hi,

firstly, thanks for the program, it's great. that being said..

i was wondering why there is no option anywhere in the preferences to disable the system tray app from loading. personally i would like to see such things disabled by default (or at least give an option to decline it during install), but to have it enabled and not give the user a method within the program to disable it is a bit disconcerting. it's exactly the sort of thing that people slam microsoft about, and to see it applied in a GNU/GPL'd program was a bit surprising.

anyhow, i would like to suggest that a method be in place either to decline the tray app from starting automatically, or a section within ClamWin prefs to disable it, or both.

*yes, i know i can remove it through the registry, but not everyone can, or should.

the clamwin tray applicatioon is an essential component. It ensures that you database is up to date and runs scheduled scans. Therefore there is no option to disable it.

i can understand that keeping the definitions up to date is essential, but i don't see how this makes the tray app an essential component. to me, an essential component is something which, when removed, breaks the program in some way. i personally don't use scheduled scans (never have), and i trust myself to keep the definitions up to date (which i always do before i do a scan). the suggestion wasn't to remove the tray app from the install process-- in fact it could be the default setting (or perhaps the 'recommended' setting) to have it installed. i just think that advanced users should have the option. i suppose a logical argument here would be that advanced users should just go remove it from registry, but that's not really the point. users should be given a certain amount of control over what goes on their computers, regardless of experience.

Well, Im ny opinion adding such an option may create potentially more problems as some users may switch it off without realising the consequences.

Hello:

You said: "i suppose a logical argument here would be that advanced users should just go remove it from registry..." That's a good idea.

Most users aren't advanced. There are hundreds of millions of Windows users, and most of them don't know and don't care what's in their system tray. The purpose of ClamWin is to keep something worse than an unwanted system tray application from getting on your computer. If it fulfills that purpose, that's all they care about.

Also keep in mind that ClamWin is dependent upon the ClamAV engine for antivirus functions and the ClamWin team probably doesn't have much to do with the code for Clam. If you feel strongly about it, then I suggest you try to develop the code to accomplish what you want. I's sure the ClamWin team will appreciate it, and they can continue to work on real-time scanning and other pressing tasks.

Regards,

+1 for the option to disable ClamTray.

Maybe there could be a big WARNING near this option or something. Or "for expert users only".

Many don't feel too comfortable editing stuff in the registry.

I don't want any processes running. I do everything on demand: scan and updates.


Thanks again for a great app!

I'd like the option to hide it. As in it still runs in the background, but nothing shows up in the tray. Preferences and stuff can be changed from start/programs/clamwin antivirus/virus scanner. I also see no problem with an option to disable ClamTray completely. Label it "Disable ClamTray/Automatic Updates/Scheduled Scans" Then a warning "Disabling the ClamTray will stop automatic updates and scheduled scans from functioning. You will have to do everything manually" Put it in the Advanced Tab. Add a warning message if they schedule a scan with clamtray disabled. My take on software and novice/advanced users....it should be easy out of the box....with plenty of advanced options for those that want to make changes....and a nice 'return to defaults' button. If you want to make it better for novice users, add the ability to set-up a daily/weekly scan during the install process and explain why its needed to detect viruses. I know of quite a few people that installed clamwin, in sits in the tray updating as needed, and never run a scan (assuming that they are protected). FYI, CLAMWIN is an excellent software that I use daily.

I also would value a 'disable ClamTray' option, with a big warning for ordinary users.

Well, i found this thread while searching for the means to disable the tray icon. I think my successful completion of the registration process attests to my sincerity.

I'm with all the folks who requested this feature, and for the same reasons. I particularly liked the statement "users should be given a certain amount of control over what goes on their computers, regardless of experience".

OTOH the condescension in some of the replies validates OP's comparison to Microsoftish attitudes. So i'm just one of the "hundreds of millions of Windows users" dropping in to say i feel sorta insulted and patronized, by both the lack of this option and the answers to the requests for it.

I could be wrong but i think the last time i installed Clamwin on a computer, it was a simple on-demand application; i don't remember a tray icon or running processes, which is why i went looking for it again. I hardly ever get any nasties and only want a virus scanner on those occasions when i'm suspicious of something.

-jb

Here´s another vote for an option to disable the tray app. Personally it isn´t that much of a nuisance. Removing the startup key in regedit only takes a minute for a knowledgeable person. For me it´s more a question of attitude. Omitting this function sort of states that "our users are idiots".
Before anyone blows their top, I am not making any demands, just adding my opinion.

I would like to know why I have two tray icons running?? any thoughts?

I suspect you installed ClamWin for all users, then again for only you (or vice versa).

Check the registry keys HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run for an entry on ClamWin.
If this exists in both keys, delete one of them.

It sounds like you have two instances of ClamWin running. When did you first notice this? Have you made any changes to ClamWin recently--perhaps upgraded to the current version 0.90.1.1? If so, it appears that the upgrade version failed to delete the old version before installation. This has never happened to me, but I suppose it's possible.

Go into Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs and look at ClamWin. If there are two ClamWin programs, delete one of them. If you only have one ClamWin, right click on one of the ClamWin tray icons and Exit it. Then restart your computer and see if there is only one icon. If you still have two of icons, I suggest you uninstall ClamWin (Start, Programs, ClamWin, right click, Uninstall) and then reinstall it.

Regards,

I (was) a new user of ClamWin, and have just uninstalled it after the second day (and second boot-up) of having it installed, specifically because there was no option to disable the loading of ClamTray on startup. Not only was there no option, but it hides the startup in as user-inaccessible a manner as possible (registry keys), which makes me feel like it is trying to force its own opinions on me and left a bad taste in my mouth.

I understand the argument that you don't want users to lose their ability to schedule scans and updates by accident, but I don't think you've found the right balance. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that for me this felt not just user-unfriendly, but user-hostile. I know it is just a matter of deleting a registry key, but I can't ever remember which places a program can hide a startup command, so it would take at least 10 minutes of searching with regedit for all instances of "Clam", and you don't appear to even document the exact key in the FAQ or elsewhere on your site. Really, my need for ClamWin just wasn't strong enough for me to want to bother going through all this effort just to break it enough that it suits my needs.

I had hoped that ClamWin would be able to be used as an on-demand virus scanner, laying dormant until I decided I wanted to use it (manually running the definition update check first, of course). It appears ClamWin is unsuited for this purpose. I suppose next time I feel a need to check a file, I'll try out one of the portable versions of ClamWin.

I suppose you're in good company, since Sun's Java Updater also refused to care for my opinion of what software I wished to run at startup. But maybe you should pay attention to the latest version of Sun's Java, since they've now added the ability for a user to turn off the forced startup of the updater, even though that too has security ramifications. Which is good, because if it had popped up one more advertisement for Open Office, I was prepared to go without Java.

Still, thank you for the effort you are putting into this program, and I imagine I will find it useful in the future (whether because of a fix to the forced startup of ClamTray or through the use of a portable version).

I agree I'd really like the option of not having ClamWin boot when my computer starts.

I like to keep only the essentials running when I use my PC. Not that ClamWin is bloatwear by any means. But keeping the registry clean is ideal.

This program advertising its self as a "small footprint" program and I like to see it live up to that name. The biggest reason I don't run Symatic/Macfee/etc.. is purely because it eats resources.

Just like many other users I only run something when I need it. Windows update and the likes. When I update.. is when I'll configure the program to run.

In fact my favorite programs are one that don't install at all!


Now having said all that. I do want to thank you for creating a free program. That's awesome. And in no way am I complaining about the time and work that has gone into creating this. So thank you.

Alloy