Cannot Unlock My Safe - Vaio SZ TPM module

Hi,

After clearing out some spyware I cannot access My Safe. The finferprint is accepted, but when I try and open it I get the error message:




Any clues on how to sort this out; I have to keep my data there as it is reasonably important.

cheers, z

 

Hmm, I have a nasty feeling that all is lost. Rule #1. Don't put ones trust in new fangelled technology. If anyone knows how to get my entire life out of the TPM box..., let me know

 

I'm not sure if this is helpful, but I seem to remember warnings in the manual about encrypting certain files with the TPM system. Encrypting these system files would result in big issues.

 

All files were in plain text, but I don't think that this was the problem, since the system cannot open/unlock or do anything with the My Safe place. After I pass the fingerprint test, it then refuses to do anything withthit other than the above error message.

Does anyone know where I can get support for this, be it paid or not, because some of the the data was irreplaceable? I don't know if this TPM/My Safe is a feature of MS, or another company, nor who would be responsible, and I have no idea whether it is a hardware or software problem.

 

I already had this problem...Do you have Zone Alarm Installed?

 

No.I have avast anti-virus and LavaSoft Ad-Aware anti-spyware. I know that LavaSoft is OK, but avast I installed recently. Lets have a look at this... brb.

 

Ok look to recover your safe try this:

Ad-Aware makes a backup aka quarantine your full selection. Go that tab in the software and click restore. Or do a "Manual Restore" from the selection and think out which spyware it could have deleted.

Let me know...

 

I have found the problem.

Avast takes control and blocks access to the Safe. I disabled Avast (it runs as a service) and I could access My Safe and all files were there, and when I enabled the service I could no longer access My Safe. Same message as I described earlier.

(Thanks aerosense for the info)

 

The Avast On Access protection was the one casuing the problem as Zii said. Is there something that can be done so that we dont need to turn it off just to access the safe?

 

I sent a support tic to the software manufacturs. Awaiting a reply.

 

UPDATE:
Here is some correspondance between myself and avast's tech support. I have not tried the final suggestion because I am currently in a battle between Fedcora and the SZ....

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

I meant on screenshot that you've sent me in the first mail, there is
mentioned 'Host file is accessed or locked' or something similar. Try
to search in your 'Documents' folder for some file which may be
storage - host file.

Regards,


-------------------------------------------------

Please leave message as is, do not shorten it.
If you feel it is necessary to do so, keep
intact at least the part which will let us
recognize the original point of the problem.


Thursday, May 25, 2006, 15:09:56, you wrote:


>> xxxx,,


>> I know its a microchip because I told you it was. Taking credit for
>> something someone else did, eh? ;P


>> Sony are particularly bad for giving out details, so I am not surprised
>> that there is nothing there.


>> There were no screen shots attached. If you sent a gif or zip then it
>> was probably stripped off by the Email server. Please send it again, but
>> change the file extension to something that would get past the
>> attachment filter. I.e, screen shot.ddd instead of screen shot.zip.


>> Regards,S.


>> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - avast! support team wrote:


>>>>Hello,
>>>>
>>>>I can't find specification of TPM on Sony Vaio website, but I think
>>>>that it is microchip, which is used for encryption/decryption and it
>>>>doesn't hold any informations. I think that you need to find 'host
>>>>file' mentioned on provided screenshot and add it into avast!
>>>>exclusions lists.
>>>>
>>>>Regards,
>>>>
>>>>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>
>>>>Please leave message as is, do not shorten it.
>>>>If you feel it is necessary to do so, keep
>>>>intact at least the part which will let us
>>>>recognize the original point of the problem.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Wednesday, May 24, 2006, 16:34:50, you wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>>>>>xxxx,,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>>>>>I did this but it made no difference. I got the same error message when
>>>>>>I try and access the TPM module.
>>>>>>The Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is a microchip designed to provide
>>>>>>certain basic security-related functions to the software that utilizes
>>>>>>TPM. Windows Vista provides a set of services for applications that use
>>>>>>TPM technologies.
>- avast! support team wrote:
>>>>
>>>>

>>
>>
>>

>>>>>>Hello,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If you have C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ folder on your
>>>>>>disk and if you have avast! listed in the "Add Or Remove Programs"
>>>>>>dialog (it is in your Windows's Control panel), then avast! is
>>>>>>installed. In this case you can run avast's tray icon by launching
>>>>>>C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashdisp.exe and avast!'s user
>>>>>>interface by C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashsimp2.exe. You
>>>>>>can repair your avast!. Go to the "Add Or Remove Programs" dialog (it
>>>>>>is in your Windows's Control panel), select avast!, click on
>>>>>>"Change/Remove" button and from appeared wizard select "Repair".
>>>>>>Finish it by following wizard.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Otherwise find on your computer or download from
>>>>>> http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/setupeng.exe setupeng.exe file and run
>>>>>>it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Regards,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Please leave message as is, do not shorten it.
>>>>>>If you feel it is necessary to do so, keep
>>>>>>intact at least the part which will let us
>>>>>>recognize the original point of the problem.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Wednesday, May 24, 2006, 15:55:35, you wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>

 

Wait what is this software that you are talking about? Does it create a safe on your computer to store files that cannot be seen by other computers, or is it just a palce to store information to be used online much like the "Autofill" feature with google?

 

My Safe is a feature in WXP that allows you to place files, I think, inside a chip (TPM) on the motherboard, or it uses the chip to en/decrypt the files. The TPM is found on the SZ models, and other laptops.

The software that denies access to My Safe is Avast.com. IMO a good anti-virus piece of software.

 

Does this come standard on the SZ's?

 

Yes it does.

 

I have the same problem on my SZ1XP, I have Zone Alarm Security Suite and My Safe works when I disable the antivirus.

Did you find a way to solve the problem (except disabling Zone Alarm)?

By the way, has anybody found the manual for Protector Suite QL?

 

No I didnt, I just uninstalled and moved on

 

I uninstalled ZoneAlarm. Pain in the arse, it was.

Instead I have avast for viruses and stuff, and am trying to get Snort running as an IPS.

 

I have a Vaio that does not turn on, so i tried to plug its HD to my desktop through an external HD case to recover my data. Still, all my vital data was on "my safe" folder which i now can't see in that disk's "my docs" folder, let alone unlock it.
Please bear with me for being such a newb, though I'm not good with hardware matters and this thread was the only relevant i found to my prob.
So,reading the above i assume "my safe" is not located in the HD at all. So, basically, if my vaio does not work cause my motherboard got fried, am i to assume "my safe" is gone? And if not, is there a way to gain access to that again?

Thank you for your time

 

I had the same problem but found a fix:

Open up the Avast 'On-Access Protection Control' by right clicking on the avast icon in the system tray and selecting.

Go to the 'Standard Shield' and then the Advanced Tab:



Click on 'Add' and add the location of the 'Safe' in My documents and also the Protector Suite QL Directory in the Application Data folder in 'Documents and Settings'> Yourname.
Just remember to add the * at the end of each location so Avast knows to leave all files in these locations.

This worked for me and I can now lock/unlock without having to stop Avast's protection.

Hope this helps

 

avast is not compatible with the Protector Suite Ql (fingerprint reader) desactive it when u want to access your safe

 

It works fine with mine. My fingerprint reader unlocks and locks it absolutely fine.