem, it is not very important and certainly does not justify any serious and lengthy effort. The other two programs do just as good a job for my purposes. Not a lot, if anything gets past Sandboxie + AVG 2014.

This leaves me being extremely grateful for your time and offer to help, but as explained, the effort involved does not justify the end result, MBAM being simply a desktop "toy". A case of diminishing returns.

Thank you so much Gringo, I really am so grateful.

From what I have seen on the web, where this identical problem has yielded many such cries for help by users, I have developed a "gut feel" that MBAM and AVG 2014 have gradually over the years developed a mutual dislike to each other.

From a very thankful
John

[gringo_pr]

Hello John

You are wrong very wrong about MBAM.

The problem came in with its interaction on some 64 bit systems and removing some of the pup entries.

Now if it is still going into not responding that means that those entries have not been removed and what ever else you are using has not removed them either.

MBAM is going to be upgraded very soon (weeks away) and does not have this problem.

If it is still going into not responding then run the scan I asked you to run and we will both be very happy when we are done


gringo

[John Bull]

Thank you again Gringo. Your comments are much appreciated and of course enlightening.

I like your remark about the proposed MBAM program update in a few weeks time. I will definitely try it again in a month or so and see what happens.

A MBAM scan I did around Xmas did pick up some 12-15 Pup`s which I quarantined and later deleted. AVG and none of my other programs picked them up, like you say and of course some may still be in my system.

Thanks
John

[gringo_pr]

You are more than welcome


gringo

[gringo_pr]

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad we could help.

If you're the topic starter, and need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member with the address of the thread.

Everyone else please begin a New Topic.