What can I do if Spybot-S&D already starts scanning, and exits immediately afterwards?FAQ #023

This could happen if you enable all of the Program automation settings (to auto-close the program after scan on program start will be removed in the next bugfix).

And due to a bug not reproducable but happening, during some installs random instead of the default settings are applied. In that case, all Automation options could be enabled, forcing the program to scan and exit automatically afterwards. As this will not even allow you to enter the program, you need to reset the settings. There are two ways to do this:

1. You can delete the configuration file (which is named Configuration.ini). Where it is located depends on your Windows version...
For Windows 95/98, the file is located in C:\Windows\Application Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy\.
For Windows ME, the file is located in C:\Windows\All Users\Application Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy\.
For Windows NT/2000/XP, you will find it in C:\Documents and Settings\Application Data\Spybot - Search & Destroy\.
Either delete that file, or edit it (for example in notepad), and set all the Automation values in it to zero.

2. You can download a small tool that will do those changes for you: click here.