CA EZ Antivirus Crash & Log Errors

[JohnrC]

I'm trying desperately to find an alternative and stop using Norton AV.
I've been trying eTrust CA Antivirus and for the most part it seems
okay. Except:

- After all scheduled system scans, the log lists at least 40 files
with "- scan failed" beside them. Examples are:

C:\Documents and Settings\John Ciccone\Local
Settings\Temp\Perflib_Perfdata_28c.dat - scan failed.

or

C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\NTUSER.DAT - scan failed.

I've asked Tech Support a few times and though the've responded, I'm
afraid I don't understand their answer. They say it can't scan files in
use, and "If it is limited to some set of files, than you can ignore
the message."

I just don't understand the concept of ignoring my antivirus when it
can't scan a file. How would I know that it's not a new virus that
can't be scanned?

Secondly, in the middle of downloading email into Outlook Express, EZ
AV crashed and went away after displaying an error dlg of some kind...
but the email kept downloading! Sounds kind of dangerous to me.

Maybe Norton had the same troubles but hid them better. Anyone else
experience the same?

TIA for any input.

 

[YoKenny]

JohnrC typed:

I'm trying desperately to find an alternative and stop using Norton
AV.

That's a smart move.

I've been trying eTrust CA Antivirus and for the most part it
seems okay.

I don't use CA Antivirus nor would I use ANYTHING from CA!
I would rather use Norton than anything from CA!

Except:
- After all scheduled system scans, the log lists at least 40 files
with "- scan failed" beside them. Examples are:

C:\Documents and Settings\John Ciccone\Local
Settings\Temp\Perflib_Perfdata_28c.dat - scan failed.

That's the WinXP prefetch and is LOCKED by Windows!

or

C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\NTUSER.DAT - scan failed.

You don't want to touch NTUSER.DAT as that is the premier WinXP registry
file and if you mess with it you'll be looking for your WinXP installation
CD.

I've asked Tech Support a few times and though the've responded, I'm
afraid I don't understand their answer. They say it can't scan files
in use, and "If it is limited to some set of files, than you can
ignore the message."

I just don't understand the concept of ignoring my antivirus when it
can't scan a file. How would I know that it's not a new virus that
can't be scanned?

Secondly, in the middle of downloading email into Outlook Express, EZ
AV crashed and went away after displaying an error dlg of some kind...
but the email kept downloading! Sounds kind of dangerous to me.

Maybe Norton had the same troubles but hid them better. Anyone else
experience the same?

TIA for any input.

Give up on computers and find a Euchre club or if you don't find that
challenging then find a Bridge club

 

[David W. Hodgins]

I'm trying desperately to find an alternative and stop using Norton AV..

Best solution, install Linux. Consider http://www.mandriva.com/downloads

I've asked Tech Support a few times and though the've responded, I'm
afraid I don't understand their answer. They say it can't scan files in
use, and "If it is limited to some set of files, than you can ignore
the message."

While a file is locked for use by a specific program, or the os itself,
other programs are not allowed to access it.

I just don't understand the concept of ignoring my antivirus when it
can't scan a file. How would I know that it's not a new virus that
can't be scanned?

You cannot do a proper scan of a hard drive that may contain malware,
while anything from that hard drive is running. The intention of
AV scanners, is to try and catch the malware, before it gets control
of the computer. If the malware is not recognized by the scanner,
and gets control, it can hide itself from the scanner.

Secondly, in the middle of downloading email into Outlook Express, EZ
AV crashed and went away after displaying an error dlg of some kind...
but the email kept downloading! Sounds kind of dangerous to me.

Depends on what you're using to read the mail. If you're using any
M$ software to read it (such as OE), then yes, it's dangerous. If
you're using a proper mail reader, that doesn't auto execute things,
or render html, then you should be ok, assuming of course, you don't
choose to run attachments, from an untrusted source.

Maybe Norton had the same troubles but hid them better. Anyone else
experience the same?

The crash may be due to a bug in EZ, or it may be due to a failure
to completly remove Norton. As to not being able to scan locked
files, norton just didn't bother to tell you.

See the thread http://groups.google.com/group/alt....nk=st&q=remove+norton&rnum=6#2d024ba42803f1a6
or http://makeashorterlink.com/?L3002153D

Regards, Dave Hodgins