Norton AV Updates

[Al]

I am usuing Norton Anti-Virus 2001 (part of system works). I've been
keeping my virus definitions up to date by using LiveUpdate. I tried to
renew it on line and was told my AV is no longer supported and I can't renew
LiveUpdate for the AV.

I notice that at the Symantec site there is something called Intelligent
Update. Can I use that to update my virus definitions? Is it free? Would
I be better off just uninstalling Norton AV and downloading one like
AVGFree or Avast?
Al

 

[K2NNJ]

You have to upgrade to a more current version. After so long NAV will not
allow you to update the DAT files. Even if you pay.

 

[James E. Morrow]

You have to upgrade to a more current version. After so long NAV will not
allow you to update the DAT files. Even if you pay.

One option you may wish to try is avast! 4.6.

http://www.avast.com/eng/free_software.html

 

[Virus Guy]

I am usuing Norton Anti-Virus 2001 (part of system works).
I tried to renew it on line and was told my AV is no longer
supported and I can't renew LiveUpdate for the AV.

Did the 1-year subscription expire? How many days were left?

You realize that you have 1 year of free updates when you install it.

You should be able to re-activate the 1-year free update period by
simply un-installing and re-installing it.

After you un-install it, you need to delete all norton and symantec
directories on the computer (regardless of where they are) and then
re-install it. That should give you another year of free updates.

You need to have the original NAV or NSW CD. I have copied the CD
(NSW 2002) to the hard drive of several computers so that I can run it
from the hard drive when the need arises.

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

... I have copied the CD (NSW 2002) to the hard drive of several
computers so that I can run it from the hard drive when the need
arises.

So how do you pay for all the licenses?

 

[Virus Guy]

So how do you pay for all the licenses?

Who says I pay?

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Who says I pay?

Ah.

 

[charles]

I am usuing Norton Anti-Virus 2001 (part of system works). I've been
keeping my virus definitions up to date by using LiveUpdate. I tried to
renew it on line and was told my AV is no longer supported and I can't renew
LiveUpdate for the AV.

I notice that at the Symantec site there is something called Intelligent
Update. Can I use that to update my virus definitions? Is it free? Would
I be better off just uninstalling Norton AV and downloading one like
AVGFree or Avast?
Al

This is a direct link to the Intelligent Update file -
symdefsi321.exe.

<ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/antivirus_definitions/norton_antivirus/static/symcdefsi32.exe>

Download and run the file and it should work if your subscription is
still active.

 

[Jake Dodd]

Ah.

He, and others like him, are the reason for product activation DRM. Lets
all say thanks now to all software thieves.

 

[Al]

Did the 1-year subscription expire? How many days were left?

You realize that you have 1 year of free updates when you install it.

You should be able to re-activate the 1-year free update period by
simply un-installing and re-installing it.

After you un-install it, you need to delete all norton and symantec
directories on the computer (regardless of where they are) and then
re-install it. That should give you another year of free updates.

You need to have the original NAV or NSW CD. I have copied the CD
(NSW 2002) to the hard drive of several computers so that I can run it
from the hard drive when the need arises.

The subscription period that came with the original Systems Works expired
some years ago. I have been paying each year since to continue a
subscription for Norton's Live UpDate. My latest subscription just expired.
I tried to renew it and they told me that Norton Anti-Virus 2001 (which is
my version) is no longer supported and, therefore, they won't renew the
subscription, even if I am willing to pay for it. I was wondering if
Intelligent Updater on the Symantec web site would work to update my virus
definitions. I seems to be free. If it won't work, I don't won't to go
through the motions of attempting it and thinking it has worked (if it
hasn't). Incidentally, I think it's pretty rotten not to tell you when they
would stop supporting it when you make your original purchase. If I have to
get a newer version, it won't be from Symantec (Norton).
Al
Al

 

[Virus Guy]

The subscription period that came with the original Systems Works
expired some years ago. I have been paying each year since to
continue a subscription for Norton's Live UpDate. My latest
subscription just expired. I tried to renew it and they told me
that Norton Anti-Virus 2001 (which is my version) is no longer
supported and, therefore, they won't renew the subscription,
even if I am willing to pay for it.

Interesting.

Interesting that officially, NAV 2001 hasn't been "supported" for a
few years, yet they are just now telling you that the reason they
won't take your money is that it's just now "not supported".

If you have the original CD, do as I said and re-install it. You
could have done that every time the 1-year update period ended.

Intelligent update (ie manual download of defn files) will not work on
NAV 2001/2002 if the product has expired itself.

Incidentally, I think it's pretty rotten not to tell you when
they would stop supporting it when you make your original
purchase.

Symantec and Microsoft both play games when it comes to what they
consider to be "support". For example, most people have never, and
will never need telephone support for a software product, yet that is
what these companies consider as support (soley or only as support)
while their ongoing software engineering efforts clearly "support" the
old products in one way or another.

If I have to get a newer version, it won't be from Symantec
(Norton).

As I have said, if you have the original CD, then go to the control
panel, add-remove programs, uninstall NSW 2001, uninstall LiveUpdate,
reboot, uninstall LiveReg, re-boot, do a file-find for symantec*.*
(and then delete the root directory containing it), do a file-find for
Norton*.* (and then delete the root directory containing it), re-boot,
then re-install NSW 2001 (do NOT fill out any product registration
form). Do the live-update thing as many times as necessary, and you
will have a fully updated version of NSW 2001 (with a fully updated
NAV 2001) that will have another year of access to updates.

 

[Virus Guy]

He, and others like him, are the reason for product activation
DRM. Lets all say thanks now to all software thieves.

A common misconception is that every no-cost acquisition/utilization
of a software resource represents actual lost revenue or income to the
relavent party.

DRM in all it's many forms stems from corporate FUD and consumes more
resources and ends up costing more than the value it protects.

 

[Weather Guy]

Interesting.

Interesting that officially, NAV 2001 hasn't been "supported" for a
few years, yet they are just now telling you that the reason they
won't take your money is that it's just now "not supported".

If you have the original CD, do as I said and re-install it. You
could have done that every time the 1-year update period ended.

Intelligent update (ie manual download of defn files) will not work on
NAV 2001/2002 if the product has expired itself.


Symantec and Microsoft both play games when it comes to what they
consider to be "support". For example, most people have never, and
will never need telephone support for a software product, yet that is
what these companies consider as support (soley or only as support)
while their ongoing software engineering efforts clearly "support" the
old products in one way or another.


As I have said, if you have the original CD, then go to the control
panel, add-remove programs, uninstall NSW 2001, uninstall LiveUpdate,
reboot, uninstall LiveReg, re-boot, do a file-find for symantec*.*
(and then delete the root directory containing it), do a file-find for
Norton*.* (and then delete the root directory containing it), re-boot,
then re-install NSW 2001 (do NOT fill out any product registration
form). Do the live-update thing as many times as necessary, and you
will have a fully updated version of NSW 2001 (with a fully updated
NAV 2001) that will have another year of access to updates.

But will this work if Symantec is not actually supplying updated virus
signatures that work with that product? This may be what "not supported"
means

 

[Weather Guy]

A common misconception is that every no-cost acquisition/utilization
of a software resource represents actual lost revenue or income to the
relavent party.

DRM in all it's many forms stems from corporate FUD and consumes more
resources and ends up costing more than the value it protects.

What does "DRM" mean?

 

[Shane]

What does "DRM" mean?

Digital Rights Management. Like having to activate before you can use the
software you've paid through the nose for, and like the way if you record
music with licensing enabled, if you then lose the license (like it gets
corrupted and you don't have a backup) you can't play the music.

Shane

 

[Al]

This is a direct link to the Intelligent Update file -
symdefsi321.exe.

<ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/antivirus_definitions/norton_antivirus/static/symcdefsi32.exe>

Download and run the file and it should work if your subscription is
still active.

As I've said, my LiveUpdate subscription for NAV has expired and Symantec
will not renew it even if I offer to pay for it. They say they no longer
support that version (Norton AV 2001). It's crazy. For the last 2 months,
they've been telling me to renew every time I downloaded virus updates.
Now, when I go to renew, they tell me the won't because they have previously
chosen to no longer support it. Frankly, if they can choose to do that, so
can I. If I have to buy or get a newer anti-virus program, it won't be
Norton's. (Frankly, I keep on hearing there are better ones.)
Al
Al

 

[kurt wismer]

Weather Guy wrote:
[snip]

What does "DRM" mean?

http://anti-virus-rants.blogspot.com/2006/02/what-is-drm.html

 

[Shane]

As I've said, my LiveUpdate subscription for NAV has expired and

Symantec will not renew it even if I offer to pay for it. They say
they no longer support that version (Norton AV 2001). It's crazy. For the
last 2 months, they've been telling me to renew every time I
downloaded virus updates. Now, when I go to renew, they tell me the
won't because they have previously chosen to no longer support it.
Frankly, if they can choose to do that, so can I. If I have to buy
or get a newer anti-virus program, it won't be Norton's. (Frankly,
I keep on hearing there are better ones.)

I think it's now two-and-a-half years since they stopped supporting NAV2001.
Maybe more. Whenever, that's when I stopped using it. Intelligent Updater
could until recently still update the defs, but according to where I get it
from (to update NAVDX, the command line component - though it'll only update
it if it's identified as 97's NAVC) it doesn't anymore:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/download/pages/US-N95.html

Even Live Update, when I stopped using NAV, would still update the defs, but
if for whatever reason you had to reinstall, you could no longer replace
certain program updates (such as the scripting one).

Anyway, it's extremely foolhardy using a Windows-based AV that old. No
program updates for literally years does not a reliable AV make.
Incidentally, I've been using AVG-free ever since. I reckon if you're
careful it's good enough, though my personal pay-for preference would be
Kaspersky.

Shane

 

[Virus Guy]

But will this work if Symantec is not actually supplying updated
virus signatures that work with that product? This may be what
"not supported" means

It will work.

The live Update mechanism currently in place does support NAV 2002 and
I'd be very surprised that a fresh install of NAV 2001 wouldn't be
supported. You've got nothing to lose at this point anyways.

 

[James E. Morrow]

As I've said, my LiveUpdate subscription for NAV has expired and Symantec
will not renew it even if I offer to pay for it. They say they no longer
support that version (Norton AV 2001). It's crazy. For the last 2 months,
they've been telling me to renew every time I downloaded virus updates.
Now, when I go to renew, they tell me the won't because they have previously
chosen to no longer support it. Frankly, if they can choose to do that, so
can I. If I have to buy or get a newer anti-virus program, it won't be
Norton's. (Frankly, I keep on hearing there are better ones.)
Al
Al

You are free to try sticking with Norton AV 2001 if you can make it
work. It may very well work. I've done this myself in the past, though
not with scanner this far out of date. But there is one question you
must ask yourself. Do you really trust these guys? Is Norton the best
for your system's security? I'd jump ship for something else.