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Topic: Windows

Technology Shakedown: McAfee's A/V software runs amok on Windows Vista's tray

Summary: Update 8/21/2007: I've posted an update to this entry that talks about the resolution.As I write this blog and publish the video that goes with it (the video shows the "bug" in progress) , you should know that I'm working with McAfee to get to the bottom of why its anti-virus software is spawning a new little red M (an icon for McAfee) into the tray of the copy of Windows Vista that's running on my wife's new Lenovo Thinkpad R60e.

David Berlind

By David Berlind for Berlind's Testbed |

Update 8/21/2007: I've posted an update to this entry that talks about the resolution.

As I write this blog and publish the video that goes with it (the video shows the "bug" in progress) , you should know that I'm working with McAfee to get to the bottom of why its anti-virus software is spawning a new little red M (an icon for McAfee) into the tray of the copy of Windows Vista that's running on my wife's new Lenovo Thinkpad R60e. In an effort to isolate the behavior, I finally figured out that it does this every 4 minutes and 10 seconds.

McAfee Ms

So much technology goes reproducibly awry in my home office that we've decided to start a new series of video rants that we're calling Technology Shakedowns and this bit of running amok on behalf of McAfee gets to be the star of our inaugural show. But don't worry, there's plenty more where this came from (I'm working on another one for tomorrow) and we'd love to see some videos from you as well. If you've got a video that "shakes down" some technology malfunctioning, let me know about it at david.berlind@cnet.com and if it looks like the sort of information that ZDNet's audience would want to know about (before parting with their money), we'll put it up here on ZDNet.

In the meantime, I've already sent one log file to McAfee and now I have to package up several more and put them in the mail. Once we get to the bottom of this, I'll let you know the outcome.

Topics: Windows, Software

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51 comments
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  • Given your previous problems with this kit...

    ... you might be best re-installing with different software (like a different A/V) and whilst I don't approve of the Linux idiots around here (Move to Linux! Move to Linux! (repeat [i]ad nauseum[/i])) I'm beginning to think that they might actually be right in this instance and that's not something I'd usually say.

    Something needs to change. I'd start with the A/V and try swapping McAffee for a straight A/V only product like AVG Free http://free.grisoft.com/

    The A/V suites are getting too complex and they try to be spam filters, firewalls, privacy control, pop up blockers, etc. etc. Just get a straight A/V.

    That laptop seems very flaky - assuming it is the one that stuffed up on Kodak's website last week.
    bportlock
    Reply Vote

  • You don't need Linux...

    Just go back to XP.
    What's the point in movimg to Vista other than more money in Bill Gates pocket?
    pgm554
    Reply Vote

    • you need it!

      going back to old windoze is not a forward looking solution.
      Only Linux can get rid of your troubles with the A/V software.
      Linux Geek
      Reply Vote

      • Linux, lol

        Or he could turn off his computer and get about as much functionality as Linux provides for the desktop for the same price and not even waste any time trolling the net for accelerated video drivers.

        On the other hand, why would we want him to stop trying to help the publisher and their users? Isn't that what the Linux community is supposed to do?
        crypt2121
        Reply Vote

        • STOP! PLEEZE!!! You're KILLING ME!!!!!

          NOT ANOTHER Pro-Linux/Anti-Linux Rant!

          Take your mutual enmity to another message thread, please!
          This is about Anti-VIRUS Software!

          (Darned EVANGELISTS and their "My OS is Better than YOUR OS!" Rants! YEESH!)

          McAfee used to be top-of-the-line; it still is, in the proper environment. We use the Enterprise edition 8 here at work, in a mixed Win2KServer/Win2K3Server environment, moving to Active Directory. It does quite nicely, thank you VERY MUCH!
          However, I don't know if the Mc Attack has been updated yet for Vista. I personally run WinLive OneCare at home, and have had NO PROBLEMS with it in an XP (Home/Pro/Media Center)/2KServer environment. And I'm even running McAfee 4.5 (or slightly newer) on the 2K server!
          IF McAfee can't give you a positive answer for Vista compatibility - and I mean a "We guarantee it will work or your money back!" positive, then you might want to consider OneCare. Yes, I KNOW it's more money for Bill & Co. YES, I KNOW Bill Gates is the "EEEEEVVVVILLLL Capitalistic greedy monster" of PC-dom.
          So what? Grow up. Live with it.
          Or go buy a Mac and suffer from Steve Jobs-ism.
          Or go buy an Amiga and try to find software for it.
          Or go buy a Sun/Solaris station and hock your house.
          OR, go learn how to make Linux - whatever flavor you wind up with - work with all the OTHER flavors, and run all the software you now have that *ix hates.

          Go along and get along, or get out of the career field. It's JUST that simple.
          Get a life.
          jkratzer3
          Reply Vote

          • lol

            Take it down dude; you're yelling online. :)

            Conflict is good. You did spew out some good info in response no? (Though my sys admins here would disagree with you, they like Symantec.)

            I use OnCare on all my personal Win boxes. You might like this as well: www.hautesecure.com. It's in beta but I have it testing here and at home and only hear good things about it.
            crypt2121
            Reply Vote

  • Forget McAfee

    Sorry the problem is purely McAfee. Both McAfee and Symantec produce software that is a disaster, but have large marketing budgets that push their product. The type of problem you are reporting is well known, worse yet are the interactions with other kernel mode software on Windows. Since both of these companies have code to be sure that their software will not run in the presence of a debugger, the number of bad interactions you will get with this crap is amazing.
    oldsysprog
    Reply Vote

  • Another productivity loss due to Vista

    How much has your productivity gone down since you started using Vista?

    In you case I guess the more work it makes, the better - more stories!
    jinko
    Reply Vote

    • McAfee is running amok

      ... and it is a Windows Vista problem? Yeah, and traffic fatalities are the fault of pedestrians getting in the way of speeding cars.
      Confused by religion
      Reply Vote

      • Yep, a Windows Vista problem...

        These kinds of problems are not atypical when it comes to new software on a new operating system. Had Vista never been released, this particular problem would likely have never happened. When the ABL crowd (anything but Linux) sees problems with any applications written for Linux, it's a Linux problem. Using the same logic, they're right...had Linux never been written, the problem would never have occurred. Problems with an application in Linux could also be attributed to the communist party, since Linus T's grandfather Ole was a card-carrying member of the communist party and likely influenced a young Linus to think of software as intellectual property owned by the community rather than the individual. Had Ole not been a communist, Linus may well have had a much different viewpoint on IP. Now, this fault owned by the communist party does nothing to mitigate the fault of Linus, any Linux developers, the operating system itself, developers of the software with the original problem or users of that software who wouldn't be having the problem if they were using something else. See, ain't linear logic fun...
        jasonp@...
        Reply Vote

        • No, that wasn't linear thinking...

          ... that was the result of drinking too early in the morning. Not one cogent point in the whole post...
          Confused by religion
          Reply Vote

          • I agree

            I've heard of inductive logic, deductive logic, informal logic, predicate logic, propositional logic, digital logic, and all sorts of other types of logic - but never "linear" logic - I'll agree: Drinking.
            CobraA1
            Reply Vote

        • Tired of the OL crowd

          That being the (Only Linux) crowd.
          Don't you have something better to do than the cultish recruiting? Maybe like contributing something worthwhile back to the Linux community.
          Realvdude
          Reply Vote

        • Sigh

          Way to difficult for me...lol. All I know is that my Vista Ultimate runs on my Alienware m7700 (with the really alien hardware) perfectly (I did the upgrade from XP), and Solaris runs fine on my Mac. I still can't get SUSE 10 to run on my old Dell notebook right. SUSE 7 was new when I got the Dell. Looks like Linus is bringing things up nicely.
          crypt2121
          Reply Vote

      • Running amok...

        [i]"Yeah, and traffic fatalities are the fault of pedestrians getting in the way of speeding cars"[/i]

        A well known cause of traffic fatalities is badly designed road layouts that force drivers and/or pedestrians to behave differently from normal. Does the phrase "Accident Blackspot" ring any bells? Maybe Vista is an "application blackspot".

        Not that concerns me in the slightest - I've no intention of ever using Vista.
        bportlock
        Reply Vote

        • So, anti-virus relates to any of this sub-thread,

          how?

          Nice derail. Computers suck. Get an abacus, some rice paper, a quill and pot of ink and you are gtg.

          Add Thesaurus or Dictionary for extra credit. Most of you really really need the latter.
          fuzzy2k
          Reply Vote

  • NOD32

    The only complaint I have about this software is I wasn't smart enough to change to it a long time ago.
    BitTwiddler
    Reply Vote

  • Hence why I use AVG.

    Yeah, frankly, a lot of the biggest antiviruses are simply huge hogs with lots of bugs. The only antivirus I really like anymore is AVG. I've had any major issues with it, even in Vista.
    CobraA1
    Reply Vote

    • AVG used to be good

      I found it degraded and became useless and switched to the free avast instead. NOD32 is probably better but I dont want to pay for AV
      thabib_z
      Reply Vote

      • Then don't complain

        thabib_z;

        Don't take this the wrong way, because it is not meant as a personal attack.
        ANYTHING FREE is worth what you paid for it.
        And payment is NOT always cash, check, or credit card.
        Sometimes, it is frustration and nervouse disorders.
        jkratzer3
        Reply Vote
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