No Access to Outlook Express and Norton Won't Run as Scheduled

[Guest]

Several weeks ago I was unable to access email thru MS Outlook. Called my
DSL ISP sbcglobal.net, who indicated I needed their premium ($150) access to
get anybody who might know how to help. So I paid. The premium guru said I
had a spyware problem (in spite of using Norton AV and Search and Destroy to
no avail) and referred me to the MS website to download a spyware detection
program. That pgm detected and 'fixed' my spyware pgm, but I still had no
access to email. Then I was instructed to disable all my startup pgms via
msconfig. That allowed me to have email access again, but it seems like a
lame solution. Isn't there must be some value inall those startup programs
that I no longer use?

Also I find that in spite of scheduling Norton One Button Checkup to run
every morning at 3 am, it doesn't. In fact, it looks like it hasn't ever run
automatically. Called Norton and after waiting on hold for two hours, the
'tech' said it's out of their scope. Obviously my task scheduler isn't
working properly, which is a MS problem, not a Symantics program. He gave me
a number at Microsoft which would help me - ha ha ha ha ha. I knew that
was a crock, but I called it anyway. (800) 426-9400 - their general sales
number.

I can run Norton One Button manually, and it doesn't rfind any viruses
(Virus files are current.). but it doesn't do what it's scheduled to do
automatically. But I really don't know whether or not I have any continuous
virus protectionl. Who knows what else Norton isn't doing that it's supposed
to be doing? Can anyone help me fix whatever's broke?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Then I was instructed to disable all

my startup pgms via msconfig. That allowed me to have email access
again

Try re-enabling them again, one at time, and rebooting to see which one is
the problem.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[PA Bear]

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.net/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. **Post
your log to http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for expert
analysis, not here.**

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Wesley. I will probably get around to this sometime, but I dread the
prospect of adding programs and rebooting my computer dozens of times,
especially since there seems to be no loss of functionality as a result of
disabling all these programs. I would really like to know what potential
advantage exists in loading any of these items at startup. Can you enlighten
me?

 

[Guest]

Thanks. Looks like I have enough reading material to keep me off the streets
for the next several days..

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Tough to do that without having any idea what programs load at startup.

Very short answer, all you need is antivirus and firewall starting at boot,
anything else is optional. Especially since "there seems to be no loss of
functionality". Robear gave you plenty on getting rid of malware.

I wouldn't be surprised if you had some crap from SBC that loads at boot.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

Thanks Wesley: Perhaps your answer is a clue to my second problem, i.e.,
that I cannot get Norton One Button Checkup to run according to my schedule,
although I can run it manually.