Norton AV '06 Killed Windows

[Guest]

So, we recently downloaded Norton AV '05 and installed in on our comp. It
tells us to restart to complete the install, then when we reboot, it tells us
windows encountered a problem and to restart with the last known good
configuration or in safe mode. No matter what option I choose, it will bring
me to a blue "Windows cannot start" screen and I have to reboot. I can't
start in safe mode, and I can't revert to previous configuration. Any
suggestions?

 

[PA Bear]

Symantec Service & Support - http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/index.html

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Will McAfee Antivirus work better with Windows XP Pro SP2 than Norton?

If so, why?

DSH

 

[Paul Smith]

Will McAfee Antivirus work better with Windows XP Pro SP2 than Norton?

If so, why?

In my experience Norton is one of the worst pieces of software ever created.

I use AVG Free for anti-virus
(http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/us/tpl/tpl01), Microsoft AntiSpyware for
malware
(http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx) and
the Windows Firewall as a firewall.

Total cost free if you're using SP2.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/

*Remove 'nospam.' to reply by e-mail*

 

[Doug Kanter]

Will McAfee Antivirus work better with Windows XP Pro SP2 than Norton?

If so, why?

DSH

Probably depends on what problems you think Norton AV is causing. I've been
running Norton Antivirus 2004 on XP for a couple of years, with no problems
whatsoever. The question also depends on exactly which Norton product is
being discussed. There's this suite, that suite, and just the AV program in
various versions.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Thank you kindly.

I get the impression Symantec is unwilling to share code and confidences
with Microsoft -- hence the very poor integration of XP and Norton on the
computer of the user.

DSH

 

[Doug Kanter]

In my experience Norton is one of the worst pieces of software ever
created.

I use AVG Free for anti-virus
(http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/us/tpl/tpl01), Microsoft AntiSpyware
for malware
(http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
and the Windows Firewall as a firewall.

The Windows firewall only looks for incoming nasties, right? Or has that
changed recently?

 

[Doug Kanter]

Thank you kindly.

I get the impression Symantec is unwilling to share code and confidences
with Microsoft -- hence the very poor integration of XP and Norton on the
computer of the user.

DSH

How does this characteristic manifest itself? What symptoms?

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Norton Antivirus 2005.

It's cumbersome at letting programs download updates from servers -- whether
in automatic or manual mode.

ZoneAlarm integrates far more smoothly, for example.

I've not tried McAfee, but wonder if I'm missing something.

Dell appears to prefer McAfee.

DSH

 

[Doug Kanter]

Norton Antivirus 2005.

It's cumbersome at letting programs download updates from servers --
whether in automatic or manual mode.

Cumbersome, meaning it slows them down? Or, complains? Or stops them
completely?

ZoneAlarm integrates far more smoothly, for example.

I love ZoneAlarm, but some people despise it. I think it depends
on....something - the expectations of the user, maybe.

 

[Richard]

Microsoft's own onecare.com utility adds a two way firewall, and its own
antivirus program. One click and you can disk clean, defrag, virus scan and
check for updates of Microsoft programs. It is in Beta but it is currently
free and it seems to work very well on the several XP installs I have put it
on. They also feature a free for now download of an excellent spyware
removal program.

Richard.

 

[Doug Kanter]

Microsoft's own onecare.com utility adds a two way firewall, and its own
antivirus program. One click and you can disk clean, defrag, virus scan
and check for updates of Microsoft programs. It is in Beta but it is
currently free and it seems to work very well on the several XP installs I
have put it on. They also feature a free for now download of an excellent
spyware removal program.

Richard.

It's about time! Considering how MS products are to malware writers as
picnic food is to ants, I wondered when they'd get around to putting up a
better fence.

 

[Ed Forsythe]

All of the above <s>. Try NOD32 the best AV available. Rumor has it that MS
uses it.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Cumbersome, meaning it slows them down? Or, complains? Or stops them
completely?

All Of The Above.

It used to be an excellent product.

I've been using Norton for a very long time -- since 1990.

But each new version seems to suffer from the same cumbersomeness.

I love ZoneAlarm, but some people despise it. I think it depends
on....something - the expectations of the user, maybe.

The Expectations Of The User Should Be Sovereign.

DSH

 

[Doug Kanter]

All of the above <s>. Try NOD32 the best AV available. Rumor has it that
MS uses it.

Actually, I'm obsessing about backup software today. :-( Backup Exec is no
longer available in a "personal" version, thanks to Symantec's
short-sightedness. Best product I ever used. Totally controllable, totally
easy.

 

[D. Spencer Hines]

Sounds GREAT.

INTEGRATE it with the Microsoft OS.

This is apparently what Symantec is afraid of.

DSH

 

[Paul Smith]

The Windows firewall only looks for incoming nasties, right? Or has that
changed recently?

It won't block out going until Windows Vista. But as long as you keep your
system clean that won't be a problem.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/

*Remove 'nospam.' to reply by e-mail*

 

[Doug Kanter]

The Expectations Of The User Should Be Sovereign.

DSH

Absolutely...unless you're one of the Mozilla open sauce programming mob.


But, what do you do (if you're Zonelabs) and your original customer base
probably consisted of geeks who love tweaking software, and understood the
terminology in your help files. Then, you become more well known, and
suddenly a large percentage of your customers are now "regular people" who
present a danger to themselves every time they try and operate a soup spoon?
Maybe offer "expert mode" and "simple mode", and hope to satisfy everyone?

I don't know the answer, by the way.

 

[Mike Williams]

In my experience Norton is one of the worst pieces of software ever
created.

I use AVG Free for anti-virus
(http://www.grisoft.com/doc/40/lng/us/tpl/tpl01), Microsoft AntiSpyware
for malware
(http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx)
and the Windows Firewall as a firewall.

Total cost free if you're using SP2.

I agree on ALL points.

 

[Mike Williams]

Thank you kindly.

I get the impression Symantec is unwilling to share code and confidences
with Microsoft -- hence the very poor integration of XP and Norton on the
computer of the user.

It just has to use the existing interfaces reliably - which other
AV-makers manage to do without inflicting the pain that NAV has managed
for years.