Senior needs help with McAfee!

[jim]

Hello

I'm a senior, but have some knowledge of computers.

I am using Windows XP Pro.

I have McAfee VirusScan ver 6.02.3000.1 installed. It automatically
updates .dat files, and I know it is up to date.

I was using Rogers high speed cable, with a router, and had NO
trouble. McAfee would start when I booted, and everything was working
just fine.

Then I changed ISP to Sympatico high speed (phone lines). Now, McAfee
takes over 2 minutes to start up, after Windows opens. During this
time, I can't open folders or start most programs. I have to wait
until McAfee loads up before I can effectively use my computer.

Is there something (I'm thinking a patch, or a setting or some such)
that will allow McAfee to start when the computer starts?

I tried removing the router, to no avail.

In fact, I have (for price reasons) switched ISP again to BMI, which
also uses Bell's high speed phone lines, and McAfee *still* won't load
for over 2 minutes after Windows opens when I boot up.

Any help with this problem.

My apologies if this has already been addressed. I'm not a lurker.
Perhaps someone can steer me to the FAQ where this has been answered.

Thank you.

 

[Randy G.]

Another complaint about McAfee.. who would have guessed.

If McAfee is set to check for updates automatically, it mught still be
looking for the old dial-up connection for your previous ISP, and
trying to dial that. Check into the various user options in Mc and see
if that's it. Try just turning off auto-update to see if that does it.


From Randy....  AKA "-ED" at the....
Feather River Canyon News
http://www.quiknet.com/~frcn

 

[Jan Il]

Hello

I'm a senior, but have some knowledge of computers.

I am using Windows XP Pro.

I have McAfee VirusScan ver 6.02.3000.1 installed. It automatically
updates .dat files, and I know it is up to date.

I was using Rogers high speed cable, with a router, and had NO
trouble. McAfee would start when I booted, and everything was working
just fine.

Then I changed ISP to Sympatico high speed (phone lines). Now, McAfee
takes over 2 minutes to start up, after Windows opens. During this
time, I can't open folders or start most programs. I have to wait
until McAfee loads up before I can effectively use my computer.

Is there something (I'm thinking a patch, or a setting or some such)
that will allow McAfee to start when the computer starts?

I tried removing the router, to no avail.

In fact, I have (for price reasons) switched ISP again to BMI, which
also uses Bell's high speed phone lines, and McAfee *still* won't load
for over 2 minutes after Windows opens when I boot up.

Any help with this problem.

My apologies if this has already been addressed. I'm not a lurker.
Perhaps someone can steer me to the FAQ where this has been answered.

Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling the McAfee? Have you addressed
this issue with the McAfee technical support? If so, what did they say may
be causing the problem, other than McAfee, of course?

I had McAfee for 3 years before switching to AVG6 Free 2 years ago. During
the time I had McAfee I changed from a Dialup to Cox Cable High Speed
Internet service when it became available, and I never had such problems.
Several others with McAfee, but, not this one.

Jan

 

[Heather]

Another complaint about McAfee.. who would have guessed.

If McAfee is set to check for updates automatically, it mught still be
looking for the old dial-up connection for your previous ISP, and
trying to dial that. Check into the various user options in Mc and see
if that's it. Try just turning off auto-update to see if that does it.

Randy.....Rogers is cable and Sympatico is DSL......no dialup involved here.
I use Rogers and am wondering if he shouldn't call his DSL people....on the
other hand, it could be a setting in McAfee as you say.

Heather

 

[Randy G.]

Randy.....Rogers is cable and Sympatico is DSL......no dialup involved here.
I use Rogers and am wondering if he shouldn't call his DSL people....on the
other hand, it could be a setting in McAfee as you say.

Heather

Thanks, Heather. I dropped in here because of my search for McAfee
problems. I have read a number of your posts, and they are, indeed,
quite helpful.

I live in the mountains well away from the city, on long, old phone
lines. Some other folks up here are jealous of my (relatively fast)
and dependable 28.8 connection. Some of the rich folks up here got
satellite Internet, but not me, unfortunately. So, I have no DSL
experience..... Heck! There are some folks up here living beyond the
power company's last pole and use solar, generators, and such.

I use to send the folks on my opt-in mailing list links to get McAfee
for free after rebate. Not any more. It sue to be a good product, but
that has changed. I suppose it is part of the dumbing up of the
computer user or such.. Like "Anti-Virus Apps for the Complete Idiot."
I often joke with folks and say, "I liked it better when computers
were expensive and only the literate bought them."

Anyway, thanks to folks like you who know what they are talking about,
folks like me who think they know what they are talking about are kept
on the straight and narrow. ;-)

OTOH, head over to alt.coffee.. Over there I USUALLY know of what I
speak! ;-)

Randy "knows good coffee when he roasts it" G.
http://www.quiknet.com/~frcn/Coffee/Coffee.html

 

[JJ]

Sympatico for sure and other DSL ISPs possibly can cause a very slow bootup.
The problem occurs because the system is trying to find the IP address at
bootup and it cannot until the connection is made by the user. This is a
common complaint with Sympatico. Now with a router properly configured that
problem should be eliminated since the router keeps the connection active at
all times. If the router is configured properly and the slow boot is still
present then it has to be a McAfee setting. Just out of curiosity possibly
try uninstalling McAfee and install another free AV program such as Avast
and see if the problem is corrected. At least that will help pinpoint the
problem.

http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1016.html

Regards,
John O.

 

[jim]

Thank you all very very much for such helpful suggestions. I'll try
the things that you suggested and post what happens.

Much Appreciated.

 

[Heather]

Thanks, Heather. I dropped in here because of my search for McAfee
problems. I have read a number of your posts, and they are, indeed,
quite helpful.

I live in the mountains well away from the city, on long, old phone
lines. Some other folks up here are jealous of my (relatively fast)
and dependable 28.8 connection. Some of the rich folks up here got
satellite Internet, but not me, unfortunately. So, I have no DSL
experience..... Heck! There are some folks up here living beyond the
power company's last pole and use solar, generators, and such.

I use to send the folks on my opt-in mailing list links to get McAfee
for free after rebate. Not any more. It sue to be a good product, but
that has changed. I suppose it is part of the dumbing up of the
computer user or such.. Like "Anti-Virus Apps for the Complete Idiot."
I often joke with folks and say, "I liked it better when computers
were expensive and only the literate bought them."

Anyway, thanks to folks like you who know what they are talking about,
folks like me who think they know what they are talking about are kept
on the straight and narrow. ;-)

OTOH, head over to alt.coffee.. Over there I USUALLY know of what I
speak! ;-)

Randy "knows good coffee when he roasts it" G.
http://www.quiknet.com/~frcn/Coffee/Coffee.html

Thanks for the compliment. I should send you over to my brother-in-law's
house......McAfee is not allowing him to download email if there is a virus
one in the lot. But if you value your sanity, stay away!! (VBG) He drives
me nuts!!

Anyway.....being Canadian (and we do know how to brew a good coffee), I was
enjoying reading bits of your coffee webpage. Oddly enough, a friend sends
me roasted beans from Costa Rica from time to time and they are not as good
as what we use.

Cheers.....a *strong* coffee lover in Toronto. (28.8 connection.....ack!!)

 

[David W. Hodgins]

Randy.....Rogers is cable and Sympatico is DSL......no dialup involved here.

Heather, just fyi, Sympatico has both dialup for standard modems, and dsl.

Randy, I've never used McAfee, but look through the options for auto-update,
and try either disabling it, or if it has such an option, select, wait for a connection.

Regards, Dave Hodgins

 

[Heather]

here.

Heather, just fyi, Sympatico has both dialup for standard modems, and dsl.

True, David.......but the OP said he was using the high speed connection. I
forgot that there was dialup as well......grin.

And re McAfee....I wonder if I can get BIL to go into the settings and
untick the option to check downloading mail......I think that has to be it
if it chokes on a batch that contains a virus. Odd. But then, so is the
BIL...grin.

Poor man.....I do tease him unmercifully......but it is payback for him
naively telling all his friends that I participate in *CHAT ROOMS* (cough,
splutter)......he was referring to these news groups.....(ditz)

Heather

 

[Randy G.]

Heather, just fyi, Sympatico has both dialup for standard modems, and dsl.

Randy, I've never used McAfee, but look through the options for auto-update,
and try either disabling it, or if it has such an option, select, wait for a connection.

Dave,

I am way past that. The most important factor with any anti-viral app
(IMO) beyond basic effectiveness, is having it stay up to date without
worry or user input. IMO, that's a big part of what you pay for. The
auto-update feature on McA had so few user settings that it was merely
a matter of on or off, and that was about it. There was no way to even
select whether or not it asked to dial or whether or not to hang up
when done. I switched to AVG full version and am already pleased, and
so far am satisfied it is superior to McA (should we start calling it
"Micky A's"?). At this point the lack of quality in their product
points towards them resting on their laurels and not caring about much
more than the bottom line. Twice I wrote to them about some weaknesses
in SpamKiller and never heard back. This seems to mirror the
assistance that folks here have gotten. I did do the live tech assist
with another problem with SpamKiller but it only worked temporarily-
oddly enough (or not) the problem was with a minor incompatability
with (ALL TOGETHER NOW) McAfee AntiSpam.It ws getting to be a
recurring theme of which I was not fond...


From Randy....  AKA "-ED" at the....
Feather River Canyon News
http://www.quiknet.com/~frcn

 

[Peacekeeper]

Try disabling auto update and use the manual install of dat files See if
boot speeds up.

Have you disabled vs6 starting and se if strtup speeds up?

Heather
VS8 has major issues with locking up download when the email scanner detects
a virus in a zip file The fix is to run a patch or disable the email
scanner.

This "new" version has issues and we are hoping for the magic bullet fix ie
vs8.1 soon.

The forums at www.mcafeehelp.com will give you better joy than the chat
usually.
Peace

 

[Heather]

Heather
VS8 has major issues with locking up download when the email scanner detects
a virus in a zip file The fix is to run a patch or disable the email
scanner.

This "new" version has issues and we are hoping for the magic bullet fix ie vs8.1 soon.

The forums at www.mcafeehelp.com will give you better joy than the chat usually.
Peace

Thank you......I will send this on to the brother-in-law....he is quite put
out with McAfee, but clueless on downloading EZ Trust which he paid for. I
guess I will have to go down there and sort him out.....evil grin.

On second thought, I don't have enough valium to deal with him.....lol. He
is the only person I know who screwed up d/l'ing F-Prot. Told me it was all
my fault......but he didn't get away with that one.

Cheers.....Heather

 

[Peacekeeper]

I would also add that another "fix" is to access the email via the web (use
web mail if available)and remove the offending email. the rest should
download.

the actual link to the vs8 forum is
http://forums.mcafeehelp.com/viewforum.php?f=37

 

[Heather]

I would also add that another "fix" is to access the email via the web (use
web mail if available)and remove the offending email. the rest should
download.

He was doing that......and I had him download Mailwasher.....then his ISP
just went down for 10 days.......sigh.

I phoned him last night to give him your info and he swears there is no
place in McAfee to turn off scanning downloading mail......another
sigh.....he hasn't a clue, but always blames me or the program or the fact
the sky is blue.

Thanks, my dear.....Heather

 

[Peacekeeper]

There is an option in advaced area of utilities under email scanning BUT it
doesnt turn the darn scanner off.

The current way is give it the three fingered salute ie ctl+alt+del and end
task on the email scanner
mcvsescn.exe. Ordinary sanner still protects against opening attachments.

There is a patch file in that forum sticky that might help as well.
Peace

 

[Heather]

Thanks 'mate'......grin.

I will try emailing him and see if he knows how to do a CAD....if not, I
will have to call him. I saw the patch......you do mean the one that fixes
outgoing mail, I assume.

Thanks for all your help......I just discovered a post of yours from a month
ago telling me about that glitch. I sent that one on to him once again.

Thanks...Heather

 

[Peacekeeper]

Hope it works
the new version should fix many issues