Initialization Help

initialization Help!!

I continue to have problems getting Lacerte 08 to run. The system consistently hangs at the "initializing .. Engine". I always start it in "run as administrator" mode.

I am using Windows Vista with SP2 installed on a Lenovo x301 laptop with 3 mb of RAM.

I have attempted the following:

1) Uninstalled Tax 08, reinstalled from the web
a. Result - Tax 08 hangs on startup, Tax 07 runs fine

2) Run from Safe Mode with Networking
a. Result - Tax 08 runs, Tax 07 runs
b. Noted processes running under safe w/ networking mode

3) Restarted in Normal mode. Unloaded processes until processes running matched safe mode processes with the exception of ccsvshst.exe which would not unload. Added c:\lacerte and c:\lacerte\tax08 to the excluded directories from scan in Windows Defender
a. Result - Tax 08 hangs on startup at initialization, Tax 07 runs fine

4) Uninstalled Norton 360, ran Norton remove Norton 360 utility, ran registry cleaner. Restarted computer, uninstalled Tax 08, re-cleaned registry, unloaded processes to match safe mode, reinstalled Tax 08
a. Result - Tax 08 hangs on startup at initialization, Tax 07 runs fine

5) Ran external virus detection software with the following results:

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\cor\ks\c5ksdiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\cor\nc\c5ncdiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\cor\or\c5ordiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\fid\ky\f5kydiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\fid\nm\f5nmdiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\sco\in\s5indiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\sco\me\s5mediag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\sco\mn\s5mndiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\05taxold\sco\mo\s5modiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\cor\ga\c6gadiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\cor\me\c6mediag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\cor\mo\c6modiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\fid\ky\f6kydiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\fid\nm\f6nmdiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\ind\ri\i6ridiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\sco\in\s6indiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\sco\me\s6mediag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\06tax\sco\mo\s6modiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Lacerte\07TAX\cor\mo\c7modiag.dll (Backdoor.Sdbot) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

6) Ran external virus detection again with the following results:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.41
Database version: 2806
Windows 6.0.6002 Service Pack 2

9/15/2009 10:34:24 PM
mbam-log-2009-09-15 (22-34-24).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\|Q:\|S:\|)
Objects scanned: 288892
Time elapsed: 21 minute(s), 41 second(s)
Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 19

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

7) Cleaned registry, rebooted

8) Reinstalled Norton 360
a. Ccsvshst.exe seems to use less memory

9) Tax 08 hangs at initialization, Tax 07 runs fine

10) Attempted to run Hot Fix
a. Could not get the program to work

11) Frustrated!!!!!

Best Answer - Chosen by the Community

Hi Frank:

WOW! You should be frustrated. You have Intuit's top of the line tax product and are wasting FAR too much time. The most important part of computer problem solving is identifying the type of problem you have. I normally suggest you to first try installing problem programs on a new systems, with new data files and then building us support programs. In this case I also would start with a clean Windows 7 install. Yes, I know W7 is not generally available, but you can get 10 legal copies of it in various flavors, plus 10 copies of Microsoft Office and ridiculous amounts of Server and other software for only $299. Simply Google: Microsoft Action Pack Accountants.

In this case you suffered far too much already. Please give me your contact information, so I can get it to the right person in Intuit. In cases like this they put their top people on problems and call you direct. If necessary, they will run your system remotely until they solve problems.