Please report this to our support team ...

[MancunianNick]

Trying to open MBAM this morning and keep getting the following pop up message asking me to report this to the support team - although it doesn't say how or where?!

PROGRAM_ERROR_LOAD_DATABASE (0, 13, createSDK)

That will probably mean a whole lot more to support than it does to me right now but what *I* need to know ASAP (if possible please) is how do I get this to open? It's currently my *ONLY* AV/malware protection program. It's been running just fine until this morning.

Thank you, Nick.

[exile360]

Greetings

Please do the following, choose the instructions appropriate to the version of Windows you're using:

Show Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 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.

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

• Click on the 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.

Reset Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 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 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
  

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

• Click on the 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
  

Also, you really should have an active antivirus, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a complementary protection software and is designed to work alongside an antivirus, not replace it.

[MancunianNick]

Greetings

Please do the following, choose the instructions appropriate to the version of Windows you're using:

Also, you really should have an active antivirus, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is a complementary protection software and is designed to work alongside an antivirus, not replace it.

Thank you kindly, Exile. That has done the trick nicely. Appreciate that a lot. I should have mentioned I use Win 7 64 bit.

I notice you say that Anti-Malware is a complementary protection software rather than a replacement for an AV but does that include the registered version and it's inclusion of the realtime protection module or does what you say still apply? In which case do you mind me asking which you would choose? I don't like McAfee or Symantec as I believe they are far too system instensive to use and, like a lot of Microsoft and other free programs, are targetted by virus/malware authors because so many people tend to use them?! I was rather hoping this would do the trick which is why I was trying it but if it's simply a backup or complemtary AV then obviously I need to look elsewhere ASAP - so any further advice on that score by you, or anyone else for that matter, would be very much appreciated.

Thank you kindly once again, for now

Nick

[ksiemb]

You may find this link useful: Antivirus Rankings

[MancunianNick]

You may find this link useful: Antivirus Rankings

Thank you kindly ksiemb for the suggestion. I'll take a look right away. That's very helpful I'm sure.

All the best for now

Nick

PS Interesting to note that nobody so far has answered the question as to how/where to report such problems when the program/software asks, as it did on this occasion. Not sure the forums are the right place, or are they?

[DarkSnakeKobra]

The difference between MBAM and an antivirus is that MBAM has far fewer detections and the protection module is far slower (to give the antivirus a chance to catch a threat first) and functions differently.

[MancunianNick]

Thank you kindly, Buttons. Once again that's very helpful and I think I understand now.

So a follow-up to that if I may ... what is your opinion of Microsoft Security Essentials as an AV/anti-malware real time protection - it's what I was running but I still picked up 27 reported threats, although some were old and some were false positives I think. I am currently not using anything at all, not even MSE and I've looked at that link which ksiemb kindly sent me but now I seem to have more info than is good for me - Vipre, BitDefender and Kaspersky all look good - possibly using the internet security options rather than just the anvi-virus ones and not worry about MES at all, despite the fact it's free and has seemed pretty good up until now. The thing is I can't be sure if my infection was pre or post MES usage so I guess I'm not sure.

Any comments/opinions please? Would be very much appreciated. Whilst I'm no greenhorn when it comes to the Internet or computers, I'm hardly an expert either when it comes to techie stuff.

Cheers, Nick

[DarkSnakeKobra]

You're welcome.

I use MSE it seems to do very well. Several members here use Kasperksy and have liked it. Vipre doesn't do bad ether from what I've heard too.

[exile360]

My personal preference is Kaspersky for paid AV's and my personal preference for a free AV is MSE.

The following are my personal recommendations for antivirus protection along with links to downloads for them (free trials for those that require a purchase so you can try them before deciding):

• Kaspersky (free 30 day trial) The official support forum for this product can be found here
  
• Avira Antivir (free for home use) The official support forum for this product can be found here
  
• ESET NOD32 (free 30 day trial) The official support forum for this product can be found here
  
• Microsoft Security Essentials (free for home use) The official support forum for this product can be found here
  
• Avast! (free for home use) The official support forum for this product can be found here
  

Note: If you decide to use one of the trial versions of one of the paid antiviruses then you will either need to purchase it or uninstall it completely and install a replacement antivirus before the trial expires so that your PC is not left unprotected.

Also note that if using the paid version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware with your antivirus in realtime that it is generally a good idea to exclude Malwarebytes' files from your antivirus to avoid conflicts. The FAQ contains examples of setting file exclusions for some known AV products.

[MancunianNick]

Once again, and for the last time (for now), thank you kindly Buttons and Exile. Really appreciate hearing from you guys. Very helpful indeed. I'll stick MSE back on right away.