DCOM and certificate issues?

As I suspected:

 

Do not use registry cleaners or tools that say they optimize your computer. You will regret it. Leave the registry alone. It doesn't need cleaned.

 

 

Do not use them, do not recommend them.  But I do let CCleaner analyze the registry, and peruse the results for orphan entries (much like DDU does for vid and sound drivers).

 

Remember this, lol (didn't use it either)

 

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I don't recommend using CCleaner as well and other cleaning tools. Let windows handle it. It does a better job, your issues likely steam from using such tools.

"Let windows handle it. "

 

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Edited by originaljgf, 25 August 2021 - 02:58 PM.

Reinstalled MB (was still in download folder), scanning now.  (Is it better than, or just different from, Kaspersky?)

Malwarebytes was perhaps the best PUP removal tool ever made, but the premium versions real-time protection against serious threats was not nearly as good as Kaspersky. (I use the past tense because no MB version released in the last 3 years can be used on Vista, but FWIW their real-time protection has improved during that time.) Speaking of real-time protection, there was some confusion earlier as to whether your Kaspersky was actually running in real time. Did you ever open Control Panel / Security Center to check on that?

Kaspersky has always been running, shortly after windows starts there are popups for "protection is enabled" and "files updated".  There is a "webvirus" module not enabled, perhaps that is the issue (disabled because its functionality seems to be either to irritate you so much that you stop browsing or to slow the browser such that it couldn't get infected).

 

FWIW, I used Avira for years until it changed and I no longer liked it;  Panda Cloud was getting good reviews then so used it for a couple of years;  Panda completely disappeared from the "best" lists about the time Kaspersky released a free version, used the latter ever since.  Also had MB for a long time, until the free version became time limited and could no longer do on-demand scans;  and for a while you couldn't reinstall it, would get a message that trial period had expired.

...Also had MB for a long time, until the free version became time limited and could no longer do on-demand scans;  and for a while you couldn't reinstall it, would get a message that trial period had expired.

Hi originaljgf:

 

As I mentioned in post # 9, scanning with Malwarebytes Free v3.5.1 is not time-limited. When I used Norton Security as the primary antivirus on my Vista SP2 computer I had Malwarebytes Free v3.5.1 installed and ran an on-demand Threat scan every week or so just to look for any malware or PUPs that might have been missed by Norton.  If you don't want to wait for your 14-day trial to expire just go to Settings | Account | Deactivate Premium Trial to convert your 14-day Premium trial to Malwarebytes Free and you will be able to continue using the Free version as on-demand scanner.
-----------
32-bit Vista Home Premium SP2 * Firefox ESR v52.9.0 * Malwarebytes Premium v3.5.1.2522-1.0.365 * Speccy Portable v1.32.740 * CCleaner Free Portable v5.64.7613
HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3 GB RAM, Western Digital Scorpio 256 GB SATA HDD, NVIDIA GeFoce 8400M GS
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64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H1 build 19043.1165 * Firefox v91.0.1 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2107.4 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.4.4.126-1.0.1413
Dell Inspiron 15 5584, Intel i5-8265U CPU, 8 GB RAM, Toshiba KBG40ZNS256G 256 GB NVMe SSD, Intel UHD Graphics 620

Log posted above shows License: Free in any event.

So, what is the next step.

Reinstall windows Vista and don't break it

Laptop on last legs, BSOD today, "Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed".

" If you don't want to wait for your 14-day trial to expire..."

 

Why would that be an issue?   

 

But it seems MalwareBytes frequently changes the capabilities of the free version.

I added a browser suggestion for Vista to your browser thread a few days ago (would not involve replacing your Firefox 28).

Have been running around in circles at Mozilla trying to find  ESR52.9;  pages discussing that version, click the download and get Firefox 78;  pages talking about legacy support, click the link and get Firefox 78.

 

"The 52esr family will be the last release to run on Windows XP and Vista" .....  

 

and that download is Firefox 78.

 

But I finally located it.

Have been running around in circles at Mozilla trying to find  ESR52.9....But I finally located it.

I provided a link for offline installers in my July 4 reply to your browser thread, but it sounds like you wont be needing it now.