Thanks to Taffy I just found the source of my full scan crashes. It is Webroot Spy Sweeper. I just tested it on a virtual PC and get the same problem I have on my Host pc. Windows 7 64 bit Avast 5 with Webroot Spy Sweeper installed. Full system scans crash and require shields to be reset.
Joe
I used Spy Sweeper alongside antivirus software for several years with no problems at all. But as soon as Webroot got into the antivirus business even their stand alone antispyware software started causing problems. I believe they put something in their updates to cause this. I can find no other explanation for why one day it was working flawlessly then the next day after an update it made my whole system lock up.
Anyway, I’m glad you figured it out. All I can say is Spy Sweeper sucks.
Well Symantec bought them a while ago. A few years ago they released a really crappy build. Their customer support is almost nonexistent now, they email you a link to their FAQ page! They also slipped in an automatic renewal by default and claim it’s in the user’s agreement. I guess I’ll go back to Spybot search and Destroy.
Joe
Just to let you know how great Webroot’s support is I submitted a request shortly my first post in this topic and still haven’t received a reply!
Joe
Yes webroot is a very strong antispyware will cause problems, stopped using this 3 years ago as causes very severe lag on processing speed and brings your computer to its knees eventually due to it running in ram before the operating system starts. Try the free ones just as good Mbam Malwarebytes & Spybot Search & Destroy. Will definetly cause trouble with Avast 5 as avast has a rootkit scanner which runs on start up!
The problem shouldn’t appear anymore.