topic Re: New Spybot S&D problem in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

New Spybot S&D problem

penneck — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 16:20:24 GMT

The New refers to it being a new problem with Spybot S&D, not a new version of Spybot S&D. I still occasionally use Spybot version 1.6.2, and that has a problem.

If I run Spybot now to check for problems, it finds one, namely "Win32.Downloader.gen". Spybot describes this as "Malware-C".. When I try to remove this, I get a message:-

"Unexpected error in fixing problems.

Cannot create file C:\Windows\wininit.ini

Access is denied"

Any ideas how to solve this, please? This problem started at the same time that I had that problem with Adobe a couple of months back - I didn't manage to get that one solved, I just stopped using Adobe, so the two are probably related in some way.

Many thanks for any help

Re: New Spybot S&D problem

Dan_the_Van — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 07:15:22 GMT

@penneck

Using Gemini AI I asked this question

Windows 7 spybot s&d trying to remove "Win32.Downloader.gen" get "Unexpected error in fixing problems. Cannot create file C:\Windows\wininit.ini Access is denied"

Hopefully it will help you.

It really is time to move away from Windows 7, there are many cheap refurbished PC with Windows 11 preloaded, all your peripherals should still work.

There are freeware alternatives to many windows applications which will run on Windows 11

Re: New Spybot S&D problem

penneck — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:04:11 GMT

@Dan_the_Van

Hello Dan. Good news. I ran your AI thingy, and tried the first suggestion it provided - Boot up in Safe Mode, then run Spybot. It worked. It found the Win32.Downloader.Gen file and allowed Spybot to remove it. To check it had worked, I rebooted in Normal Mode, reran Spybot, and no sign of Win32.Downloar.Gen.

Thankyou. That AI process looks very handy.

I wonder if I can reload Adobe Reader and get that working now

Regards

Re: New Spybot S&D problem

Dan_the_Van — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:22:24 GMT

Good news, I would suggest associating .pdf files to a browser rather than downloading Adobe.
There are dodgy sources for some programmes.