WinPatrol 2012 (Some Issues)

[blues]

Was wondering if anyone else is experiencing the following issues.  We are running XP Pro SP3 on two machines.

I rarely use the right click "context menu" that comes with "explorer integration" but was going to check something the other day and noticed that I got an "access denied" response from Windows.  (The same on my wife's machine.)  This was after the latest MS security updates but I can't in honesty say how long this may have been going on as it's a feature I don't use much.

So, I left 2012.0 on my wife's computer and updated to .1 on mine.  After the update was completed the same issue continued to be present.

Worse yet, I noticed that when I updated the hosts file via hostsman, I was no longer getting an alert.  Nor did other alerts work.

I did a complete uninstall and reinstall without any progress being made on these fronts.

Deciding to go  back to the original 2012 version, I couldn't find it online...so I took the 2012.0 folder from a backup image I had made several days ago and used it to replace the current Bill P folder by dragging and dropping.

Now the hosts file changes alert once again though I still get "access denied" when trying to right click and get plus information.

Anyone else seeing these issues?  I've written Bill about it so he should be aware of the matter (or will be shortly).

Thanks in advance.

[Corrine]

Hi, blues.

Explorer Integration
In 2008, Bill added the integration of PLUS information into Windows Explorer (right-click the file name and the PLUS information opens in default browser). This feature, reportedly, has not worked since the 2010 version (illustrated here.  If you right-click Scotty in system tray to launch WinPatrol, right-click a file in the start up list, you can select "Explore Program Folder".  However, a change in Windows permissions prevents obtaining PLUS information from Explorer, resulting in the Windows error, "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.". 

HOSTS Files
Host files are handed differently in the newest WinPatrol.  WinPatrol used to run into conflicts with other security programs that monitored the HOSTS file. It is one of the rare conflicts WinPatrol had with other security-related programs and resulted in a cycle of alerts that didn't make for a good user experience.

WinPatrol 2012 will detect if other programs are monitoring the HOST file including UAC levels. Scotty will give priority over to the other program that user has running to prevent a never ending loop of alerts.

[blues]

Interesting, Corrine...The "right click" function worked on both of our machines until recently and we only started using WinPatrol in the last year or two and have always kept up with the latest version.

I only use hostsman to download and optimize the hosts file.  Don't know why I'd get the alert with 2012.0 but not .1 but okay...it is what it is I suppose.

I love the info that I get with WP to supplement my other security apps but wanted to make sure that there wasn't some glitch since I'm not competent enough to test whether it is functioning on all cylinders or not.

Thanks for the info.  I knew that if anyone had some input you'd be my best source (other than Bill, of course).