Bitdefender Problems Continue

[theskyhound]

The anti-virus software Bitdefender has been wreaking havoc with SkyTools 4 Imaging installs, and is now doing the same with SkyTools 3. It is apparently removing or blocking database files during the installation of SkyTools. When started, SkyTools can fail in any number of strange ways. This has caused a great deal of trouble and cost me a lot of my time, reaching the point now where the first thing that I ask when a customer seeking support is what anti-virus is running.

If you run into obvious head-scratching problems soon after installation, please uninstall SkyTools. Delete the "SkyTools 3" or "SkyTools 4" folder in your Documents area. Disable Bitdefender. Re-install. Note that deleting these folders will delete all of your custom data, so I do not recommend doing so if you have spent a great deal of time configuring your instruments. If you don't want to lose your data, please contact me for support.

Database files are very unlikely to harbor dangers to your computer. But more to the point, it is unconscionable for Bitdefender to be removing or interfering with your database files without a big obvious warning to the user. The failure to do so means that I cannot recommend that SkyTools users continue to use Bitdefender. The anti-virus that comes with Windows is sufficient and does not interfere with the working of your software.

[theskyhound]

As of today the problems with Bitdefnder continue. In particular, it likes to remove the SkyTools eyepiece databases, apparently without informing the user that it has done so. I am very tired of having my time wasted providing support for people who have suffered this problem. The people at Bitdefender have been notified of this issue long ago and have not done anything about it. As such, I suggest that people stop using Bitdefender, and f you must continue to use it and have problems with SkyTools, please contact them regarding this failure of their software product. The database files it is removing cannot in any way pose a threat to your computer. They are simply database files, for goodness sakes!