Two SAS .exe files, one maybe blocked?

Hi all,

I'm a newbie here so I'd just like to say what an awesome place this is and how glad I am to have found it. Chaslang is currently helping me tidy up some malware issues in another thread and I'm really learning a lot. Thank you so much to everyone.

That said, I downloaded SuperAntiSpyware (to my desktop) a couple of months ago when I first encountered my malware issues and recently, on chaslang's advice, created a shortcuts for programs that were on my desktop to help prevent malware from accessing them. So, I created a shortcut from the SAS icon on my desktop and moved that file from my desktop to the Programs folder along with a bunch of other stuff that had been downloaded to my desktop. I probably should have moved these items directly to their respective folders, but, I am new to computers and wasn't really thinking clearly at the time.

Anyway, so, after the fact, I then went back into the Programs folder and started moving the recently moved items into their respective folders. However, when I attempted to move the SAS.exe file into the SAS folder, I discovered another .exe file already existed there and was prompted/asked if I wished to overwrite it.

Upon further inspection in properties, I see that the file I moved is "SAS Free Edition" (as opposed to simply SUPERANTISPYWARE.EXE) and is labeled as possibly blocked to "protect my computer".

Am I right in thinking that that "original file" that was on the desktop was the download/install program while the .exe already in the folder is responsible for actually running the program?

And, what should I do with this original exe. file? Should it be deleted?

Thank you in advance for any help?

BH

 

Hi plodr,

Thank you for your reply.

I did as you suggested and checked the add/remove list and there is only one copy of the SAS program listed there.

I also checked the version numbers and creation dates to see if one was an earlier version and, ironically, the one that was created first has a higher version number. So, the one with a later creation date has a lower version number. At first glance, that seems illogical unless they have different functions. Why would that be if they are the same type of file?

From the program folder:

v 4.25.0.1012 created 9/3/2008 1.74 MB

SUPERANTISPYWARE.EXE
SuperAntiSpyware Application
SuperAntiSpyware.com

From the desktop:

v 4.21.0.1004 created 10/8/2008 6.33 MB

SuperAntiSpyware.exe
SuperAntiSpyware "Free Edition"

Notice that the file that was on the desktop from the original download that is labeled "Free Edition" is much larger than the one that is in the program folder that is not blocked. My gut still says that it must be the software files and installation program while the other is responsible for actually running the application.

FWIW, the icon for the blocked desktop download .exe file looks like a computer while the other is the standard SAS icon that looks the same as the shortcut icon.

In any case, I created a sub-folder for the desktop .exe file so I could place it in the SAS program folder without conflict for now.

BH