Norton AntiVirus 2004

I'm not a computer expert but I had exactly the same problem, except I got the Blaster worm.

Since then I binned the Norton, kept up with the MS software updates, installed a router, never open email attachments I'm unsure about, and activated a firewall. Runs very well since. Norton products are also utterly hopeless on Mac, especially with OsX.

John

Why not try AVG antivirus software it is free, regular updates available, available from download.com.
I use it, find it better that the previous one I paid for and if you don't like it, get rid and its cost you nothing.

Bob

Hi Nick

Hmm "failing" wasn't very helpful was it. No, it has never failed to connect to the net. Usually it has failed to connect to the mail server and often it has refused to go to web pages other than the home page plus possibly up to half a dozen or so more. Plus the prob has been very erratic so in one day the pc may work fine half a dozen times then the gremlins strike.

On their home page Virgin reccomend Norton but the help line people seem unaware of this and appear incredulous when I tell them. It seems that, unofficially, they rate it as a no no. Today I was told, by Virgin help staff, that when it works Norton is excellent but that it has a tendency not to work! Also they claim that at least two other ISPs have the same experiences with Norton. The final straw was being told today by one of the the help line staff that they had to take Norton off their own computer.

As I said, my problems have gone after removing Norton. But I am left wondering where I go from here.

Cheers

Max

I have Norton Antivirus 2004 with XP and no problems whatsoever. This is on a 2 month old PC.

You have to be very careful what other programmes you download, eg: cd roms from dubious sources like The Sunday Times, magazines, etc.. I'm not saying you do, but maybe you should look thorougly into your programmes and remove any junk.

My first computer was basically ruined because of me playing any old garbage cd roms people gave me.

After reading your second post, the problems you're experiencing were the same as mine and they were caused by dubious downloadings from the net and cd roms.

The softwares "for free", players etc.. just cock up XP.

I don't think my problems would be due to dubious downloadings. Unless the free Real Player falls into this category.

My PC is also about 2 months old I have downloaded nothing really and only installed a few bits of software all of which I know to be the real thing. I never use magazine cds.

If my prob is/was due to dubious downloadings how would removing Norton improve things? Presumably, if I had dubious downloadings, they would still be there?

Cheers

Max

Max

I had a similar problem with XP & dial up connections that caused me to dump Norton. When I had a major crash that caused me to re-format the hard drive and do a clean install, the norton was tried again with complete success and has worked fine ever since. The initial XP installation was pre-installed by the computer manufacturer, and these can tend to be generic and not work as well as a proper computer specific OS install (so I have been led to believe).

I Agree Bob
I use AVG, in short its great and has caught many things a mate of mines Norton has missed altogether, highly recommended
Martin

Free "Unauthorised by Microsoft" software can interact badly with antivirus. So when you remove antivirus, you're computer may work fine.

Software can be downloaded even without you knowing it, just by opening website pages. I know of a photo site which downloads cookies onto your hd and can cause failures. Remove all your cookies and start again.

I've opened up web pages and had my dial-up preferences changed.

I can only put suggestions for you to check, because there are so many small things that antivirus may clash with.

P.S. That free Real Player was a pain in the arse. It would keep making itself my main player, erratically, even if I chose for it not to be. I haven't loaded that onto my new computer.

Norton is quite tweaky and the options and controls ned to be set up ok. It's saved my ass on several occasions and I like it.
I would aos recommend systemworks by Norton as well, and also use their firewall..

Must agree with Bob & Martin about AVG, I would also suggest you look at Ad-ware by Lavasoft and Search and Destroy by Spybot all are free and out of download com. With these three on your side you can feel a bit better about visiting the outer reaches of the net.

I also use the Firebird browser with the privacy / Cookie settings of "for current session only" and "for the originating site only" enabled thus minimising the chance that cookies will be placed on my disk. If I were really trying I could always get the browser to ask for confirmination prior to launchung any Flash coding.

I have so far only been bit by one dodgy .jpeg and AVG caught it before any harm could be done.

Roy T

"I know of a photo site which downloads cookies onto your hd and can cause failures. Remove all your cookies and start again."

Cookies are just bits of text and cannot cause "failures" -- at least not without some glaring security hole in the browser.

There are privacy concerns about cookies but, as Roy points out, most modern browsers allow you to disable 3rd party cookies and set up black and white lists as you feel appropriate.

Matthew
Who doesn't beleive Anti-Virus Software is neccessary and has never in 15+ years of extensive computer use both profesionally and personally ever had a virus. Touchwood.

Roy
Good point re Ad-ware by Lavasoft
Ditto
Martin

Roy and Martin
I use ad-ware too.
Bob

John, what problems have you had with Norton products and OSX? I've never had problems with the OS9 versions and was planning on upgrading to the OSX version soon.

None , because I was forewarned. Do a search here to find out why.

http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?14@53.dDhdaoFKneO.0@.599b236d

I actually have anti-virus software, Virex, on my Mac supplied by work, never had a problem or virus for that matter in the last 5 years.

OsX Panther by the way I just upgraded from 9.2 and well its great, in fact almost like Windows XP with groovy bits I strongly recommend clean install as I know a few others who have had problems.

John

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
_Who doesn't beleive Anti-Virus Software is neccessary and has never in 15+ years of extensive computer use both profesionally and personally ever had a virus. Touchwood._

---

Just a matter of time.

quote:

---

Originally posted by bob mccluckie:
Why not try AVG antivirus software it is free, regular updates available, available from download.com.
I use it, find it better that the previous one I paid for and if you don't like it, get rid and its cost you nothing.

Bob

---

I used McAfee for 6 years but when I upgraded to Version 7 (I think it was) I got constant PC freezes and crashes, programs crashing and all kinds of bad behaviour. After numerous calls to McAfee, intalling, uninstalling, reinstalling with a different configuration etc. I eventually gave up and removed it. My PC then ran like clockwork :-)

I too then installed AVG AntiVirus (Free Edition) and haven't looked back!
Recommended!

I find that the frequent incremental updates offered by AVG AntiVirus (Free Edition) make it easy to keep the software in tip top condition. All in all a good product and easy to use.

Roy

Thanks for all the input on this subject. It seems that exploring what this AVG is all about should be the first step on the basis that, to me, it sounds straightforward and it is free!

So I will do that this weekend.

Thanks again.

Max

Max, i've been running various systems since the dark ages of Dos 2.4 etc and Never had a Virus problem....built a new system recently with Xp Pro and decided to put Norton Sytemworks on board ......it caught the ONLY virus i've ever had whilst downloading Windows Updates from Microsoft's own server!.
Nav runs fine in the background and any faults direct you to their Support website......worth the money i'd say.
dennis

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
_Who doesn't beleive Anti-Virus Software is neccessary and has never in 15+ years of extensive computer use both profesionally and personally ever had a virus. Touchwood._

---

That makes two of us, although every once in a while I question whether I'm insane.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

To clarify -- I actually use Norton AV but only becuase I use my computers for work and my employer more or less obliges me to have the software installed.

The software has never found a virus though.

Matthew

Matthew

I presume antivirus software is unnecessary for you because you are careful about what your download and run, keep your pc up to date, and have a firewall?

I use AVG, ad-aware and zonealarm. I have to look at alot of data on floopies from students who aren't cautious, plus, until recently I was slack about keeping my PC up to date, and got caught by MS-blast on a PC without a firewall when someone put an infected machine on our network.

I found Norton to be a pain, and f-secure even worse. AVG has been brilliant, and I suspect I would pay for it if it weren't free.

I have given up on Norton products. I had used all manner of their kit for years, beleiving their disk doctor and other such utilities to be most useful. After a disasterous encounter with Norton Internet Security on moving to Win 2k, I limited my Norton exposure to soley Antivirus, such was the extent of the damage caused. NAV worked out ok, With some success, I might add. Then recently my 2002 version of NAV was due for renewal of subscription... I thought perhaps I should update as well, but it all proved to be too much of a hassle. I switched to free AVG - and now my machine (Athlon 1.2 @1333, 768MB Ram, 40GB, Win 2K) runs faster than with NAV and all the associated crap in memory!

So for me, Zonealarm, AVG, and SpyBot S&D seem to keep things rocking ok enough in the "free world". I've weened myself from Nortons. Soon a Linux firewall will strengthen things out front, and I'll be happily surfin' along.

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio