Norton Updates vs. Windows 98

[Nelson Bradford]

Our Windows 98 computer will not accept/allow (not sure I'm using the correct words) the Norton anti-virus updates "as is."

What I mean by is that the updates will not download even if I/we click on the "Live Update" link - we receive an error message, directing us to the Norton website.

Once there I can then download the updates sucessfully.

Any suggestions?

Is this a computer OR a Norton problem?

thanx
-neb

[Cecil Wallace]

Once there I can then download the updates sucessfully.
Any suggestions?
Is this a computer OR a Norton problem?
thanx
-neb
I'm not sure about the problem, but I believe that is the same type problem a neighbor had with her Windows 98.
I think that she finally just gave up. She is not very computer literate, and did not want to mess with it.

Must be a Windows 98 compatibility problem. Dunno.

[Garth Lahana]

Nelson

Time to get rid of Norton! It's no good, I've seen and heard of so many problems with Norton, that I cant recoment it to anyone anymore. I used to be a Norton user myself but no more! I'd recoment using a free program like AVG Anti-Virus. It's a very good program, easy to install, and I've used it on a PC that had Norton AV, and when I installed AVG, it found 10 virii! If your interested, you can download it here (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5)

Garth
(http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5)

[Adam Spriggs]

I'll second that. AVG works well with Windows 98.

[Marg Webb]

Garth-I just sat down to install another Norton Virus Up-date.
Instead I tried going where you showed well I cannot find anything anywhere to connect to this. Advice please. I will just take the Norton thing back.
Marg.

[Garth Lahana]

Marg

As I mentioned earlier, my confidence in Norton Anti-Virus isn't what it used to be. I would recommend not using it. If you can, try and take it back to the store where you purchased it, and download AVG. Here (http://free.grisoft.com/softw/70free/setup/avg71free_375a703.exe) (the file to download) is the link to the download. The previous one was only to the page of the download. This won't work for long as they update the file quite often to reflect the latest version. Please let me know if you need any more help.

Garth

[Marg Webb]

Garth.---I punched the "Here" to down load. It did that for and hour and finished and now it is gone. Was I to do something more?? That is all that happened.
Marg.

[Garth Lahana]

Marg

If it went the way it should have, when you clicked on the "Here" link, it should have prompted you to save the file or run it from the internet. I assume you saved the file somewhere on your hard drive. You might need to search your hard drive for the file you downloaded, and from where you saved the file, you should be able to run it. The filename is avg71free_375a703.exe. Once you've searched your hard drive and found the file, you can run it by double-clicking it. The rest of the installation should be fairly self explanatory. If you need any more help, you know how to find me :)

Garth

[Norayr Hajian]

I have been a fan of AVG for quite some time. I'll throw my hat with it anytime. I find Norton slows computers down to a crawl. AVG works without slowing down the computer.... and, in the two or three years I've been using AVG, I can't think of one virus I've got.

While I'm yapping away... one other free resource I highly recommend people on whose computers I work on is K9 - an internet filter of sorts. Not as fancy as some of them - but it works!

[Gina Stevenson]

OK, so there've been various notes re Norton being no good with Windows 98. Now that I've got XP, how's it with that, or isn't the Norton that came with the computer & XP worth renewing, since I've got AVG? curious ... thanks.

I'll second that. AVG works well with Windows 98.

[Garth Lahana]

Gina I wouldn't reccomend Norton on any operating system, XP included. There had also been news circulating arounf that Norton had installed a root kit in their Norton Systemworks. A root kit enables the program to hide files from the operating system, enabling spyware and viruses to hide in these locations. For me yet another reason not to reccomend any Symantec Norton products anymore!

Garth

[Norayr Hajian]

Gina, I agree with Garth. I wouldn't put Norton on any system.

[Bob Wright]

If you are not able to download AVG or update Norton, you may have a virus. i'd recommend you download Avert "Stinger" on another computer and burn it to CD. Reboot into Safe Mode and run Stinger from the CD. It might detect and clean your drive. You can download AVG in safe mode w/networking, but you will not be able to update it in safe mode. The Netsky worm fights every attempt to update or download any security program. That or a similar virus is what you might be encountering. I really hope not.

[Garth Lahana]

If you are not able to download AVG or update Norton, you may have a virus. i'd recommend you download Avert "Stinger" on another computer and burn it to CD.

Thanks Bob

I didn't know about Avert Stinger. Thanks for the heads up!

Garth

[Gina Stevenson]

Any "tricks" I need to know, then, to remove -- totally -- the Norton "stuff" that was already on here re virus detection, etc? You see, I ask this, because I recall something long ago on the older computer that I tried to remove and it told me that several files were not allowed to be removed ... it's even happened on this one with something I was trying to get rid of (what appeared a really neat word game that I DL'd -- Boggle), so I'm thinking I still have to go (very carefully!!) into registry to be all rid of.

Thanks!

PS * Norton SystemWorks, that's supposed to help do more than their only-anti-virus-guard, is one thing I got on that free-with-rebate deal long ago, but don't have on here. So, I don't want to at all even think of using it, eh? Hmmmmmmmm .... wouldn't be the first bad software I've gotten ahold of. ;) gs

Gina I wouldn't reccomend Norton on any operating system, XP included. There had also been news circulating arounf that Norton had installed a root kit in their Norton Systemworks. A root kit enables the program to hide files from the operating system, enabling spyware and viruses to hide in these locations. For me yet another reason not to reccomend any Symantec Norton products anymore!

Garth

[Garth Lahana]

Gina

Removing any Symantec products should be quite easy. Just remove it though the Control Panel, Add Remove Programs program applet. There are also more than one entry you need to uninstall, to completely get rid of all of it. Live registration, and Live Update come to mind. Just to be sure that there are no files left after the uninstall, go to the Program Files folder, and make sure that there is no Symantec folder, and you should be good to go. If you want to be sure that you've gotten rid of all the registry stuff, you could always use a program like Regseeker (a free registry cleaner). I've used it many times, and it does a good job getting rid of any old redundant registry entries. You can download it from this (http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm) page. It also makes a backup just incase anything should go wrong.

Another thing is Systemworks used to be quite a good product in the past, but I find recently it's become far to bloated and heavy for most people. Almost all it's features can these days be accomplished using freeware tools. All you need is Google, and you should be able to find almost anything you need.

Garth

[Gina Stevenson]

Yes, when it wouldn't let me get rid of "Boggle" (a word game I've played IRL, so tho't might be nice for the computer), I was doing the usual CTRL panel, ADD/REMOVE deal ... weird, huh?

Anyway, thanks for the advice ... we'll check that page out you put a link to in your post.

Gina

Removing any Symantec products should be quite easy. Just remove it though the Control Panel, Add Remove Programs program applet. There are also more than one entry you need to uninstall, to completely get rid of all of it. Live registration, and Live Update come to mind. Just to be sure that there are no files left after the uninstall, go to the Program Files folder, and make sure that there is no Symantec folder, and you should be good to go. If you want to be sure that you've gotten rid of all the registry stuff, you could always use a program like Regseeker (a free registry cleaner). I've used it many times, and it does a good job getting rid of any old redundant registry entries. You can download it from this (http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm) page. It also makes a backup just incase anything should go wrong.

Another thing is Systemworks used to be quite a good product in the past, but I find recently it's become far to bloated and heavy for most people. Almost all it's features can these days be accomplished using freeware tools. All you need is Google, and you should be able to find almost anything you need.

Garth

[Joel Merrill]

I'll second that. AVG works well with Windows 98.

I third that. I have been a diehard Norton fan for years. Not anymore. Norton has gotten real slow. AVG is just as good and I think it is still free.

Joel

[Marg Webb]

Yes it is free. Garth recommended it to me a few weeks ago and it is doing great.

[Mark Bolerjack]

It is great, and still free. I get an update and a virus scan every day when I turn on my computer.

[Gina Stevenson]

It is great, and still free. I get an update and a virus scan every day when I turn on my computer.

Yes, AVG rarely misses a day; almost surprised at the "dailiness" of their updates ... if I'm on-line about 10pm ... otherwise, one has to wait until the next evening, because they have their set time, and you can't ask for updates unless you're on the paid program. ;)

AVG does seem to work well, tho'. Had it on the old computer with win98, and now this one from last fall that has XP on it.

[Garth Lahana]

Just a little something that I just found about Norton Anti-virus...

Check this out! (http://www.betanews.com/article/Flaws_Found_in_Symantec_Scan_Engine/1145995585)

Garth

[Nelson Bradford]

I've had NOTHING but problems with Norton of late for both Windows 98 and XP systems.

I have asked for a refund from Norton for the 2006 edition I purchased within the past month (still waiting) and would not properly install and gone to AVG. I love it.

And as soon as the current subscription expires on the 98 machine I'm going to download/install AVG on that machine also.

I'm done with Norton.

[Dana Grant]

I've had NOTHING but problems with Norton of late for both Windows 98 and XP systems.

I have asked for a refund from Norton for the 2006 edition I purchased within the past month (still waiting) and would not properly install and gone to AVG. I love it.

And as soon as the current subscription expires on the 98 machine I'm going to download/install AVG on that machine also.

I'm done with Norton.

I did the same thing, except I switched over to Trend Micro PC-Cillin and love it. I bought a multi-user license so I could install it on both computers (cheaper than buying it separately for each computer).

[Garth Lahana]

A little more info that has just appeared over Norton Anti-Virus, having more major holes in it. You can read more about it here (http://www.betanews.com/article/Serious_Flaw_Hits_Symantec_AntiVirus/1148661430).

Garth