h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Has anyone out there had any experience with Norton Internet security causing PC problems?

I've just recently bought a new Packard Bell which fails to boot every three to four days and needs a full system reinstall each time.


I've looked up support on Packard Bell's website and there is most definitely some problems caused by it (there is a quickfix download for some systems) but in their user forums I find quite a lot of general comments slagging off NIS.

Should I avoid reinstalling it in this, my sixth reinstall since I bought the PC 4 1/2 weeks ago?

I think I shall at least as an experiment but I'd be interested to hear what others opinions are - and what are better options for Anitvirus/firewall software.

I wouldn't personally touch it with two barge poles taped together. Other than the screams of rage echoing all over the net, we did do a test with it vs Command (our av solution) and it was much, much slower. Several friends have also warned me off it, and they know what they are yabbering about

Zonealarm is a free for personal use firewall and it is excellent (apparently the pro version can cause probs, but the ordinary version works like a dream for me )

As for av solutions I would recommend Command - http://www.authentium.co.uk - if your work has it then all the users get a license to run it on their home PC's too. It is quick, fairly reliable (in 3 years it has only bugged out once, when it misidentified files and deleted them, however they were non-essential and not missed files.). It's Exchange mail sweeper is having trouble with the autoupdate at the moment, but the desktop version seems to be running well.

Hope this helps and until later....
BCNU - Crescent

Cresent - I'd stay clear of the curernt version of ZoneAlarm (5.59...) the current scores at download.com are 66% unfavourable (http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm/3000-2092-10291276.html?tag=lst-0-1)

Reading some of them would show that they've messed up with this release.

Isearched the web and found a few sites with version 4 for download when I needed to install in on In-Law's PC the other day. And all is fine.

CHawke

ooops version number 5.0.590.015

In fact reading the ZoneAlarm's own forum most users say don't touch 5.0.

All versions are still online at http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/information/znalm/zaReleaseHistory.html

CHawke

OK, that's sorted that one out, I shall avoid reinstalling it this time. It'll be interesting to see if my PC does its regular downage in a couple of days time or not. What's the betting it's fine now.

Yes I've had some problems with the new Zonealarm, it won't let me onto the net or it is very sluggish.
What other good Firewalls are there, Zonealarm is the only one I'm familiar with?

I'd stick with the last version 4 ZoneAlarm, I've never had a cause to complain about it.

Indeed that is currently downloading.

Thanks for the tips

Hi Orcus

You need to have a word with Tal: U167550 he knows lots of stuff about firewalls and internet security

My parents bought a pc a few months ago and my brother recommended they buy Norton anti-virus and installed it for them.

I'm now battling with the problems it causes every time *I* visit {brother lives in Nottingham}
it really makes me and they paid for it as well!

Everytime they log on "Popup" "Popup" "Popup" and adware regularly hijacks their homepage it makes my Dad's blood boil, as he can't close the windows fast enough, I've tried to teach him Ctrl-Delete but it's all too technical for him

Poor Mum, she says it's like watching a volcano go off, when he logs on, she runs!

Does anyone know how to key in the product key, after it's been installed?
Because I have to keep reinstalling it as well, but it never takes me to the page to enter the product key, and I've been to their website AND run the

Well I avoided it this time and lo and behold my PC is still working four days later. Seems it was indeed the problem.