Problem with Microsoft Solitaire and other Games

SaggyMaggyPoo

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I've been playing Microsoft Solitaire, Mahjong and Sudoku for ages now, the free editions, playing the daily challenges.

A few days ago I did a reinstall of my OS, changing from an OEM install to a clean one.

I re-downloaded the games from the Store, but I'm not sure if there is a problem with them, and am hoping someone who also plays these games can help me.

Now, when I try to play any game I am getting ads (I wasn't before, and my husband, who also plays these games on his laptop, doesn't get any ads at all).

I seem to get an ad before every third or fourth game. They last 30 seconds and can't be skipped. One ad was for Honda cars but the others are for different Microsoft games (bingo, treasure hunt, ones I already have, just random ads really) and these are the ones that are making me most concerned. On these 'Microsoft' ads the graphics aren't brilliant ( a bit fuzzy). They just don't feel like genuine Microsoft ads.

I know it suggests I need to upgrade to the premium game to avoid ads, but I was playing these same games before my OS reinstall without any ads appearing at all (and as I said earlier, my husband still is).

I did get these ads once before, and at that stage I was pretty sure I had picked up some malware as other strange things were happening. I did a System Image restore and that got rid of the ads.

I tried another new install 2 days ago, just in case I'd again picked up malware. I've been very careful, antivirus and firewall programs have been active at all times, and I have also run malware scans after the install. I'm pretty sure my system is clean.

So can anyone tell me if they also get 'Microsoft' ads when they are playing Microsoft games please.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 64bit, Windows 10 TP on VMWare Player
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 3521
    CPU
    1.80 gigahertz Intel Core i5-3337U
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0010T1 A00
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio & Intel Display Audio
    Hard Drives
    TOSHIBA MQ01ABD050 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB)
    Cooling
    Additional fan
    Mouse
    Kensington Trackball
    Browser
    IE
    Antivirus
    Emsisoft Internet Security, Malwarebytes free & antiexploit
I recall some of the anti-viri/spy&mal-ware combines [software packages] often include ad-blocking across the board. Not at home, can't check my settings. Are you both using same security programs with the same settings? Await the eightforum staff, they should be along soon, they can offer excellent advice.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Pro 64bit [MS blue-disk set]
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2 Acers & 1 Antec[?]
    CPU
    i7 in 2 Acers, i5 in desktop
    Motherboard
    Desktop w/Gigabyte
    Memory
    Two w/16GB, 1 w/8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Laptops GameWorthy; Desktop maybe GameWorthy
    Monitor(s) Displays
    flatscreens; 2 are BluRay worthy
    Screen Resolution
    1368x768; 1600x900
    Hard Drives
    1TB internals; 2 ext usb WD 1TB HDs
    PSU
    what's PSU?
    Cooling
    Regular plus external fans
    Keyboard
    desktio w/PS2
    Mouse
    desktop w/PS2
    Internet Speed
    DSL middle level [160?]
    Browser
    from Netscape 0.9 to FF 36
    Antivirus
    well-balanced, well-configured mult-layered defense is best
    Other Info
    From MS-DOS 3.3, MS-DOS 6.22, from Windows 3.1 to WFW 3.11 to Windows 95-98SE, now to Windows 7 Pro.
    Security for now: Windows 7 Firewall, Emsisoft AM, MSE [scan-only], SpywareBlaster, Ruiware/BillP combine
Yes we both use exactly the same antivirus, both use adblockplus, both use the same make/model of laptop (dell Inspiron). The only difference is he still has an OEM install and I don't.

I have not changed my antivirus etc. since the time that I wasn't getting the ads (4 days ago).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 64bit, Windows 10 TP on VMWare Player
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 3521
    CPU
    1.80 gigahertz Intel Core i5-3337U
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0010T1 A00
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio & Intel Display Audio
    Hard Drives
    TOSHIBA MQ01ABD050 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB)
    Cooling
    Additional fan
    Mouse
    Kensington Trackball
    Browser
    IE
    Antivirus
    Emsisoft Internet Security, Malwarebytes free & antiexploit
Most likely both you and your husband had the same brand of computer. Your OEM probably either provided these games preinstalled or a link to them. And, the version you got had an ad bypass for them. I've seen this behavior on several Windows devices as well as some Android devices when a user roots the device. I've even tried to install the games on a same branded computer or device hoping to not have ads, but no-joy. What I did have luck with was copying the games folder from one machine to another that I had previously working with no ads. Another thing I have used that worked was to use a program like Migrate 8 to capture the user state, then wipe and reload and restore the user state and the result was no ads. This is a little technical, but YouTube probably has a video to walk you through it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 update
Sorry for the delayed reply - I missed your post.

The games weren't pre-installed, they were downloaded from Windows Store (and re-downloaded after upgrading to 8.1 then again after a clean install on a new hard drive. Plus they were ad-free on both laptops until the clean install.

Anyway, I got no joy from either the Microsoft forum or the Xbox one (they are Xbox games). On the Microsoft forum a Microsoft guy said I shouldn't have the ads, but one other poster said he got them too, and insisted they were 'Normal, Normal, Normal'. I don't agree with this, because if they were normal then everyone would get them, and they don't.

So thank you for your Youtube related suggestion @TunikComputers, but I've decided not to play the online version of the games since I don't trust these ads. When I have time I'll probably find non-Xbox versions of the ones I want and uninstall the Xbox ones.

I'll leave the thread open just in case someone comes up with a solution.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 64bit, Windows 10 TP on VMWare Player
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 3521
    CPU
    1.80 gigahertz Intel Core i5-3337U
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0010T1 A00
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio & Intel Display Audio
    Hard Drives
    TOSHIBA MQ01ABD050 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB)
    Cooling
    Additional fan
    Mouse
    Kensington Trackball
    Browser
    IE
    Antivirus
    Emsisoft Internet Security, Malwarebytes free & antiexploit
Sorry for the delayed reply - I missed your post.

The games weren't pre-installed, they were downloaded from Windows Store (and re-downloaded after upgrading to 8.1 then again after a clean install on a new hard drive. Plus they were ad-free on both laptops until the clean install.

Anyway, I got no joy from either the Microsoft forum or the Xbox one (they are Xbox games). On the Microsoft forum a Microsoft guy said I shouldn't have the ads, but one other poster said he got them too, and insisted they were 'Normal, Normal, Normal'. I don't agree with this, because if they were normal then everyone would get them, and they don't.

So thank you for your Youtube related suggestion @TunikComputers, but I've decided not to play the online version of the games since I don't trust these ads. When I have time I'll probably find non-Xbox versions of the ones I want and uninstall the Xbox ones.

I'll leave the thread open just in case someone comes up with a solution.

Maybe trying the classic versions would suit your needs.

http://www.eightforums.com/gaming/20910-win-7-games-win-8-a-post212020.html#post212020
(Post #43)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 64bit, Windows 10 TP on VMWare Player
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 3521
    CPU
    1.80 gigahertz Intel Core i5-3337U
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0010T1 A00
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio & Intel Display Audio
    Hard Drives
    TOSHIBA MQ01ABD050 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB)
    Cooling
    Additional fan
    Mouse
    Kensington Trackball
    Browser
    IE
    Antivirus
    Emsisoft Internet Security, Malwarebytes free & antiexploit
You're welcome.
Props to jimbo45 for the link! :thumb:
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion
  • PC2
    Tablet - Windows 10 Home

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8.1 64bit, Windows 10 TP on VMWare Player
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 15 3521
    CPU
    1.80 gigahertz Intel Core i5-3337U
    Motherboard
    Dell Inc. 0010T1 A00
    Memory
    8gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio & Intel Display Audio
    Hard Drives
    TOSHIBA MQ01ABD050 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB)
    Cooling
    Additional fan
    Mouse
    Kensington Trackball
    Browser
    IE
    Antivirus
    Emsisoft Internet Security, Malwarebytes free & antiexploit
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