| Author | Content |
Poochella
Issaquah, WA
(Zone 7a)
February 27, 2009
04:03 AM Post #6196604
| I've read old posts here about Avast, AVG and other antivirus software. This laptop came with Norton installed. The initial Norton subscription has lapsed and I'm not renewing it because I've already thrown enough cash away on past failed Norton Updates that never installed successfully on another computer. I vote with my feet and am happy to walk away from Norton.
My quest for help is two-fold:
1) Quick input on what anti-virus software people have tried that has gained their approval. I'm willing to pay for a good product, or Free works for me, just as well.
2) When I decide on an anti-virus program or whatever you call it; how do I go about removing Norton, installing the new, and in what order? Remove old first, install new second? Does it matter? I'd be really grateful if the process were close to idiot-proof.
I have Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 on an HP Pavillion laptop and DG as my homepage, it goes without saying...
Thanks for any leads and tips you can offer.
Poochella |
morrowsmowers
Glassboro, NJ
(Zone 7a)
February 27, 2009
08:30 AM Post #6196825
| I have had and hated Nortons -- won't use it again. Comcast gives us McAfee for free -- tried it but wasn't thrilled with it. We use AVG at work -- nothing great about that one either. At home, all of our computers are using Avast free edition -- it updates regularly, doesn't hog resources, and seems to work well -- never had a problem while using it.
You will need to uninstall everything Norton first before installing the new product. You could probably download the new install files while you have Norton running but it will have to go before the new installation. Norton is tricky to get rid of -- you may need several uninstalls to do it -- if I remember correctly, I had to do about five different processes to get rid of it a few years back when it came pre-installed on a system.
Ken in Glassboro, NJ |
tcs1366
Itasca,IL&Lk Delton, WI
(Zone 5a)
February 27, 2009
04:52 PM Post #6198909
| I too was a Norton's user... 11 yrs or so finally ditched it in Oct. Also tried the free McAfee that comes with Comcast... didnt like that either.
I did a bit of reading, and found an article for Spyware Terminator and Glary Utilities ... and have found both of them to work very well for me. I have them on my tower and 2 laptops. One thing with Spyware Terminator is that once you start a new program or peripheral, you have to "allow" is ... which sometimes is a lot of clicking.
both of those programs have replaced both my Norton's products. [anti virus and system works] |
Poochella
Issaquah, WA
(Zone 7a)
February 27, 2009
10:43 PM Post #6200268
| Thank you both. I will check into those programs mentioned over the next few days. I have access to Comcast's McAfee too.
I will undoubtedly be back with questions about uninstalling Norton! |
tcs1366
Itasca,IL&Lk Delton, WI
(Zone 5a)
February 28, 2009
12:14 AM Post #6200644
| Nortons has an uninstall TOOL, that you download from their site. It will get rid off all the lil files tucked around on your computer. |
Poochella
Issaquah, WA
(Zone 7a)
February 28, 2009
01:32 AM Post #6200947
| Thank you and thank Norton for that one small gift. |
roadrunner
Hereford, AZ
(Zone 8a)
March 01, 2009
03:58 AM Post #6205305
| I use the free version of AVG...and love it...it updates regulary. Jo |
andidandi
Arlington, VA
March 06, 2009
10:25 AM Post #6228844
| In addition to your uninstall, be sure to log onto Norton if you bought it online and CANCEL your subscription. Otherwise they will charge you and then send an email saying "Since we didn't hear from you about renewing, we went ahead and charged you again." It's a total PITA. |
tcs1366
Itasca,IL&Lk Delton, WI
(Zone 5a)
March 06, 2009
11:27 AM Post #6229121
| for me, i made sure that Auto Subscription thing was not checked. Since i knew my subscription was ending... i had time to research the free programs - to see which ones i wanted to use... then i was already protected by the time the Nortons ran out. it worked flawlessly. |
WaterCan2
Suffolk County, NY
(Zone 7a)
March 06, 2009
01:10 PM Post #6229544
| I've had Norton, McAfee, F-Prot, & CA Anti-Virus.
Using Kaspersky Anti-virus four years now, auto updates several times a day, small 'footprint', so far so good. |
Poochella
Issaquah, WA
(Zone 7a)
March 06, 2009
03:21 PM Post #6230113
| Thank you all for your input. I'm still in the research mode and have now read that using Avast! with a wireless router might interfere with email coming and going.
Anyone have experience with that and Avast, and a fix if so? |
blomma
Casper, WY
(Zone 4a)
March 27, 2009
02:55 AM Post #6325831
| I used to use Norten also until I got broadband through my phone company. Included was Window Live One Care and I love it. It protects my inbox also. I never even have had any spam since I got it with broadband a little over a year ago.
My son had Nortens also and got a virus which Norten didnl't catch. He downloaded Microsoft software and that program took care of the problem. |
lourspolaire
Delray Beach, FL
(Zone 10a)
April 03, 2009
08:53 AM Post #6358545
| I have had Norton installed on all my personal computers and laptops for over 12 years and I never had any gripe with the software or its performance. I guess I must have been lucky because so many people despise Norton with a passion. I am currently using Norton 360 without any glitches on my tower and 2 laptops.
What are people running into that makes Norton seem like a 4-letter word? What am I missing here?
Thanks.
Sylvain. |
tcs1366
Itasca,IL&Lk Delton, WI
(Zone 5a)
April 03, 2009
08:58 AM Post #6358558
| I've had no real gripes about it... i too was about a 12 yr user... but i got tired of paying for it. When 'pinching' pennies these days ... I can find better ways to spend the money when i can get free software that is just as good.
On my other/older computers, where i didnt have so much RAM, it did take a long time to load with how large it is... but with 2GB memory - it wasn't as much of an issue.
so for me, it was the yearly fee. |
hart
Shenandoah Valley, VA
April 03, 2009
01:35 PM Post #6359664
| Poochella, there's no one on this earth who despised Norton and McAfee more than I did after the experiences I had with them hogging all the resources on my computer. After using AVG or Avast, I forget which, for a while, I switched to Norton 360 and I love it. It's completely unobtrusive, does a better job than the freebie did, has never slowed my computer at all and comes with some other nice features. I was able to get it for about $20 after rebates.
Check places like Newegg, Best Buy, Frys if you want to try it. If they don't have good rebates now, they will eventually if you keep checking. |
wcgypsy
Fallbrook, CA
(Zone 10b)
September 09, 2009
12:05 AM Post #7042986
| After getting rid of Norton, my son installed Avast and I was thrilled...However, with the recent 'new' version of avast a week ago, my pc is slow, slow, slow, some things don't load at all...and I'm kinda sick of this. Anyone using the 'latest version' of avast? Same problems? Is there one program that works? |
Leftwood
Saint Bonifacius, MN
(Zone 4a)
September 09, 2009
01:27 AM Post #7043150
| I work with a couple very old pc's. Norton was a big a resource hog for them. One of mine has a REALLY tiny 550MHtz cpu. Just as an FYI if anyone is still running old old pc's, when avast updates on my 550MHtz pc, it almost temporarily freezes the computer. AVG is a better choice for that reason, as it doesn't slow up an ancient pc. |
hcmcdole
Powder Springs, GA
(Zone 7b)
September 09, 2009
06:54 AM Post #7043338
| I switched from Norton 360 to AVG pro this spring to save some money but may switch back when my two years is up with AVG. I got tired of Norton pop ups telling me my subscription was about to expire every day starting a month or more out. If I could've turned off that annoyance then the product would've been a lot better.
Anyway AVG is a resource hog (when it scans 4 times a day it slows everything for quite a while (hour or more?)) and is not very configurable. I am very disappointed in it.
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Leftwood
Saint Bonifacius, MN
(Zone 4a)
September 09, 2009
03:00 PM Post #7044809
| I don't know, but I would have thought during scanning mode, all antivirus programs would take up a huge portion of computer usage. Are you saying Norton didn't?
Another "I don't know", but isn't scanning 4 times a day a bit much for an antivirus program that is already constantly monitoring digital traffic?
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hcmcdole
Powder Springs, GA
(Zone 7b)
September 09, 2009
03:17 PM Post #7044849
| Norton did not use resources like AVG. Maybe Norton gave some time back to the system and played nice. My objection to Norton was the yearly subscription, notices to renew the subscription, and notices to set up a safe deposit on their site for accounts, passwords, etc. (which I didn't do but I couldn't see a way to turn off those messages).
Norton is not the only one with annoying pop ups. Flash Player, Acrobat Reader, and a few other apps like to get attention. Now AVG wants me to use Yahoo (great partners I suppose) and has put their search tool on IE. It's enough to drive you crazy at times.
I agree on scanning 4 times a day is a bit much but I see no way to change it other than reinstall and choose something other than the default 4 times a day. AVG has all these tools but where do you go to configure them? I can turn them off and on but that seems to be about it.
Similarly it appears that AVG scans the hard drive(s) for programs when you install it so it knows what is safe and what isn't. I see no way from a configuration screen to turn on some programs and turn off others. For instance my wife had two problems recently with AVG blocking her from web based apps. One was from our bank downloading records to Quicken and the other was using a Citrix server so she could do work related activities. AVG gave me a list of things to try and the next to the last suggestion was to let all programs run. That definitely worked but how good is that?
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Leftwood
Saint Bonifacius, MN
(Zone 4a)
September 09, 2009
10:19 PM Post #7046096
| Wow. Seems pretty silly, no . . . stupid, no . . . ridiculous, that it is not simple to change scanning frequency. Seems to me AVG might be better for the "simple" pc user, who wouldn't run into the applications that you require. |
Mainecoon
Shepherd, MT
September 14, 2009
05:13 PM Post #7064085
| I hate Norton it slows down your computer in the first place , the configuration is hard if your new at computer as it locks you out from even getting on the internet so not beginner friendly & not much friendly for more experiences users, I uninstall it as soon as I get any new computer, plus to make sure you do not have any problems you have to remove it from the root which means the registry, it is recommended you have some one who works with soft ware to do this because you can remove a program in the registry that has nothing to do with Norton and really cause problems with the computer .
If you get alot of spam AVG sdoes sell your email that is why I dont use AVG any more
Kaspersky is recommended by PC world |
