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Fabrice · 07-10-2008 10:10:40

Without trying to muddy the waters here, might I suggest uninstalling PC Guard.
If you want it back download a new copy, and do a fresh install from that.

I must say this is something so obvious that i didn't think about and is well worth trying.

It is possible that your version has a problem.

That would make sense to me.

Many thanks Elfin, i'll report back.

F.

Last edited by Fabrice (07-10-2008 10:12:14)

Bengie · 07-10-2008 10:16:50

I wasn't confused about the task manager, the idle should be at or very close to 99%.

I, like many, have ditched Pc Guard in favour of other things (in my case One Care) because it is a poorly written piece of software.
I would agree with elfin, but install AVG in it's place and give that a go before thinking about reinstalling Pc Guard.

elfin wrote:
never ever suggest this unless you are 100% sure it needs to be done.

It's the easiest way out of a problem and takes an hour including drivers whereas spending weeks trying to find something that may not materialise is fruitless.

Just one other thing - are you certain you don't have the anti-virus of PcGuard? I say this as it don't like having any other antivirus running alongside it.

Last edited by Bengie (07-10-2008 10:23:32)

Silkie341 · 07-10-2008 14:27:56

It depends on your setup. I have machines that to reinstall to the point of current use would take two or three days minimum and of the course sometimes if the problem is a driver/software problem you could be doing the whole thing for nothing. It's always an option but in this case it may just be that there are easier paths to take.

I'd say consider other alternatives for an AV package as to be honest PC guard has a bit of reputation for being mediocre.

Fabrice · 07-10-2008 14:36:28

Is Anti-Virus such a crucial thing to have?
I'm saying this because, my email is a Google one online, i don't have a email client and i never open or download anything suspicious or that i don't know.

As a substitute for pc guard, would it be ok to only have Windows XP built-in firewall, Windows defender and Spyware Doctor? And surfing with Firefox only?

Thanks.

Silkie341 · 07-10-2008 17:49:36

Relatively safe although a free AVG is usually worth the download.

It could be a compatibility problem but I'm not really sure how VM are with their support of the PC Guard package to be honest.

Silkie

Bengie · 07-10-2008 20:07:38

Slightly off topic, but why aren't you using Blueyonder email, why are you using Google?

boringgit · 07-10-2008 21:08:29

I'm with Elfin, but for different reasons.

PC Guard is a great product in that it encourages people to run a combined AV/Firewall / blaagh blaagh tool.

You can't be all things to all men and PC Guard is no exception - it's a tool meant to keep newbies and people who don't know, or just don't want to know safe from the nasties.

If you do know what you are doing then PC Guard is probably not the product for you - you are in a position to run lighter programs which may require a bit more knowledge, but also place less of a load on your PC...

Just my opinion wink

Fabrice · 07-10-2008 21:09:18

Bengie wrote:
Slightly off topic, but why aren't you using Blueyonder email, why are you using Google?

Because email receiving and sending is most of the time done at work and BY Webmail is absolute rubbish to say the least!

Last edited by Fabrice (07-10-2008 22:45:29)

Fabrice · 07-10-2008 23:01:36

I removed and re-installed PC Guard and so far so good, no CPU load. smile smile Fingers crossed it stays that way

I like PC Guard because, like boringgit said, it combines protection from the most common security risks under 1 roof, runs in the background with near no intrusions and has a low cpu load, apart from the problem i've been having lately but that seems to be solved now.
Also it comes free with my Virgin package.

Fabrice

boringgit · 11-10-2008 18:56:06

I also use Gmail.

It really stems from when I left BY a while back and lost my email address.

There's no reason to think that my gmail address won't be working just fine in 20 years time - I doubt a BY one will still exist.... If you want real protection you need to register your own domain, but I for one am not that worried wink

Last edited by boringgit (12-10-2008 10:37:19)

glyn · 12-10-2008 00:38:29

Hi,
I have the same problem with rps.exe. hogging system resources.
It seemed to follow a lenghthy Windows update. This was mentioned in an earlier post.
Is removing and re-installing PC guard a good idea?
Cheers,
Glyn.

boringgit · 12-10-2008 10:38:38

Certainly seems like a good 'un.

To be safest, download the new copy then remove the old one and install the new one. Just minimising the time with no protection.

Fabrice · 24-10-2008 12:04:35

Well guys and girls, here i am and the problem is back.
Now, i have categorically ruled out ANY Windows updates causing this as i haven't accepted any update requested by MS since it was working fine.
Logically, there's only one possible reason: an update of PCGuard as it updates itself without my knowledge or consent. And no way to turn that function off either.
Unless someone has a better idea, i'm gonna ask Virgin to sort it out or else it's bye-bye PC Guard. I can't have a powerful QuadCore system slowing things down that much just because of a single crappy RPS.exe process.

Fabrice

Last edited by Fabrice (24-10-2008 12:05:54)

Costar Pearmain · 27-10-2008 12:35:21

Hi Fabrice

I'm posting this as I have the same problem that you've been trying to deal with for quite a while now and I totally empathise with your frustration. Basically, every twenty minutes or so an 'invisible' spyware scan starts up automatically on my PC, slowing any applications I have running at the time down tremendously. I've even let it run overnight to see if it returned a report: it doesn't, it just hogs the CPU indefinitely. I've got PCGuard installed, but I never have signed up for the (paid for) anti-spyware option. The only way I've found to stop this spyware scan is to open up PCGuard and start an anti-virus scan via Scan Now. This then puts up a dialogue box to say 'A spyware scan is in progress. To start the new task, the spyware scan must be stopped. Do you want to stop the spyware scan so that the new task can start?' Clicking YES and then immediately stopping the antivirus scan is the only (tedious) way I've found as a temporary route to dealing with the issue - for about 20 minutes. Just like you say, the Windows Task Manager shows it's RPS.exe activity that is generating the heavy load on the CPU.

Some weeks ago (after a recommendation), I'd downloaded a free copy of AVG's anti-spyware 7.5. This was working perfectly fine. Didn't seem any bother and only ran when I set it to, manually, returning a report. Seemed happy enough to sit alongside PCGuard's anti-virus protection. When this problem arose, however, I suspected it was the culprit and used Add/Remove programmes to get rid of it. When the problem persisted, I began trying to track down anyone who had had a similar problem... But if it was to do with AVG, I don't understand why it would suddenly become a problem. Is the AVG just a red herring and is this, as you suggest, to do with an automatic update from PCGuard? But why would they provide a free anti-spyware utility if they are expecting us to pay for one in the 'upgraded' version of PCGuard?

I have installed a Windows Service Pack 3. Could this have anything to do with it? (You rule out any Windows update, I notice).

If you have made any progress since your last posting, I'd really appreciate the wisdom of your experience... I'm getting SO fed up with stopping these automatic and unasked for antispyware scans.

All best

Costar

Fabrice · 27-10-2008 13:31:44

Hi Costar,

I'm glad to know that i'm not the only one that is experiencing that problem. I think we both know how bloody frustrating this is This constant writing / scanning to the HD. Why on earth is there such a regular anti-spyware scan running all the time when i haven't even got the service activated?

I never installed any additional anti-virus-spyware-whatever together with PC Guard before this started to happen so definitely not a conflict issue.
I can fairly say from the troubleshooting i've done that installing AVG does not contribute nor causes this PC Guard problem.
Also, as always when i build a new PC, i clone the system drive with Ghost just before i install or modify programs or settings, so troubleshooting problems is usually done quickly. I went back to a earlier working point and set Windows Update to notify me only and i have refused any download and install of updates. And still the problem crept up without any changes whatsoever to the OS. Therefore i can logically say Windows Updates have nothing to do with that.
I have SP3 now and the problem persists.
I also noticed that the version of PC Guard had not changed since the problem appeared so it seems to me that even a PC Guard update might not be to blame for this.

I called Virgin tech support, they didn't have a clue about what i was talking about (ie task manager, windows processes, Rps.exe...) but they advised me to get in touch with Radial Point in the US; so i did (email). Heard nothing at all from them.
My patience is at an end now and i'm going to dump PC Guard and get AVG and maybe add Spy Doctor and that's it; there's no further troubleshooting i can do.
I can't imagine people having this problem with quite slower processors than me, how slow it would be and how frustrating it would be.

Sorry Costar but there's nothing i can do now. Let me know how you're gonna deal with this.

Fabrice

Costar Pearmain · 27-10-2008 16:16:26

Hi Fabrice

Thanks for getting back to me so promptly. I'm sorry that in spite of all your efforts this problem persists with PCguard. For me too! If you DO decide to remove it completely and install AVG can you let me know how you get on? I'll definitely follow suit if it proves to do the trick. Just regarding the removal of PCguard, I'm a bit concerned about being connected to the web without antivirus software even for the short time it would take to download a replacement from AVG. I've heard that it can only take a few minutes for a vulnerable machine to be targeted (or is that alarmist nonsense?). Is it safer to go out and buy an alternative and install it from disk, only reconnecting to the web afterwards?

All best

Costar

Fabrice · 27-10-2008 16:26:07

Costar Pearmain wrote:
Hi Fabrice
If you DO decide to remove it completely and install AVG can you let me know how you get on? I'll definitely follow suit if it proves to do the trick.

Sure, i'll certainly will

Just regarding the removal of PCguard, I'm a bit concerned about being connected to the web without antivirus software even for the short time it would take to download a replacement from AVG. I've heard that it can only take a few minutes for a vulnerable machine to be targeted (or is that alarmist nonsense?). Is it safer to go out and buy an alternative and install it from disk, only reconnecting to the web afterwards?

If you are worried about leaving your machine online for few minutes, why don't you download the AVG installer to your PC while being protected by PC Guard, then disconnect your modem, remove PC Guard and install AVG and go back online doing an AVG update straight away.

Fabrice

boringgit · 27-10-2008 19:05:01

It basically is alarmist nonsense but I always advise it anyway.

Keep your email and web browser shut and as long as you have a firewall you could probably be fine without anti-virus for days and weeks... However it would be grossly irresponsible of me to suggest you do that. Belt and braces can be an annoyance, however it is also pretty darn easy in this case, so why take any chances wink

Terry Neale · 28-10-2008 10:11:00

Blimey! It just took me 20 minutes to be able to start writing this reply (because of RPS.exe thrashing my HD) to say that this is EXACTLY the same problem I've been having over the last few weeks. Been trying to find out about RPS.exe and various amounts of rubbish written in other forums, but this is the first time I've found someone with the very same symptoms as me. I too am at my wits end and will be gleefully removing PCGuard straight after writing this message.

I found the same long-cut of stopping the phantom spyware-checker, which I too have not subscribed to and is not showing as enabled in PCGuard, and have more recently taken to the slightly less subtle, but rather more speedy solution of zapping the process in task manager (always with an almost maniacal grin on my face).
Gonna bin it and get AVG, which I've always used on my personal pcs (this is my work pc).

Just as a footnote, don't know if it's a complete coincidence, but for about the same amount of time as I've been having the RPS prob, I've also noticed a 'memory-leak' problem with my browsers. On Firefox or IE, after I've opened a couple of tabs I can just sit and watch the Memory Usage steadily increase in Task Manager to the point where they take up just about all of the available memory. Simply closing them and opening again does the trick, but another annoyance I'm going to have to scour the forums for I think...

Specky · 28-10-2008 23:00:27

Just to add to the list, I've had the same problem. I started to wonder why my HD was buzzing with the LED on constantly even when I wasn't doing anything so I looked in task manager and the only thing using the CPU was RPS.exe. Closed it down and the problem disappeared instantly.
It's a shame really because I used to have constant problems with Norton but I've been very happy with PCGuard up to now so I'm loathe to get rid of it but looks like I may have to.

Costar Pearmain · 29-10-2008 16:09:46

Hi again Fabrice - also Glyn, Terry, Specky and anyone else tearing their hair out at unwanted anti-spyware scans running from PCguard and hogging their CPU when they haven't even subscribed to the anti-spyware facility

I seem to have solved the problem with the following fix, which you are welcome to try. It basically just restores PCguard to its factory settings:

1. Close any applications you may have running including email and browsers.

2. Shut down PCguard by right-clicking on the PCguard icon in the taskbar and selecting 'Exit'. Confirm 'Yes' at the next dialogue box that comes up.

3. Click on the 'Start' button.

4. Select the 'All Programmes' menu option.

5. Select the 'Virgin Broadband PCguard' menu option.

6. Click on the 'Diagnostic Tool' icon.

7. Click OK when the Diagnostic Utility dialogue box comes up.

8. Click on 'Reset all settings ' and confirm OK in any boxes that come up.

9. Click on 'Yes' to restart PCguard now when the dialogue box comes up.

I then did a restart and, so far, so good. No unwanted anti-spyware running and RPS.exe sitting quietly in the Windows Task Manager processes pane (for the last hour or so anyway).

Let me know if it works for you.

All best

Costar

Specky · 30-10-2008 23:17:39

Tried it and it seems to have done the trick cool
Thanks a lot Costar.

Silkie341 · 31-10-2008 01:20:37

Actually if this is working we should probably 'sticky' it for future reference.

Fabrice · 31-10-2008 19:13:22

Thanks Costar!
It seems to have done the trick for me... so far...
Although i skipped step #2 and didn't do a restart my computer at the end either.

How long it'll work?... well, future will tell. If it keeps doing it, then i ditch PCG for good.

Last edited by Fabrice (31-10-2008 19:26:11)

Costar Pearmain · 31-10-2008 19:41:47

Hi All

Glad to hear this is working out. I contacted Glyn directly and it has worked for him, too. Funny that it seems our technical friends from Virgin seemed unable to talk us through a relatively straightforward 'Reset all settings' on their anti-virus software...

All best

Costar

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#26 07-10-2008 10:10:40

Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

#27 07-10-2008 10:16:50

Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

elfin wrote:

#28 07-10-2008 14:27:56

Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

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Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

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Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

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Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

Bengie wrote:

#34 07-10-2008 23:01:36

Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

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#36 12-10-2008 00:38:29

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Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

Costar Pearmain wrote:

#43 27-10-2008 19:05:01

Re: Really heavy CPU load with Rps.exe

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