Hi
My lap top (Windows Vista Home Premium) came with Norton Antivirus
installed. When it expired its trail period, I decide install the Symantec
Antivirus Enterprise (my company has an agreement in which I can instal this
version in my home computer). The unisntall of Norton was OK. However, when I
tried to install the new one (Symantec Antivirus) I am receiving the
following message:
The file 'C:\ProgramData\Application Data\Symantec\Symantec Antivirus
Corporate Edition\7.5\vd213413.xdb' could not be opened. Please check that
your disk is noit full and that you have access to the destination directory.
The system cannot find the path s
I tried several changes. I could change the owner of C:\ProgramData (it was
System and now it is my user) but I can't change the permission of this
directory.
I have inly 1 user and this is an admininstrator.
What shall I do ?
Seriously, if you're an average homeuser I'd look for altenatives.
Uninstall Norton using its own uninstall tool
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039
As suggested on the site, you may wish to print out the directions before
proceeding.
While Norton's removal tool usually gets the job done, you may also want to
go to:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
and download a copy of winsockxpfix just in case. Rarely, the removal of
NIS breakes the networking components in XP to the point where internet
access is impossible. This little utility will fix it back up.
If the Norton removal tool doesn't work satisfactory use this:
Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Remove unwanted programs and traces easily
http://www.revouninstaller.com/
and/or
RegSeeker
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
RegSeeker will remove all associated detritus (registry keys,files and
folders) from any application. I found this application user friendly and
very effective but suggest *not* to use the 'Clean the Registry' option.
Click onto 'Find in registry' and in the 'Search for' box type *Norton*;
The pertinent registry keys can then be safely deleted (just in case,
ensure that the 'Backup before deletion' is checked). Repeat the task by
typing in the Search for' box *Symantec*. You can then go on search and
remove associated files as well.
Then use NTREGOPT to compact the registry; Follow instructions.
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt
If you buy a new computer with pre-installed software, you really should
consider this application:
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/removes
Some alternatives:
Real-time AV applications (choose one (1) only).
Disable the e-mail scanning function during installation (Custom
Installation on some AV apps.) as it provides no additional protection. In
fact, most of experts (incl. Norton) believe that scanning incoming and
outgoing mail causes e-mail file corruption.
Avira AntiVir® PersonalEdition Classic - Free
http://www.free-av.com/antivirus/allinonen.html
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
(Choose Custom Installation and under Resident
Protection, uncheck: Internet Mail and Outlook/Exchange.)
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition
http://free.grisoft.com/
ESET NOD32 Antivirus - Not Free
http://www.eset.com/
Have you seen these "extra settings for NOD32"?
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=37509
On-demand AV application (add it to your arsenal and use it as a "second
opinion" av scanner).
BitDefender10 Free Edition
http://www.bitdefender.com/PRODUCT-14-en--BitDefender-8-Free-Edition.html
A-S applications (grab'em all).
The effectiveness of an individual A-S scanners can be wide-ranging and
oftentimes a collection of scanners is best. There isn't one software that
cleans and immunizes you against everything. That's why you need multiple
products to do the job i.e. overlap their coverage - one may catch what
another may miss.
SuperAntispyware - Free
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html
Ad-Aware - Free
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html
Spybot Search & Destroy - Free
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
Windows Defender - Free (build-in in Vista)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Interesting reading:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136195/article.html
"...Windows Defender did excel in behavior-based protection, which detects
changes to key areas of the system without having to know anything about
the actual threat."
Some more useful applications:
Spyware Blaster - Free
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Rootkit Revealer - Free
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/Utilities/RootkitRevealer.mspx
Crap Cleaner - Free
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
If Windows Defender is utilized go to Applications, under Utilities
uncheck "Windows Defender"
CW Shredder - Free
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/CWShredder.shtml
Also note:
You are not going to find anything better than the Vista FW and Vista in
itself due to the advanced features the FW and Vista are using.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cableguy/cg0905.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/network/WFP.mspx
Jesper's Blog
http://msinfluentials.com/blogs/jesper/archive/2007/07/19/at-least-this-snake-oil-is-free.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/jesper_johansson/archive/2006/05/01/426921.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/06/VistaFirewall/default.aspx
"If you try to block outbound connections from a computer that’s already
compromised, how can you be sure that the computer is really doing what you
ask? The answer: you can’t. Outbound protection is security theater—it’s a
gimmick that only gives the impression of improving your security without
doing anything that actually does improve your security. This is why
outbound protection didn’t exist in the Windows XP firewall and why it
doesn’t exist in the Windows Vista™ firewall."
Vista Firewall Control
http://sphinx-soft.com/Vista/
Good luck
