Problems with Site Advisor and XP Service Pack 3

[JimGuinn]

I was not sure where to post this, so I am posting it here.

After 1 1/2 days of trying to get my computer to function properly, I am at my wits end.

I have OS XP Home and McAfee SecurityCenter.

Yesterday I downloaded the XP Service Pack 3...and have had nothing but problems since.

My CPU usage spikes up to 100% almost every time I try to do something. My computer comes to a halt!

SAService.exe is eating up my CPU usage.

I did a search and found out that SAService.exe is connected with McAfee's Site Advisor.

I went to the McAfee site, but trying to get a straight answer or direct email where I can get help is all but impossible.

I want to know how to UNINSTALL the McAfee Site Advisor Service (component) of my McAfee security software.

Any help is appreciated.

Thank you.

Jim

[exbrit]

You would uninstall it by going to Control Panel/Add or Remove Programs and look for either McAfee Security Center or McAfee SiteAdvisor and uninstalling it that way.

If none of those are visible then run the MCPR removal tool linked in my signature and reboot when it finishes.

It should remove all traces of SiteAdvisor and any other McAfee products.

If it's eating CPU then it must be reacting with another process such as IE Content Advisor or some other browser-related component.

[JimGuinn]

Hi Peter,

Thanks, but I don't want to remove Security Center from my computer, just the Site Advisor component SAService.exe...and I don't find Site Advisor listed in the Add/Delete Programs.

Jim

[vinod_r2]

In the add/remove opt to remove security centre and then uncheck all but site advisor and remove that alone
reboot
update windows
if you have IE-6 get IE-7
then install siteadvisor again issue must not be there

ensure that you do not use spybot kind of software if you have that

[JimGuinn]

Hi Vinod,

Thank you. I didn't know you could remove just one component from Add/Delete programs. I did that, rebooted, and decided not to reinstall Site Advisor. Not only has my computer started working again, but the speed is even faster than before without Site Advisor. I just hope the McAfee auto updates won't reinstall the SA.

Once again, thank you for your help.

Jim

[vinod_r2]

Glad you are ok..
But I would suggest that you try to install the Siteadvisor now and see if its ok.. (you can always remove it now......right;) )

[JimGuinn]

Yup...but I have not seen my computer run so fast since I first bought it. Without SA, my computer is running lickity-split! I have read the forums about how SA is months behind rating sites. I am beginning to think if the SA component is worth it at all. I think I will keep it uninstalled.

Jim

[exbrit]

It's good that you are seeing better performance but I'm wondering if you had inadvertently turned on "Protected Mode" when you had it installed. That's the only thing, other than file corruption or spyware, that I can think of that would have caused that.

Anyway, it was just a thought. Glad it's fixed.

[JimGuinn]

Hi Ex_Brit,

If you do a Google search you will see tons of info about the woes of people who have installed XP service Pack 3 and SAService.exe. They are just not compatible.

Jim

[vinod_r2]

Interesting..

never seen such a thing on sp3:rolleyes: