[Warning] Don't install "PC-Doctor 5"

[spwhiting@]

Looks like this individual got hit with PC Doctor

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=35313

on 25 Dec.
Perhaps Lenovo should remove PC Doctor until it is really fixed.

[PaulJo]

We have, IBM TP R40 * 2. 1 for me and 1 for my wife.

OK. PC-Doctor really messed up here for me too. Only on one of our machines. Mine (unfortunately).

I don't have a Rapid Restore Ultra that works anymore. My machine have never been able to take use of the newest "Rapid Restore"(System restore?) software from IBM/Lenovo. I've always received a message stating that my machine is not supported.

Since one year ago my machine grew to full for Rapid Restore to work any longer. The main harddrive is too big to be compressed and backed up on the e: partition.

I wanted to free, the ekstra space now, since I've baught recovery CD's for our machines. It was then I discovered the problems caused by automatic update of PC-Doctor 5.0. My add/remove is totally messed!
I don't have a new copy of registry to roll back to, so I have to edit register (as fare as I've seen) if I want to survive this one.

WHERE TO GO?

I've read the thread here. I have one thaught. When a program changes something in the register like "installing PC-Doctor" has caused. Is there made a back up of the old version of that part of registry? (Is XP doing it automatically?)

Christopher wolf has posted on page of this thread "Warning" Don't install PC-Doctor 5.0. I need a statment that it really is possible to do what he writes!
Then I need a more detailed description of what these programs are.
What is ARPCache?
How do I copy from ARPCache to Uninstaller area in the Registry?
What are tha main details to focus on when doing this kind of job, to make sure I don't fail/mess up?

I'll keep on searching the forum for new details.
If i've missed anything else, please tell me.

FINALLY: How do I make a copy of the reg before I mess with it?
How do I reinstall the copy of REG if I end up having to do that.

[spwhiting@]

Pauljo, I did not do a backup of my hard drive prior to installing PC-Doctor 5. I had to store all my data to three CDs and then did a "restore to factory condition" using IBM supplied seven CDs. Then the windows xp pro had to be updated along with all the IBM/Lenovo drivers. I also re-installed alol the personal programs I had installed - MS Outlook, Printer drivers, etc.- which then had to be reinstalled and updated. Then the three CDs were transferred to the hard drive. About two days worth of work.

It appears that PC Doc 5 is still causing problems as of late Dec 2006. If so, then Lenovo needs to remove it from the driver matrix. Lenovo- how about it since you have not offered a fix for the problems that PC DOc causes to the Control Panel- Add/Remove program files??

[USSS]

This morning, I manually downloaded PC Doctor 5 from the Lenovo site. It installed without incident, and all of my entries in the Control Panel's "Add/Remove Programs" applet remained intact.

This, of course, is of little solace to users still experiencing the myriad issues that have apparently lingered since the upgrade to PC Doctor 5 was first introduced. When I earlier attempted to install PC Doctor 5 via Software Installer, I also had problems that were reversed, fortunately, by running Windows System Restore in SAFE MODE.

My installation procedure today was as follows:

1. Download PC Doctor 5 from Lenovo at http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... OME-LENOVO

2. If you attempt to run the installation package with an old version of PC Doctor installed, a dialogue will appear instructing you to uninstall it.

3. After uninstalling the old version, reboot, then run a registry cleaner (jv16 PowerTools or your utility of choice).

4. Shut down all running programs (EndItAll is a good utility for this).

5. Run the PC Doctor 5 executable. Reboot (to be safe).

6. Verify that your entries in "Add/Remove Programs" are intact.

I honestly don't think the "latest" PC Doctor 5 package (as of this morning) is defective. My conclusion is based on the fact that I did not experience this morning a repeat of the earlier issues when I allowed Software Installer to handle the installation.

Manual installation seems to be the key here.

[az01]

Hi all-
I had been silently watching this and related threads for awhile. I've removed PC Doctor and went through the other recommended steps that involved booting in safe mode, but I still have the problem where software installer doesn't know what it has installed.

My T41p otherwise appears to be healthy- good system performance etc. I'm running Windows XP.

I'm a little concerned by this b/c some of the upgrades are important, like the windows hotfix, and i've got no real way of being sure that the software actually installed. And, of course, I'm also just annoyed that the software isn't reporting things accurately.

This thread seemed to have come to a close. Did I miss something along the way? Anything else to try? Any recent developments since Steve's last post on 12/29?

Thanks,
-az

[GomJabbar]

The problem of Software Installer not showing everything installed does not necessarily mean that PC Doctor is or was the culprit. The way Software Installer determines what is installed is not that reliable. Where you need to look is in Windows Add or Remove Programs. If you see any strange or missing entries, yet the software is installed, that would be more indicative of a PC Doctor installation problem. Also in Add or Remove Programs, check the box at the top to Show Windows Updates. Normally you should see a number of Windows Updates listed.

[PaulJo]

christopher!

I've checked on your earlier posts. You talked about copying reginfo from ARPCache to CurrentVersion/Uninstaller.

I haven't had time to look at this problem earlier. Seems to me that the programinfo found in Uninstaller earea is much moore detailed than the info in the ARPCache.

I have no Rapid Restore, and no earlier points. Still wanting to get this fixed if possible. I planned on removing the old Rapid Restor from my machine and claim back the hidden HD area, bacause I need it. System doesn't know the program is installed along with many other programs as well.

Have you checked this method better since last, knowing it works without "destroying" windows?

Where do I make a good copy of the system inside Windows itself?