Error Message ... Anti-Malware won't start

[erickeyes]

When I double-click the Anti-Malware icon, I get a popup with a big red X.

"Please report.... Error code: 703 (0, 453)

HELP!

Thanks,

Eric

[exile360]

Step 1:

Please download and install this to see if that corrects the issue. If it does not then please continue to Step 2.

Step 2:

For Windows XP:

Show Hidden Files and Folders (XP):

• Click Start and select My Computer
  
• Click the Tools item from the menu at the top of the window (if you don't see Tools press the Alt key on your keyboard and it will appear)
  
• Select Folder Options
  
• Click the View tab and make sure Show hidden files and folders is selected under Hidden files and folders
  
• Next, uncheck the box next to Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
  
• Then, uncheck the box next to Hide extensions for known filetypes
  
• Click Apply then click OK
  

Then go to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and delete rules.ref. Once you've done that, start MBAM and when it shows the error and asks to update, let it do so and see if that corrects it.

For Windows Vista and Windows 7:

Show Hidden Files and Folders (Vista and 7):

• Click on the Vista Start button and select Computer
  
• Press the Alt key on your keyboard and click on Tools
  
• Select Folder Options
  
• Click the View tab and make sure that Show hidden files and folders is selected under Hidden files and folders
  
• Next, uncheck the box next to Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
  
• Then, uncheck the box next to Hide extensions for known filetypes
  
• Click Apply then click OK
  

Then go to C:\ProgramData\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and delete rules.ref. Once you've done that, start MBAM and when it shows the error and asks to update, let it do so and see if that corrects it.

Step 3:

For Windows XP:

Reset Hidden Files and Folders in Windows XP:

• Click on Start
  
• Click Start and select My Computer
  
• Click the Tools item from the menu at the top of the window (if you don't see Tools press the Alt key on your keyboard and it will appear)
  
• Select Folder Options
  
• Click the View tab and make sure Do not show hidden files and folders is selected under Hidden files and folders
  
• Next, check the box next to Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
  
• Then, check the box next to Hide extensions for known filetypes
  
• Click Apply then click OK
  

For Windows Vista and Windows 7:

Reset Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Vista and Windows 7:

• Click on the Vista Start button and select Computer
  
• Press the Alt key on your keyboard and click on Tools
  
• Select Folder Options
  
• Click the View tab and make sure that Do not show hidden files and folders is selected under Hidden files and folders
  
• Next, check the box next to Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
  
• Then, check the box next to Hide extensions for known filetypes
  
• Click Apply then click OK
  

Please let me know how it goes.

Thanks

[erickeyes]

This must me a mean error.

I followed your instructions to the t, and I still get the same error message.

Now what?

[AdvancedSetup]

Please try this on the computer that is having an issue.

1. Uninstall Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware using Add/Remove programs in the control panel.

2. Restart your computer (very important).

3. Download and run this utility. mbam-clean.exe

4. It will ask to restart your computer (please allow it to).

5. After the computer restarts, install the latest version from here. mbam-setup.exe

Note: You will need to reactivate the program using the license you were sent

Launch the program and set the Protection and Registration. Then go to the UPDATE tab if not done during installation and check for updates.

Restart the computer again and verify that MBAM is in the task tray and that you can run a quick scan and all is working as expected.

[Birkoff]

i have the same problem but I installed the application on multiple versions of Windows and noticed that this error occurs after updating database on the 64-bit systems (XP 64, Vista 64)

the only solution so far is to uninstall the application and install again but after a few days is the same errors (in the last month I reinstalled it 3 times on 3 different computers - free version)

excuse the language I used Google Translator

[erickeyes]

The fix worked for me this time

But, just FYI, the cleaner didn't remove everything. The Icon stayed on my desktop when I thought everything was supposed to be gone.

Anyway, I did a detailed scan and came up clean.

Thanks for the help!

[noknojon]

Hi ericeyes -

As long as your problem was solved we are happy - B)

Thank You for your reply - All that information helps us to help others -

EDIT - If you are not quite sure that it did a full clean then you can perform these steps as often as you like -

[exile360]

But, just FYI, the cleaner didn't remove everything. The Icon stayed on my desktop when I thought everything was supposed to be gone.

You're supposed to uninstall normally through Add/Remove Programs first, then reboot, then run the cleaner. The cleaner was not made to remove the entire program without uninstalling, it was created to remove leftover traces left behind after a normal uninstallation.

[erickeyes]

You're supposed to uninstall normally through Add/Remove Programs first, then reboot, then run the cleaner. The cleaner was not made to remove the entire program without uninstalling, it was created to remove leftover traces left behind after a normal uninstallation.

Well, if you properly read the thread, you'll find that's what I did. And as I said, after those three procedures (add/remove, restart, cleaner) the icon was still on my desktop, and I would have thought it would be gone.