I currently have the latest version of SiteAdvisor which is version 3.2.0.152. Before that, I had version 3.1.0.175. And, before that, I had version 2.9.0.258.
I noticed that since upgrading to version 3.2.0.152, that SiteAdvisor works fine in Internet Explorer, but not in Windows Explorer.
Here's my problem.
If I open up a Windows Explorer window, like say, My Computer, at the top of the window where it says File, Edit, View, etc..., I can right click, then enable, or disable the McAfee SiteAdvisor Toolbar. I have checked it to be enabled, just like in Internet Explorer, but the difference is that it even though the toolbar is enabled, it shows no color status indicator on the toolbar. And, I swear it used to in version 3.1.0.175, or maybe it was version 2.9.0.258, that I saw it last. I don't remember.
It's a problem because, if I want to access a website directly from the Windows Explorer Address Bar, which is quicker and more convenient than having to open up Internet Explorer first, and then type in an address, it shows no color status indicator, for the page I'm currently connected to.
For example, if I want to access a website directly from the Windows Explorer Address Bar, like www.yahoo.com, I type in www.yahoo.com, it opens up Internet Explorer, and goes to yahoo.com, but with no color status indicator for yahoo.com on the toolbar at the top. I can do a search in Yahoo, and all of the links that the search produces come up with the colors of thier status so, it's working on searches. It just won't display the color status of the website that I am currently connected to.
I have uninstalled and re-installed SiteAdvisor, so that is not the problem.
I don't know if McAfee stopped supporting this feature because XP Home SP3 doesn't have the Address Bar anymore, or if with this latest version, they just forgot to add some registry keys to the toolbar locations in the registry, that will enable this feature for Windows Explorer.
If I open up Internet Explorer, which automatically opens up to my homepage, www.yahoo.com, then it displays SiteAdvisor's color indicator toolbar just fine.
So, I suspect it's a missing registry key that only affects the Windows Explorer toolbars.
I did manage to determine the CLSID for the SiteAdvisor toolbar is {0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064}, and found it in several locations of the registry. But I haven't got a clue what I need to tweak in order to get the Windows Explorer color indicator to function correctly.
Since McAfee seems to have removed the option to disable SiteAdvisor from SiteAdvisor's pull-down menu, here's a little tip for anyone out there that wants to disable SiteAdvisor, and has Windows XP Home Edition, which is what I have, and is comfortable tweaking the Registry.
Open up the Registry by going to Start\Run, and type in the name regedit.
Navigate to this location.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
On the right-side pane, right-click on the string named {0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064}, choose Rename, and rename it to -{0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064}. Notice the dash in front of the string's Value Name. This is what will disable SiteAdvisor from both Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.
To re-enable SiteAdvisor, just rename the string again, and take out the dash.
I really hate how McAfee has removed the option to disable AntiVirus-Plus and the option to disable SiteAdvisor. It's kind of Nazi-like to force us to use thier products without having the option of disabling them.
I had to program some fairly complicated batch files in order to have the option of shutting down the tray icon and all of the services associated with AntiVirus-Plus. With SiteAdvisor it's a little easier, you can either stop and disable the SiteAdvisor service, then re-boot, or just perform the tweak I mentioned above. The tweak above requires no re-boot.
There are times when you want to play an online game game, or download a big file from a website you trust, and you don't want McAfee's products dragging down the speed of the computer, and, it DOES drag down speed of the computer. The amount of resources that McAfee now requires is becoming ridiculous.
Hey, it just dawned on me that, if I find all of the locations in the registry for the {0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064} SiteAdvisor toolbar key, for the version I have currently installed, then uninstall it, then install one of the older versions that did display the color indicator in Windows Explorer, and repeat the search for the {0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064} key again, that I might find which keys are missing. Hmm.....I'll have to try that and get back to you.
In the meantime, if anybody has an answer, I'd appreciate the assistance. Thanks.
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