WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY ANTI-VIRUS???? PLEASE HELP I'M BEGGING! ?

Question

All of the sudden I cannot open Norton Anti-Virus 2009.. it's unresponsive... I got a message saying... "Error: Unable to open this Norton product..." (8504,4) Does this mean I am no longer protected? What's gonna happen to my computer??? The little icon on the task manager bar wont load, and when I click the icon and the start up... NOTHING.

What anti-virus do you recommend I buy? I do not want to download anything.. although I hear that 'AVG' is good... but what is that?

I've heard of "Kaspersky" and that it's good too.. and "McAfee"... do they sell those?

Basically it told me to go on my Norton Account, get the product key.. and completely REMOVE Norton 2009,2008,2007,2006,2005,2004,2003... from my system.. and then re-install it again. I've only had versions 2004 and now this one. When I had the 04 version, it slowed my comp. down big time... This is a lengthy, laborious process which I don't want to do.. so I'm gonna buy a new anti-virus. This Norton does not slow my comp. down.. but now it's acting a bull-sh*tty now...... What do I get?

Answer 1

My company use Norton and as the IT support technician, I have encountered many such cases with Norton antivirus.



A faulty update can sometimes kill a PC and force users to reformat.

Faulty update can also corrupted the virus signature files and disabled the anti-virus, forcing you to re-install Norton.



Norton Live update are responsible for BSOD ( Blue Screen Of Death )

for millions of PC in China. see full story

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/20/content_6125876.htm



Norton have get rid of live update for Norton 2009 and replace it with a "better" update system that update every hour instead of every day.



However, it seem to me that they didn't do quality checking on their updates before they release it to customer. This is not a software issue but human error. Ever since they outsource their software development to third world country, their product are going down hill.



My company will be changing to another anti-virus next year (after Norton expires). I would advise you to do the same.



Get Avast anti-virus, more features and better performances.

see comparison.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antivirus_software

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Remove Norton and replace with free alternatives this will leave your computer better protected and running faster.



Free Security Guide For XP and Vista (32 and 64 bit):



You can protect you PC very effectively for free, you should always install a firewall and anti-virus before browsing the net these are avaliable completely free and are often better then the paid for software like Norton and Mcafee, you will also need to run antispyware software once a week theres some very good anti-spyware software avaliable for free, the software below is the best free software download and use all 5 to fully protect your PC.



Avast Anti-Virus Home Edition

http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html



Comodo Pro (firewall)

http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/



SuperantiSpyware:

http://www.superantispyware.com/



Firefox 3:

http://www.mozilla.com



WOT (web of trust) Add-On:

http://www.mywot.com/



Install the WOT add-on it is a free internet security add-on for your browser. It will keep you safe from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. WOT warns you before you interact with a risky website. It's easy and it's free.

Answer 4

I suggest AVG or Avast since they are free programs and they take system resources compare to Norton or McAffee.

Avast better protection compare AVG since I have notice that it detects better.

I have notice that you better have plenty of RAM for Norton or McAffee

Answer 5

Norton Removal Tool:

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

Select your product version and follow on screen instructions.



Use RevoUninstaller to uninstall any remnants:

http://www.download.com/Revo-Uninstaller/3000-2096_4-10687648.html?part=dl-RevoUnins&subj=uo&tag=button&cdlPid=10854684

It's faster and better than add / remove applet.

When you run it highlight the item then select uninstall in next window select Advanced and click Next, follow prompts when uninstalled it will scan registry and drive for leftover files / folders,click + sign to expand all results and tick ONLY the bold items and follow prompts.



Avast anti-virus which better definitions, anti-spyware and anti-rootkit built in, faster and more reliable:

http://www.download.com/Avast-Home-Edition/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?part=dl-AvastHome&subj=dl&tag=button&cdlPid=10852750

Setup Guide:

http://tinyurl.com/5lxy24

AV Comparison:

http://www.virusbtn.com/news/2008/09_02

http://www.av-comparatives.org/

Answer 6

the main suitable ingredient to do is attempt distinctive answer. attempt spybot seek and wreck. I advise which you backup your archives and reformat your computer. the priority is that there are extra effective than one regueware call Anti-Virus Plus

Answer 7

Very sad. Why do you put up with an OS that needs this kind of excrement?



Consider this an excellent time to recognize that

your operating system is defective. I recommend replacing

it with one of:



http://fedora.redhat.com

http://www.centos.org

http://www.opensuse.org

http://www.debian.org

http://www.ubuntu.org

http://www.slackware.org

http://www.freebsd.org

http://www.opensolaris.org



Any of these will be more reliable, less susceptible to

viri, uses your hardware more efficiently, and they're

all free.

Answer 8

can use avg8,avast 4.8 .,avira.etc etc all are better then norton.

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