Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
January 21, 2007

Volume 2, Number 32 — Sunday, January 21, 2007

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

3.  Windows Defender Problem

Subscriber Thomas McGovern wrote to ask:

Please help with understanding and removal of a problem: Have recently installed Internet Explorer 7; Receive annoying dialogue box stating: Application failed to initialize: 0x800106 ba----a problem caused windows defender service to stop. Can still operate all my applications; I believe. Please help with a cure : if possible? Am using a GATEWAY SOLO laptop pc with Windows XP os. Thomas McGovern

I wrote back to Thomas to say that I have read a lot of recent comments like yours from Windows Defender users.

All that I have heard boiled down to expiration of the beta version at the end of December.

1) the user was using Windows Defender beta version

2) Microsoft released final version of Windows Defender during late October. In my November 5th online newsletter, I mentioned that my October 26th Special Edition email newsletter to subribers inlcuded the comment "Microsoft had finally released Windows Defender — not a beta version, but the real thing — for Windows XP."

3) Beta version expired 12/31/06.

4) User gets mysterious "I can't run" message

5) User uninstalls the beta version.

6) User installs the official release and is happy again.

I think you'll have to uninstall the beta to install the final release version. You can download Windows Defender (for Windows XP only) at www.microsoft.com .

Personally, I gave up on Windows Defender and shifted to CounterSpy, which is derived from the same original Giant Antispyware from which Windows Defender has grown.

Looking for some instant cash back? Check out Newegg’s Rebate Center.

4.  CounterSpy versus "something else"

Several readers have recently asked me why I recommend CounterSpy as my anti-adware/anti-spyware program of choice. They point out that a couple recent reviews have put certain other products at the top of the list of anti-spyware.

My answer is very simple — if I recommend a product, it's a product that I use.

There are two exceptions to this statement, and I state them clearly in my software security recommendations article each week.

1) I use individual security software programs, but I know that some other people would rather use the more-economical approach of buying a security package suite. For those people, I recommend the Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security suite. I have several friends using it and I have used an earlier version.

2) I strongly recommend that every cable or DSL user get a cable/DSL router and use it for security. For those who want a wired router, I recommend the Linksys BEFSR41, which I use. For those who want wireless, I recommend a wireless model, I recommend the WRT54GL, which is the renamed, current version of the earlier WRT54G wireless router I use, also.

You might have noticed that I do not recommend alternatives. That's not because I couldn't list them with affiliate links. It's because I don't use them.

I don't chase the "latest and greatest," as I'm sure you don't, either. At license renewal time, or if I have reason in the interim to become dissatisfied with a product, I'll check out another program.

Right now, I'm waiting for CounterSpy 2.0 to come out. Sunbelt Software has the beta version available as an "open beta". I could try it, but I have chosen to wait for the final release. I assume that CounterSpy 2.0 will be released shortly after Microsoft releases Vista for consumers.

Several people have written asking me if they should change from specific antispyware, antivirus, firewall and/or anti-spam programs to the ones that I recommend.

My answer to these people is usually "if you like the product you have, stay with it." There are very few software security products that I will recommend against, and most of the time, such a recommendation is based on my personal opinion and personal experience.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Volume 2, Number 32 — Sunday, January 21, 2007

Copyright © 2007 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.