Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls

heresmo · 24-09-2008, 10:49

Son has new laptop and can get AV software via a Uni scheme

He tells me it's Norton

Has Norton improved these days? I guess it will be the latest version of whatever.

His laptop is an HP, model HP DV6920 Ea, running Vista Home with SP1.

Having seen my face drop (I've never got on with Norton), he asked that, if he didn't get Norton, what should he get then? I know of some but unfortunately have no knowledge of what works well with Vista.

Son thought that maybe if Norton was the software the Uni uses, maybe it might somehow be more compatible with them. I see the logic but can't say I follow how it could be relevant to be honest.

Any comments would be most appreciated.

Ta
Mo

swedishskoda · 24-09-2008, 10:54

My experience of Norton (a few years back, admittedly) is not the best.
As to what the uni normally runs on their own computors, it shouldn't matter. My uni ran Norton earlier, Mcafee now, but I've had my private laptop conencted to the net and running AVG, no problems at all.

I liked AVG 7.x, the 8.x with a lot of extras added is more of a nuisance but it works. I know that a lot of peeps swear by Avast. Both are freeware and widespread. No need to pay for an AV programme.

**VRStu** · 24-09-2008, 11:01

I use the paid version of AVG which suits my needs.

Has he got himself the Office 2007 via the student scheme?

heresmo · 24-09-2008, 14:47

Many thanks for the info

Glad to hear it's a choice independent of the Uni systems. I have knowledge of both AVG and Avast! - both free versions and without problems occurring and a friend runs Mcafee happily

Just wasn't sure if they were OK with Vista so glad to hear that they should be OK

Thanks VRStu - he says he has "something" already on there so will check that out. Do you know off the top of your head if the 2007 has Publisher please as for some reason it wasn't included in earlier student packages.

Again many thanks.
Mo

**VRStu** · 24-09-2008, 14:49

It's Office Ultimate Mo so it has everything I think -

Microsoft Office Discount for Students - The Ultimate Steal

Tom_vRS · 24-09-2008, 14:57

nod32 by eset is THE best AV you can buy imho, and uses tiny resources compared to Norton et al.

heresmo · 24-09-2008, 17:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRStu

It's Office Ultimate Mo so it has everything I think -

Microsoft Office Discount for Students - The Ultimate Steal

Thank you very much indeed for the link.

@ Tom_vRS - it was the resource usage that mainly drove me barmy also with Norton. nod32 has always had good reports so will revisit that one also.

Can I ask also please, because I've just remembered that protective software on main computers here won't be available on son's laptop. Meaning that if it gets nicked, nothing will be encrypted and clearly he couldn't have run deletion software the instant before it was nicked nor avoid recovery software. What do folks use for that?

That might be a tall order, since government ministers manage to lose laptops seemingly with all "our" data recoverable.

Is there a "This laptop will self destruct in ..." button please?

Thanks
Mo *brain in overdrive as usual*

Captain Sisko · 24-09-2008, 18:16

I use AVG and Zone alarm on my Vista laptop and that works ok. I haven't used Norton for Years either after it made my (then powerhouse) PC crawl.

Just taken ZA off my sisters laptop cause she doesnt seem to like it. and leaving her with the windows firewall and AVG.

**mannyo** · 24-09-2008, 18:19

I would steer clear of Norton, still the same bloated software that it always has been. That and the fact that in 12 months you'll need to spend more cash on renewal. Stick with the free ones, AVG or Avast are pretty good having used both.

fordfan · 24-09-2008, 18:27

I've recently changed from AVG free to Avast free on both XP and Vista. No problems with either and Avast found something on an XP machine that AVG didn't. I am now an Avast convert.

LegoVRS · 24-09-2008, 19:18

I use kaspersky. you can get it from aria for a tenner or about 20 quid for a 3 machine license. thats for their full internet security suite.

gadgetman · 24-09-2008, 22:45

Norton is worse than it ever was.

Works PC was fine until they loaded that crap on it. Now it locks up,egg-timers, eats the battery and needs charging again.

So off came Norton, and Feck me PC's fine again.

So I bought McAfee and put it through on expenses. Much better IMO.

Surrey White · 24-09-2008, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by VRStu

It's Office Ultimate Mo so it has everything I think -

Microsoft Office Discount for Students - The Ultimate Steal

Following the Additional Products links also shows Vista Ultimate for £41 as well - due 10th Oct.
Again a bargain - but not as much as the Office offer is.
Offer is for anyone with a .ac.uk email address.

Surrey White · 24-09-2008, 23:13

I have found Norton to corrupt PCs many times, usually when it gets disconnected from its internet connection when updating.
Use McAfee at work, it could be better but generally doesn't give us any problems.
I have been recommending AVG to students, but have been suggesting Avast on the recommendation of others. I've not tried it myself though.

Tom_vRS · 24-09-2008, 23:14

FWIW, I've got a .ac.uk email address

anonymouse · 24-09-2008, 23:34

Avast! all the way

Been using it some 3 yrs now.

Re Kaspersky - I uninstalled it from a friend's comp recently. Crazy CPU and resource usage. made the thing run so slowly.
We installed Avast! and the machine so much faster.

Norton, as everyone says, is expensive bloatware.
McAfee IMO not much better.

sharkrider · 25-09-2008, 00:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Sisko

I use AVG and Zone alarm on my Vista laptop and that works ok. I haven't used Norton for Years either after it made my (then powerhouse) PC crawl.

Just taken ZA off my sisters laptop cause she doesnt seem to like it. and leaving her with the windows firewall and AVG.

exactly my setup (and swmbo's) avg (from grisoft.com) free version, with auto updates, and zone alarm... works well, i also havea boggo anti spyware thing too.....

norton doesn't work in a good way (as a computer scientist!) it takes up way too much of your computers run-time, something with the way it works with memory, too time consuming, too much interupting, AVG is much simpler, and does a better job for free

heresmo · 25-09-2008, 12:44

Does anyone know how to uninstall Norton please? I seem to recall having to download a tool and/or enter the registry (eek) rather than it just being an option from the install menu.

As it's my son's decision, it's just in case he learns the hard way... I'd rather he didn't install it in the first place especially after reading your comments, for which I thank you all

Being a new laptop, if he has any problems, it'd be better IMO if the issue weren't clouded by a known potential cause.

Thanks and regards
Mo

swedishskoda · 25-09-2008, 13:15

It's supposed to disappear if uninstalled through "add/remove programs" in the Windows control panel, but if uninstalment fails I think the proper tool can be found here:

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool

Should the worst happen you may have to fiddle with the registry. I've used an earlier version of this guide with good result:

How the $#@$# do I fully remove Norton from my PC? :: Free Tech Support from Ask Dave Taylor!

heresmo · 25-09-2008, 13:29

Many thanks swedishskoda.

The ***** was how I remember the uninstall process. i.e. Tsk! Hrmph! and a few asterisks of my own

Ta
Mo

Tomo1971 · 25-09-2008, 18:53

i used norton a few years ago and found it to be awful for reasons stated above. Swapped to Avast, free version first then started to pay for it.

As I had a 90 day freebe of Norton 360 on a new laptop I did try it.

Much Much better than old, hardly takes up any resource and never causes any problems.

Admitedly this is on a PC that came with no bloatware of its own like most new PC's these days so maybe that has something to do with it.

Much prefer it to Avast now to be honest.

Steve

cheezemonkhai · 25-09-2008, 19:11

Kaspersky £20 for 3 licences for a year in PC World and a very good AV tool IMHO.

Kaspersky Lab: Antivirus software

heresmo · 25-09-2008, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomo1971

i used norton a few years ago and found it to be awful for reasons stated above. Swapped to Avast, free version first then started to pay for it.

As I had a 90 day freebe of Norton 360 on a new laptop I did try it.

Much Much better than old, hardly takes up any resource and never causes any problems.

Admitedly this is on a PC that came with no bloatware of its own like most new PC's these days so maybe that has something to do with it.

Much prefer it to Avast now to be honest.

Might I ask why you prefer Norton 360 to Avast! paid version please?

Ta
Mo

**VRStu** · 25-09-2008, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom_vRS

FWIW, I've got a .ac.uk email address

Me too

Which means I now have office ultimate

24-09-2008, 10:49	#1
heresmo Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,574 Members Car: Thanks: 52 Thanked 151 Times in 127 Posts	Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls Son has new laptop and can get AV software via a Uni scheme He tells me it's Norton Has Norton improved these days? I guess it will be the latest version of whatever. His laptop is an HP, model HP DV6920 Ea, running Vista Home with SP1. Having seen my face drop (I've never got on with Norton), he asked that, if he didn't get Norton, what should he get then? I know of some but unfortunately have no knowledge of what works well with Vista. Son thought that maybe if Norton was the software the Uni uses, maybe it might somehow be more compatible with them. I see the logic but can't say I follow how it could be relevant to be honest. Any comments would be most appreciated. Ta Mo __________________

24-09-2008, 10:54	#2
swedishskoda Briskadoodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,100 Members Car: Felly Estate 1.6 LXi 1998 Thanks: 59 Thanked 177 Times in 155 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls My experience of Norton (a few years back, admittedly) is not the best. As to what the uni normally runs on their own computors, it shouldn't matter. My uni ran Norton earlier, Mcafee now, but I've had my private laptop conencted to the net and running AVG, no problems at all. I liked AVG 7.x, the 8.x with a lot of extras added is more of a nuisance but it works. I know that a lot of peeps swear by Avast. Both are freeware and widespread. No need to pay for an AV programme. __________________ It's feral ! It's fervid! It's a Felicia!

24-09-2008, 11:01	#3
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,856 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 999 Times in 895 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls I use the paid version of AVG which suits my needs. Has he got himself the Office 2007 via the student scheme? __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

24-09-2008, 14:47	#4
heresmo Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,574 Members Car: Thanks: 52 Thanked 151 Times in 127 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls Many thanks for the info Glad to hear it's a choice independent of the Uni systems. I have knowledge of both AVG and Avast! - both free versions and without problems occurring and a friend runs Mcafee happily Just wasn't sure if they were OK with Vista so glad to hear that they should be OK Thanks VRStu - he says he has "something" already on there so will check that out. Do you know off the top of your head if the 2007 has Publisher please as for some reason it wasn't included in earlier student packages. Again many thanks. Mo __________________

24-09-2008, 14:49	#5
VRStu Txt Spk Police Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hampshire Posts: 20,856 Members Car: Audi S3 Thanks: 145 Thanked 999 Times in 895 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls It's Office Ultimate Mo so it has everything I think - Microsoft Office Discount for Students - The Ultimate Steal __________________ Stu Stu's Websites - http://www.fabia-vrs.com & http://www.octavia-vrs.com Stu's Car - 2008 Audi S3 - Ibis White, Black Optics Pack, Privacy Glass, Auto Bi Xenon Headlights, Rain Sensing Wipers, Bose Sound System, Ipod Prep, GSM Phone Prep, Flat Bottom Multi Function Steering Wheel, Electric Folding Mirrors, Acoustic Parking, Cruise Control, Interior Light Pack, Non Smokers Pack. SWMBO's Car - 2008 Seat LEON TDi Stylance, Black Magic, Sports Pack, Rear Parking Sensors. Something for Weekend - A Patio

24-09-2008, 14:57	#6
Tom_vRS Briskodaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fenland, Cambridgeshire Posts: 11,561 Members Car: '97R BMW 328i Saloon Thanks: 679 Thanked 436 Times in 313 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls nod32 by eset is THE best AV you can buy imho, and uses tiny resources compared to Norton et al. __________________ 97/R BMW 328i in Boston Green.

24-09-2008, 18:16	#8
Captain Sisko Skodaless Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Deep Space 9 Posts: 2,476 Members Car: Dainty Little skoda Felicia 1.6 Thanks: 44 Thanked 135 Times in 132 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls I use AVG and Zone alarm on my Vista laptop and that works ok. I haven't used Norton for Years either after it made my (then powerhouse) PC crawl. Just taken ZA off my sisters laptop cause she doesnt seem to like it. and leaving her with the windows firewall and AVG. __________________ 98 Felicia 1.6 GLXI 112000 miles now with a borked head gasket Clickable for "boring" info

24-09-2008, 18:19	#9
mannyo BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Stevenage Herts. Posts: 11,478 Members Car: Octavia 2.0 TDi Elegance Thanks: 58 Thanked 362 Times in 333 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls I would steer clear of Norton, still the same bloated software that it always has been. That and the fact that in 12 months you'll need to spend more cash on renewal. Stick with the free ones, AVG or Avast are pretty good having used both. __________________ Manny 2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi my skoda website http://www.octaviars.co.uk Join the briskoda.net folding team click Here for more info

24-09-2008, 18:27	#10
fordfan ECUless Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,065 Members Car: Thanks: 31 Thanked 252 Times in 220 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls I've recently changed from AVG free to Avast free on both XP and Vista. No problems with either and Avast found something on an XP machine that AVG didn't. I am now an Avast convert.

24-09-2008, 19:18	#11
LegoVRS Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: North West UK Posts: 48 Members Car: Fabia VRS SE Thanks: 6 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls I use kaspersky. you can get it from aria for a tenner or about 20 quid for a 3 machine license. thats for their full internet security suite.

24-09-2008, 22:45	#12
gadgetman Go Gadget Octy! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,414 Members Car: Thanks: 220 Thanked 120 Times in 113 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls Norton is worse than it ever was. Works PC was fine until they loaded that crap on it. Now it locks up,egg-timers, eats the battery and needs charging again. So off came Norton, and Feck me PC's fine again. So I bought McAfee and put it through on expenses. Much better IMO. __________________ Lick the window of life Why not join the Briskoda Last.fm group?

24-09-2008, 23:13	#14
Surrey White Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kingston Upon Thames Posts: 106 Members Car: Superb 1.8T Comfort 03 Thanks: 5 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls I have found Norton to corrupt PCs many times, usually when it gets disconnected from its internet connection when updating. Use McAfee at work, it could be better but generally doesn't give us any problems. I have been recommending AVG to students, but have been suggesting Avast on the recommendation of others. I've not tried it myself though. __________________ Octavia 1.8T L&K Combi 2002 - Stone Superb 1.8T Comfort 2003 - Virtual Blue

24-09-2008, 23:14	#15
Tom_vRS Briskodaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fenland, Cambridgeshire Posts: 11,561 Members Car: '97R BMW 328i Saloon Thanks: 679 Thanked 436 Times in 313 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls FWIW, I've got a .ac.uk email address __________________ 97/R BMW 328i in Boston Green.

24-09-2008, 23:34	#16
anonymouse Nuts Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 8,450 Members Car: Fabia vRS Thanks: 152 Thanked 258 Times in 192 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls Avast! all the way Been using it some 3 yrs now. Re Kaspersky - I uninstalled it from a friend's comp recently. Crazy CPU and resource usage. made the thing run so slowly. We installed Avast! and the machine so much faster. Norton, as everyone says, is expensive bloatware. McAfee IMO not much better. __________________ "Stupidity, if left untreated, is self-correcting." - Heinlein

25-09-2008, 12:44	#18
heresmo Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,574 Members Car: Thanks: 52 Thanked 151 Times in 127 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls Does anyone know how to uninstall Norton please? I seem to recall having to download a tool and/or enter the registry (eek) rather than it just being an option from the install menu. As it's my son's decision, it's just in case he learns the hard way... I'd rather he didn't install it in the first place especially after reading your comments, for which I thank you all Being a new laptop, if he has any problems, it'd be better IMO if the issue weren't clouded by a known potential cause. Thanks and regards Mo __________________

25-09-2008, 13:15	#19
swedishskoda Briskadoodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,100 Members Car: Felly Estate 1.6 LXi 1998 Thanks: 59 Thanked 177 Times in 155 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls It's supposed to disappear if uninstalled through "add/remove programs" in the Windows control panel, but if uninstalment fails I think the proper tool can be found here: Download and run the Norton Removal Tool Should the worst happen you may have to fiddle with the registry. I've used an earlier version of this guide with good result: How the $#@$# do I fully remove Norton from my PC? :: Free Tech Support from Ask Dave Taylor! __________________ It's feral ! It's fervid! It's a Felicia!

25-09-2008, 13:29	#20
heresmo Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 12,574 Members Car: Thanks: 52 Thanked 151 Times in 127 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls Many thanks swedishskoda. The ***** was how I remember the uninstall process. i.e. Tsk! Hrmph! and a few asterisks of my own Ta Mo __________________

25-09-2008, 18:53	#21
Tomo1971 Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Fife, Scotland Posts: 593 Members Car: Octy MkII vRS TDi Thanks: 13 Thanked 37 Times in 36 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls i used norton a few years ago and found it to be awful for reasons stated above. Swapped to Avast, free version first then started to pay for it. As I had a 90 day freebe of Norton 360 on a new laptop I did try it. Much Much better than old, hardly takes up any resource and never causes any problems. Admitedly this is on a PC that came with no bloatware of its own like most new PC's these days so maybe that has something to do with it. Much prefer it to Avast now to be honest. Steve __________________ My Car - 2007 Octavia vRS TDI in Diamond Silver-Cruise Control-Parking Sensors-Light Assisit/Auto Wipers-Bluetooth-Jumbo Pack For Work - 2004 Landrover Freelander TD4 Commercial - Owned and run by me Something for Weekend - My Bed

25-09-2008, 19:11	#22
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,665 Members Car: Thanks: 123 Thanked 527 Times in 488 Posts	Re: Help re getting Norton anti virus ... or not, pls Kaspersky £20 for 3 licences for a year in PC World and a very good AV tool IMHO. Kaspersky Lab: Antivirus software __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

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