GRRR! Norton!

Or maybe SBC....

from JoeUser Forums

I have a problem with Norton, and I don't know how to fix it....I'm hoping that all the 'puter geeks here can give me some hints!

I have SBC DSL as my ISP.  I also have Norton internet security.  Recently (as in the last week) I can't send and recieve email via Outlook without first disabling Norton.  SBC says it's Norton's fault, BUT....I haven't been able to play any Pogo games for the past week either, and Pogo says that's SBC's fault - which makes me wonder if it's really Norton that's the issue with my email problem.

I don't know what I'm doing, so I'm not comfortable going and tweaking Norton unassisted or unadvised.  Can someone give me some advice or point me in the right direction?

(As a side note, my year contract with SBC is up next month, at which time I'm cancelling my account with them.  They've pissed me off a few times, so they can shove their phone line AND their internet service up their ass.)

Thanks for your help!

99,832 views 29 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
dharmagirl,

You might try setting NIS Firewall rules back to their default.

1 - Close all Norton windows.

2 - Program Files > Common Files > Symantec Shared folder, find the file "firewall.rul" - if it exists, send it to the recycle bin.

3 - Start NIS by double-clicking the system tray icon (or via Start Menu) - this will reset the defaults.

If you have Program Control set to Automatic, you can use the Program Scan (found by selecting Firewall in the Status & Settings pane) > configure option > Program Scan tab > Scan > follow prompts. This will find all programs with internet access capabilities and set rules for them.

The only other thing I can think of that would create a problem, would be some sort of conflict between the Norton Anti-Virus program and any Anti-Virus scanning software your e-mail provider is using.

You could safely test this by opening Norton Anti-Virus > Options > E-mail > deselect Scan out-going mail (I do not recommend deselecting Scan in-coming mail) > send a message to someone to test.

Note - there should also be an office plug-in in the Miscellaneous section of AV, which you could try diabling if other procedures fail.

That is it for me.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Norton drove me crazy! It kept telling me that Hotmail was an "unsafe site" and I was finally fed up with it blocking stuff, so I disabled it completely. Sigh. I'm jsut not smart enough to fight the battle of anti-spam/viruses without going nuts in the process!
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sorry - mistyped - use Program Control tab (typed Program Scan tab).

To qualify:

I use NIS 2003 Pro with all defaults on (with the exception of Productivity Control and Accounts, which is not installed by choice).

I run Outlook 2002 (Office XP), with service from Comcast.net - no e-mail issues during the 2 years of use.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The best way to fix your problem is to uninstall Norton.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Easy solution: don't use Norton.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have had my own problems with Norton. Most notably, it did not catch all the nasty virus' and such that snuck into my PC. I use AVG (which is free) and uninstalled Norton when I found Avast (also free). I have heard that Avast is a power hog...and when it is running an actual scan, it may be, (my PC isn't exactly made for power users), but both AVG and AVAST found stuff that Norton could not. In all the years I have used Norton, it has NEVER found anything that another virus program could not. I also found that AVG and Avast work well together, where Norton had all kinds of conflicts with other programs. (Avast has one small conflict with ZA, but it gives you the option to fix it). You do have to register with Avast, even if you are only using the free version, but it's worth the couple a minutes. Avast is also skinnable!
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top

The best way to fix your problem is to uninstall Norton.

I'm thinking so, but then I'd be totally unprotected....

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Unprotected? Try something else then. I use AVG for virus scanning and Zone Alarm for firewall. Both have free versions, if pricing is an issue.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The best way to fix your problem is to uninstall Norton.

If anyone manages to uninstall NIS without requiring a clean install afterwards let us know - it will be a world first!

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If anyone manages to uninstall NIS without requiring a clean install afterwards let us know - it will be a world first!


Done it 3 times. Believe it or not, Norton's uninstall via your registry works pretty good.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Done it 3 times. Believe it or not, Norton's uninstall via your registry works pretty good.


I followed Norton's instruction to a tee.
Including using 3 of their uninstall tools when needed per their suggestion & editing, renaming, and deleting registry per their instructions for 4 1/2 days. This was early June - found out last week while reading the forum here, my BITS was destroyed and I had received no critical windows updates since the 1st Norton uninstall.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I've done it also. No problems. Only one time, though, so maybe I got lucky.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Uninstalling Norton will not remove all of it...junk remains.

To give you an example of how 'lowly' I regard Norton....in June I renewed my sub...30 US ...in July it's deleted from my system...one 'issue' TOO many.  BITS was the final straw.

Solution is to remove it [good luck] and run in its place...something like Zone Alarm and AVG....[I already had Zone Pro...so all that was needed was a freebie AVG and I save $30 a year...and no more 'issues'...a win-win situation].

Pity about that wasted sub.....wonder if the wife's machine could cope with it....

 

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yep, when Norton A-V went pear-shaped for me, I spent hours on the phone with tech support [some guy in India, I believe]. Apart from me not being able to understand what he was saying most of the time. The problem was never solved.

In the end, I uninstalled Norton ~which caused so many other problems I also had to do a fresh install of XP.

Now, like many others, I won't touch a Norton product ever again. I use the free version of AVG, and Zonealarm Pro. My system is far healthier as a result.

Sincerely hope you get the problems fixed though, Dharma.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Uninstalling Norton will not remove all of it...junk remains.


yeah, I'm still finding remnants - just found their deepsight extraction in 'services' when checking my BITS. Once I figure how to make it safely go away...
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
i've been a norton cheerleader for years, but with internet security 2004 and 05 ive run into so many problems i had to ditch the software. i'm still trying to get my money back....

on some machines, norton currupts the windows script engine. With your OS java warped, a lot of web content such as on line games, and even some scripted interfaces, will cease to work. Also, media player would crash upon opening. I also had problems with my .net account. If you have any of these problems, you may be facing the same issue with your email.

re-registering the script files manually, and even reinstalling the script engine only proved to be temporary fixes. Its unfortionate but uninstalling internet security was the only way to fix my problem. definitly inform norton tech support. You'll get BS from automated tech support bots, but at least your problem will be recorded. maybe after another million of us report catestrophic problems, we'll be able to get them to move on it...

my alternative, if you're curious, was PC Cillin, on the advice of my wincust peers
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
my alternative, if you're curious, was PC Cillin,

mine also, no complaints so far.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Agree with most here....get rid of Norton!! I NEVER could understand why it's rated so highly after all these years - nothing but problems & it really mucks-up your system!!
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, definitely, Norton since 2004 is a serious system problem and needs to be evacuated from your machine. Trouble is, it is so invasive and gets into EVERY nook and cranny, so you need to 'clean' install Windows to effectively remove all NIS/NAV components.....anything less will result in strays remaining.

I say this from woeful experience...uninstalling via all the correct methods, and still finding Norton/Symantec files in various areas of Windows, Program Files, Documents and Settings, etc. These residual files continued to cause issues. Registry editors, junk file removers and hard drive cleaners were totally ineffective, and manual removal was quite painstaking and time consuming, identifying and knowing what to look for is a problem, so the quickest and most effective solution is a clean install, sorry to say.

I'm at a total loss to comprehend why Symantec continue to produce and 'so-say' support such a viscious, problematic and intrusive piece of #%&@.....why they employ persons who have difficuly in comprehending and grasping your issue, resulting in the receipt of no clear or concise solutions.

Best of luck, dharmagrl, hope you resolve the issues
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
spare me the rant and anatomical descriptios.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Norton is dead, long live (the) AVG!

Dan
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thing is here people dharmagirl wants help with her norton's product. So advertising other products isn't really helping her. If you like some help dharmagirl. I have msn messenger you may contact me at [email protected]
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thing is here people dharmagirl wants help with her norton's product. So advertising other products isn't really helping her. If you like some help dharmagirl.


Citizen dharmagrl

I'm thinking so, but then I'd be totally unprotected




There isn't an easy solution when dealing with Norton. The best answer is what people have been saying...uninstall and go with something else. That IS helping her.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thing is here people dharmagirl wants help with her norton's product.

I am trying to help her.  The best advice I can give anybody with Norton is to uninstall it and try a different product.

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
Forgive me for my heresy but NAV 2002 has been running fine for me ever since I got my machine! Sorry y'all have trouble with it though.