Can't update Guard Dog 3.10 to 3.13

[HatsOff]

I purched Guard Dog 3.10. I went to the downloads site, got the update to 3.12, tried to install, but the software told me it was already uptodate. It was not. The Secure Cast Pull Applet v3.0.0 says the program remins version 3.10.
I was told there was a new update to 3.13. I tried to install that. Guard Dog's DAT file updated itself to 1.01.001, but the program remains resolutely version 3.10.
Everytime I tried to update the program via the update button, it would download the patch fine but wouldn't update the program. The same thing over and over. Every time I update, it downloads the same thing but the program evidentally doesn't update.
Recently I tried to update again. The Online Activity Status box comes up, as per usual, followed by another box saying There was an error getting the patch and offering me the option of downloading the full program from McAfee's site.
Yes, McAfee sent me another disk but I had the same problem, even with a fresh install of Win Millenium and nothing else installed but Guard Dog. A technician tod me there was a way of force installing the patch but didn't get back to me. I was persistant but in despair but, fed up with them, I'm posting there. Any help would be welcome as I otherwise like the product. It's more extensive the Zone Alarms.

With thanks.

 

[JackMcC]

I also purchased Guard Dog 3.1 recently, but was able to update to version 3.13 via the download of the patch. Howeverm after downloading it, what irked me was that AFTER the un-zip, install and apply process was done, THEN it told me I had to set up ALL my internet web-blocking, site-content, etc criteria from SCRATCH!! If I had known that, I would have at least waited until the weekend, as I have 5 users (three adolescents) registered with GuardDog, so it is that many time more work. I also comment that I am very disappointed with it. I have never had so many BLUE SCREENS with Excdeptions 0D, 0E, 06, etc ocCurring! I am Windows ME and am running MCAFEE Virus 5.21.1000, which is FOR WinME. Guard Dog came bundled with Virus Scan (I already had it) and Firewall. Also, I constantly get a "GdTapiMonAllDialing" error (I don't know what it is)which often freezes or re-boots the PC!! I feel like uninstalling all McAfee and getting Norton 2001 or maybe even wait for WinXP (and get Nortons 2002?). I don't know if this helps, but you may be instore for additional surprises! ...Jack (Anyone have any other comments or help?)

 

[HatsOff]

Thank you, Jack.

Alas, no, my problem remains. I welcome any further thoughts from people.

Windows XP was tempting, but having spent an hour in PC World, trying it, I give it a big thumbs down. It may be the stablest implementation of windows yet, but though it booted up faster than Millenium, it ran slow on the store's computers (e.g, a 1gigahertz Celeron with 256mb of memory). It's interface was childish in appearence/patronising. Perhaps there is a way of 'skinning' it to make it look like Apple Mac's latest OS? My advice, try it out on a friend's machine; stores won't give you a refund; magazines rave about some products to ensure continued advertising revenue.
Apart from the new media player, and XPs claimed stabiltiy, I found XP slow, resource intensive... and what about that bemusing product activation system, requiring that you phone Microsoft to ask permission to use the software that you just purchased.... and if you upgrade more than three componants on your computer, you have to phone them again. Not, I suggest, an OS for us impatient upgraders/tweakers.
I will stick with Win ME, despite the odd temptation to go back to Win98se (once you get all of the right Millenium drivers backed up to a CD and do a clean install of ME and its updates, it really is more stable than Win98SE, in my experience. I hear that I.Explorer 6 makes it even more so. IE 5.5 was constantly crashing on me (with or without McAfee and co installed).
I am interested in buying Windows Lite, which skinnies down the bloated windows 98/ME OS and makes it fly. The only thing that will make me jump ship to resource hungry XP is if the Windows memory leakage issue has at last been solved (when you close programs, memory should be returned to you, but that is often not the case, unless you install a memory reclaimer program!!).

Leave those risky Utilities programs alone !! I have tried them all.
Instead, get a cheapo second hard drive, make a copy of C drive to it, using Drive Image 4 or 5. Then, if you have a faulty install/uninstall, trojan/dread megabucks autodialer to Malaysia, etc. ... you simply copy across your clean copy from the D-drive. It takes seven minutes; twelve if you if you format C drive first. Alternatively, if you have a large C drive and can afford Partition magic 6 or 7, resize your present partition to half its original size, then format the new space, then make an image copy of your 'C drive' to that new space. Blissfully easy. To avoid disasters I keep my documents folder on CDRW and drag and drop/save to it.
Using Drive Image, you can even copy your entire hard drive to two or three CDs, but it takes forever to burn them and forever for them to auto reinstall your C drive.

HatsOff

 

[HatsOff]

Jack,
As a follow up. I am told that winXP is skinable to make it look like win2000. Hooray ! But I still found it slow on the shop's machines on which it was installed. Either way, I will hold off until service release number two. One lives and learns, yes? But I missed your question/point.
I used Norton Internet Security 2001, and read so many appalling things about it that I changed to McAfee Firewall. I later read that both products have large holes in them, security wise, and that I would be better with Zone Alarm, which, I found, is free (

http://www.zonealarm.com).

I was, perversely perhaps, not exactly happy about this. I had shelled out a lot of money on Norton and McAfee. I have installed and used Zone Alarm on other people's machines and am impressed by its elegent simplicity. I did have a worry that it might have spyware onboard, as so many 'free' programs tend to, but I have found no evidence of that with ZA, despite running programs to check for spywares presence. What an absurd world we do live in.
My take on the best solution to security is to keep all of your documents on a CDRW, to which you drag and drop, like using a floppy; physically remove that CDRW disc before going online (and in that CDs scratch easily, backup that disc, regularly). I am presently building a second machine. With one, with just the operating system, explorer, antivirus and firewall, I will surf the net/download. With the other, I will never go online !
Hope the above inspires someone. Any thoughts on my ongoing Guard Dog problem are most welcome.
H.O.