Unnecessary startup items

[Guest]

Symantec have advised me that (because I'm convinced that their products have
buggered up my system, corrupted some files, and I can no longer configure my
Firewall), I should disable any "unncessary startup items": programs,
devices and services. The ones I know I don't need running until I want
them, whose names and descriptions (via Admin/System Tools) are obvious to
me, I have already dealt with. But Symantec are telling me (in annoyingly
bad English), that I should ask my "computer manufacturer or a consultant...
to assist... in making the selection". They are implying that my problems
are due to Windows. But my OEM does not give any software support (I only
realised this after I had bought my machine!).

Please can someone advise me? In each category (applications, services,
etc), What does what?, and therefore, what do I need?

[I have XP Home SP2, Norton System Works & Firewall, and GoBack (presently
disabled), about 92 other applications I've installed (I may rarely get
around to using them all, but I want them on the hard disk, and I am hoping
get more), I have, presently, far less than 1GB of data (because all these
computer problems prevent me from getting on with my work), and I have about
40 GB free space on my Windows partition (C.][I also have a big headache,
and a very neglected Furby.]

 

[Mike Hall]

I would advise you to download and save to file both Zonealarm firewall and
Avast anti-virus.. having done that, disconnect from the net and uninstall
anything to do with Symantec..

Now install Zonealarm and Avast.. reconnect to the net and update both.. you
now have a decent firewall and ant-virus AND you have cleared junk from your
computer..

 

[Stan Brown]

Symantec have advised me that (because I'm convinced that their products have
buggered up my system, corrupted some files, and I can no longer configure my
Firewall), I should disable any "unncessary startup items": programs,
devices and services.

Please can someone advise me? In each category (applications, services,
etc), What does what?, and therefore, what do I need?

I strongly recommend Thomas Greene's COMPUTER SECURITY FOR THE
HOME AND SMALL OFFICE, ISBN 1-59059-316-2. In a long chapter, he
answers exactly this question, in clear English, and tells you
exactly what process to follow.

 

[Guest]

1) I now have an annotated list of services (via the Black Viper web site).
2) The problem was nothing to do with services or startup items - indeed it
was originally caused by Symantec products.
3) Symantec email support is, I suspect, a badly written expert system. I
do not believe the co-respondents are real people. Seriously, study the
texts they send.

 

[Guest]

Ah, I think I answered myself before I saw the two other messages there.
Small screens and lazy fingers! Thank you both for the information. For the
record...

I now know the cause of my problems. Norton's so-called protection
corrupted many of my files, including part of its own Firewall. I finally,
saw a pattern in all this, came to my senses and ignored their advice. So
far I've only reinstalled the firewall, and a lot of my problems have been
solved . (My other problems will be the subject of new postings.)

Again, thank you for your help and input.