Daemon Tools causing problems...?!?

[Cobra_MX5]

As I described in my other post post, it seems some problems in my PC were caused by DaemonTools...

Things are as follows:
- PC seemed real slow at times and didn't work as it should, more in the other post...
- howard_hopkinso's advice was some registry keys deleting, which were reated to a daemon tools virtual drive, and proved to be the solution to my problems.

Now for some things you don't already know:

- Right after that, I installed a new Hard Drive, plus I connected my external HD after some time.
- Result: same thing happened again (pc running slow etc), plus the virtual drive (the one that was created by daemontools and then removed when DT was uninstalled)...!?!?
- Tried finding the same keys in the registry but I couldn't find them. Tried fiddling about with the registry but again, nothing happened... (of course the PC was restarted after every step)
- Next thing was to re-install DT and then removing the newly created keys from the registry (the ones Howard had told me to), which succeded in removing the problem. After one more reset (for no particular reason, just to check it out) and guess what happened! Problem came back!
- Then I tried un-installing DT and disconnected the external HD, and things went back to normal (problem gone).

Notes: while fiddling about with registry settings, I removed one key about a program running on startup, that was named "NvDaemon" or something like that. Every time since that, something is trying to load that program every time the pc starts, but I have set ZoneAlarm edit: SS&D, not ZoneAlarm not to allow it from running.

What is going on?
Could it be caused by something inside my external hd or by daemontools?

 

[Cobra_MX5]

Update: PC was restarted (external HD was not connected) and the problem came back again... What could it be?

 

[dahli]

Hello,

At this point, a reformat may be the only solution. DT is a powerful program that can really mess with your system if you do not know what you are doing and now you have fiddled with registry entries which can also mess your system.

Please attach a new HijackThis log.

 

[Cobra_MX5]

OK, first of all, all I did with DT was to mount a couple of images onto the virtual drive, without changing anything from the default settings. In addition, whatever I did with registry settings were either things Howard told me to, as well as deleting one more key, as i mentioned before, which corrected the problem for a while (it came back eventually), but don't seem to have any other effect on the pc... If it does, I will definitely reformat it...

Any help to het rid of DT for good?

 

[captaincranky]

Opening Mouth to Change Feet......I Are.....

I as I understand it, (I hope we're talking about the same program), Daemon tools is now bundled with adware, with the explanation that it was necessary to keep the program a free offering. Is, or could, the adware be causing your problem? Again, If we're not talking about the same thing, just ignore me.

 

[Cobra_MX5]

No, DT is a free program but it isn't bubdled with adware... It seems as if it installs something, not a program, but something it uses to create the virtual drive...

 

[howard_hopkinso]

It does, it installs drivers, which have been known to cause problems.

Maybe, you should reinstall Daemon tools, then from within the programme, get rid of the Virtual drives, then uninstall Daemon tools.

If that doesn`t help, then maybe as dahli suggested, a format and reinstall would be the best way to go.

Regards Howard

 

[captaincranky]

Well....The Website Begs to Differ.......

The free version of Daemon Tools does contain some adware. I don't know how much/many or even if it has undesirable side effects. Please check out the attached screen capture from their website.

 

[Cobra_MX5]

The info on the screenshot is about DT Pro... The version I got doesn't have such software...

 

[captaincranky]

Here.....Try This One......(Screenshot)

You would have to have a very old version for it not to have bundled adware. Daemon Tool simply calls every issue of their program "Pro" , this seems to have happened recently. According to "File Hippo" and what I've read on Daemon tools own website the adware is selectable, in that you can choose not to install it. Again, I've included a screen shot from an earlier version. If your security software has disabled the "WhenU", it could be interfering with the Daemon Tools running. Who knows maybe you have a cracked version without the adware.

 

[Cobra_MX5]

I'm pretty sure the file I got only installs DT... If u want to I can send you the installation file, so that you can see that it doesn't install any software other than DT...

 

[captaincranky]

Oh Dear.......

When I entered this thread I actually never intended to start a flourishing debate as to whether DT comes with adware or not. Daemon tools own website says the CURRENT FREEWARE version does. If I understood it correctly you can opt out of installing it with a tickbox.

I don't use DT, but rather an old version of "Virtual Drive 8" by Farstone Software. http://www.farstone.com/ It's old as you'll see, since they're up to version 11.5. This is a buy me program, and I don't know what the level of "support" is for the current crop of games. My software came in a jewel case for $4.99 at CompUSA. When I registered it a year of updates was provided.

Since I mentioned adware being installed along with DT, I only offered it as a possibility. Howard is much more knowledgable than I about the inner workings of the system registry and software intricacies. So, perhaps you should follow his lead about how to proceed

 

[Cobra_MX5]

I don't know what they say, only thing I downloaded the file from here, and when I installed it I never even saw any prompt about installing WhenU Save...

What confuses me is that even if I don't do anything to the PC and just restart it, some times the problem is there while some others everything is OK... ???

I WILL eventually reformat my system, as it freezes from time to time, so now I am only interested in finding out what causes the problem, rather than not reformatting the whole thing...

 

[captaincranky]

Ok.......

I just came back from the download link you gave me for DT. I copied some of the text and I'm pasting right here, right now:

This version has an option to install client-side software applications (DAEMON Tools Searchbar and Save Now) that deliver a limited number of behaviorally targeted and contextually relevant coupons, ads and comparative shopping results directly to consumers desktops - without compromising the privacy, security or smooth functioning of peoples computers! No URL hijacking or redirects! In order to support FREE distribution of DAEMON Tools we highly encourage you at least to try out this optional software! (you can remove it anytime later when you wish: via Control Panel-> Add/Remove Programs)

Unless my reading interpretation skills have failed me completely "client side software applications" that installs "(Daemon Tools Searchbar and Save Now)", "that deliver a limited number targeted and contextually targeted relevant coupons, ads and comparative shopping results directly to consumers desktops - without compromising the privacy, security or smooth functioning of peoples computers! ", Is ADWARE. And as I said you can opt out of installing it, or (so they say), remove it later. End of story.

Now, we all know that Daemon Tools is used for mounting games on a virtual CD. In doing so it has to be able to bypass the copyguard. Some of the later schemes of copy protection (notably "Starlock" ( I think that's what it's called)), may have adverse effects on the rest of the system.

Now, I'm sure that you're only using DT to mount games that you've legally purchased as a convenience so that you don't have to use the CD every time, but reading something into the subtext is something people do, and sometimes the it's the wrong people.

I'll leave Howard to decide whether to close this thread. It's not supplied with adware? OK then,it's not. I quit, you win!

 

[Cobra_MX5]

I re-installed the software a couple of days ago, to double-check that it didn't contain something like that. I didn't get any prompt to install any other software. Therefore, unless the application does so without notifying the user, then the one I got doesn't do so at all... Could it be that it actually does give you an option to install adware and stuff, that I missed, being in a hurry? Maybe...

I don't think, however, that whether the DT installer app contains adware or not is not something important enough to fight over, and I really can't understand why we turned it into a big deal. What matters (for me, at least) is that the problem I got is not caused by any adware.

FYI, the reason I downloaded DT was to mount a game I had downloaded from the net, which I bought a couple of days later. Since then I have not been using DT at all.

Edit: I tried re-installing the program, keeping my eyes open this time... Turns out that you are right, it does give you an option to install DaemonToolsSearchBar, which I hadn't noticed because reading "Daemo Tools..." I didn't pay attention to the next bit thinking it is a component of the main program. In addition, I never saw this thing working, neither in Firefox (the one that I use all the time) nor in IE (which I use some times)... It doesn't even show up in "add-remove programs"?!?

 

[captaincranky]

Ok........

I had 2 tabs of this thread open, and somehow I managed 2 posts, sorry.

 

[captaincranky]

The tick box "Daemon Tools Searchbar" is the adware, agreed?

DT claims this is harmless in that it only generates coupons etc, with NO REDIRECTS. At it's base it's a tracking cookie with a pop-up generator. They're claiming it's harmless, and they only include it in the program to subsidize revenue so that they can continue to offer the tool as freeware. I only offered it as a possibility, nothing more.

I'm giving you this link as an example of the horrors of downloading. It's right here on Techspot, please follow it, if only that it's a good read: https://www.techspot.com/vb/topic86964.html

OK, here's my question; do you think this is real, or something written into the keygen as a rather evil practical joke?

Techspot has a comprehensive start-up list that you could check against yours, to find out if everything your box is loading at start-up is legit. Run "msconfig" and compare. Nobody seems to take advantage of it, but Spybot SD14 has a start-up process killer under the "tools" section. Again this works well for me, with the added bonus of offering many descriptions of the running processes. What to kill, what not to kill, that is the question. (Note the bad paraphrase on the opening line from "Hamlet").

If Daemon tools itself is giving you trouble, uninstall it, then root around "program files", to make sure it hasn't left any folders. Try a registry cleaner after that, "ccleaner" is usually recommended. I use this: http://www.tweaknow.com/products.html It has never made a mistake for me.

As I mentioned "Virtual Drive 8" by Farstone is what I use, I don't know what it supports in the way of current games, since I'm not a gamer. It mounts the few older games that I have the CDs to.

I FYI, the reason I downloaded DT was to mount a game I had downloaded from the net, which I bought a couple of days later. Since then I have not been using DT at all.

I believe I said that, but in my own "cranky" little insincere way.

Is, or could, the adware be causing your problem?

I would ask you to note the question mark at the end of that sentence. Then this one, indeed, why the big deal?

 

[Cobra_MX5]

I did uninstall DT, but the problem kept coming up, not always, but every now and then (pc works fine -> reboot -> problem -> reboot -> no problem -> reboot again -> problem etc...), exactly the way it does now that I have installed DT again (to get rid of the virtual drives from within it, like Howard said)...

I did search all my drives for anything that looks related to DT but couldn't find much, and of course I deleted anything i found... I also removed some startup proccesses that seemed related to DT...

I'l try that again, in case I didn't remove something I should have...

 

[captaincranky]

Big News....!

This site is offering Daemon tools as a download. This is billed as an update, with certain "issues" resolved. Who knows, it might help you. https://www.techspot.com/downloads/208-daemon-tools.html