Webroot - Window Washer 6.0 - Administrator only?

Hi,

Despite my join date I'm new here...

I purchased Webroot's Window Washer 6.0 last week and installed on XP Pro from an account with Administrator privileges. One of the questions asked on installation was whether I wanted all accounts to access it, to which I ticked the Yes box.

The other 2 accounts I have are Limited - as these are mine and my partner's normal day-to-day accounts for browsing, email, MS Office and so on. The Admin account I like to keep for installing software and general maintenance stuff. Normal enough setup, really.

Anyway, it now appears Window Washer will only work properly from accounts with Admin privileges. Indeed, clicking on the shortcut on the Desktop of the user accounts (copied from the Admin desktop) gives an access error (can't remember exact message, I'm at work), yet the path does exist.

This, I think, is a serious flaw. One of the advantages of Limited accounts is damage limitation from malware - yet this product will only work on accounts that leave you more susceptible to it.

Even with a firewall and anti-virus installed, is it still recommended you don't use Admin accounts for browsing, or is this outdated advice?

I realise that in order to be most effective and clear the stuff that other "washers" don't, the process is going to require certain privileges, but this limitation, as I see it, should have been made more obvious before I bought it.

I emailed a support call two days ago and asked if it was possible to run from the Admin account but to also specify the Folders/Areas specific to the normal user accounts that could be included in the 'wash' as if it were being run from those accounts. I haven't had a reply.

In hindsight, I should have done more research and perhaps just gone with a free option like CCleaner instead. I'm also considering Firefox instead of IE - presumably it's a relatively straightforward dowload/install?

Maybe I should look into getting a refund.

Has anyone else used this product and worked it out, or am I being pedantic?

Your thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Vaughan.

hey VaughanC,

As I understand your problem. Can't you run the program with the "run-as" option, this way, you're still using your restricted account but are running (solely) this program with admin priviliges, so this way it has access to every folder and/or directory. Maybe not exactly to your liking but this way you don't need to get rid of the program ;)

See This page for more info on the run-as command.

.C.

Greeting's

Also you might want to have look at free alternative such as www.ccleaner.com they do job much better then Webroot and are free !!

I would second the use of another tool. My choice would be BCWipe from Jetico (you can find a link on Zowned.com).

Cemetric, thanks for the "run as" update - I couldn't remember how to do it.

It now runs - but doesn't do any cleanup, despite indicating it does on the log.

I only have myself to blame as it does say on the installation notes (now that I look at them again) that you have to INSTALL and RUN from accounts with administrator privileges. Doh.

However, I did have the idea that I might be able to run from Admin to clean up all accounts in one go - but it doesn't work like that. .

Bottom line is if you want to use limited accounts you can't use Window Washer - and I think that's a major flaw (and "run as" doesn't work either).

I'm going to chase up a refund - apparently they have a 30 day no-questions policy.

Thanks to all contributors, and sorry for wasing everyone's time. Hopefully this thread will still be of some use.

Cheers,

Vaughan.