Need Help With Computer Problem

Myself

[politicalwit]

I've switched from AVG to Avast....quicker updates, less intrusive and free. Very effective also. http://www.avast.com

[gondramB]

You've already gotten some good advice - especially trying the autofix on the Symantec site.

But I'd hold off on the more drastic solutions til I tried the Microsoft Windows Installer CleanUp Utility.

The origin of the problem is likely to be Norton (Norton seems buggier every year) but if the autofix failed to find anything then Norton has likely screwed up something in Windows.

Here is the link http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;en-us;290301

>>• Provide a dialog box where you can select one or more programs that were installed by Windows Installer. You select the programs on the Installed Products list in the Windows Installer CleanUp dialog box. After you make this selection, the utility removes only the Windows Installer configuration information that is related to those programs.
• Remove the files and registry settings that make up the Windows Installer configuration information for programs that you select.<<

Disclaimer: When you use this fix from Microsoft, you may have to reinstall the program in question but since that's the next trouble shooting step anyway its not such a big cost.

[postaldave]

"update my pay pal account and needs additional info"

100% you have a virus. no ifs ands or buts.

[KoRn]

" Sounds like it might be a virus."

Now that would suck. A virus that messes with your AV software. You may want to try installing another AV app and see if it finds anything.

[gondramB]

>>I am getting the same exact message when I start up my computer. Also, in my e-mail I am getting a message that "thanks me for my order would I please verify some information such as account #, home phone and address." Another one wants to "update my pay pal account and needs additional info." Problem is I have never had a pay pal account.

Being a complete computer dummy, I was just curious if these things could be related as they began at the same time?<<

I know the others think you have a virus but there is antoher possibilibty - that you have a buggy installation of Norton (increasingly common) and that spam email is getting through and the emails are just spams phishing for personal info.


It wouldn't hurt to run a full virus search but if no virus then work on fixing Norton as above. Good luck.

[festus]

First recalibrate your beeber.

[RSteyn]

I've used Norton software for years, but I am done with it as of this month. Symantec is living on past glories. What used to be good software should now be AVOIDED.

I installed NSW 2006 on one machine, which led to Win2k being shredded. Had I not faithfully backed up to an external hard drive, things would have been ugly. After reinstalling everything--beginning with Windows--the system runs, but NSW is such a resource hog that the computer is slow.

Symantec's online help guys aren't much help. Also scary is the instruction manual that up front mentions the possibility that WINDOWS MAY NOT START AFTER YOU INSTALL NSW!!!! This is a problem!

The autofixes? Good luck. They may SAY they have worked, but when you go to reboot, the problem may still be there, unchanged!

Look around online for other horror stories--mine are not unique or the worst cases.

One more thing--even when you do an uninstall--you haven't, because NSW apparently lingers in a small way on your computer, just enough to be interesting.

Good luck.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Norton isn't worth all this effort!

No kidding. The solution is to uninstall the whole mess and never look back.

Get AVG Free Anti-virus and breathe easier.

[Retired Chemist]

Thanks.

[Quix]

DEAR DARKWING,

If you have any comment on the below, please let me know.

It seems to happen most when I click to open in a new window. And it doesn't happen consistently even then. I don't know what the added necessary trigger conditions are.

- - -

Dear FREEPERS,

I recently had the GEEK SQUAD at Best By wipe my main RAID drive and reinstall XP-P, fix some long standing niggly problems etc.

Since then, sometimes when calling up a posting window, ALL ONLY FR EXPERIENCES, the window will appear in black. THIS SEEMS TO PARTICULARLY HAPPEN WHEN I right click on the 'to post' button to open in a NEW WINDOW.

Usually the letters are unreadable. Often they will appear as the totally verticle line in white but not even consistently--spaces will appear as the verticle line as well as letters randomly.

It's really frustrating. I haven't figured out a consistent thing that triggers it other than it usually happens with the posting window but sometimes with the comments window.

Clicking on the "post" button can be a challenge as scrolling to it can result in all black but usually all white if I preview. I kind of have to jury rig clicking around and minimizing and unminimizing to get the "post" etc. buttons to appear again.

I don't know if something quirky has changed on FR about this time or if it's all my machine or what.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for all you do for us and The Republic.

LUB,
Quix

- = = = = =

BTW, I notice that post #2 on this thread asked why not go to Microsoft--their help system has improved lots. But it's still maddening and costly.

I've spent literally many hours of exasperating frustration on the phone to India. The Indian techs did their best and were quite diligent etc. But the whole experience over several calls and techs was absolutely infuriatingly exasperating as a communications experience. And that's with me being quite used to and quite familiar with the Indian accent.

I have a tech email into them now about a MS Word sorting failure. They are wanting me to talk to them on the phone. I'm resisting strongly out of sheer frustration.

The short of it is, NO THANKS. There's NO EXCUSE for a lot of the problems Microsoft's software tortures people with. NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER. They have had massive amounts of money and the best brains money can buy for more than 10 years.

They could have AI software modules to ferret out problems and correct them automatically for customers by now. But even their tech assistance is extremely clunky. And their software is enormously clunkier.

I'd better stop before I get really wound up about Microsoft. The short of it is, DO NOT TELL ME TO GO TO MICROSOFT if you want a calm civil response.
-= = = =

Thanks in advance to the dear souls on here who labor so kindly and sacrificially to help the rest of us dunderheads.

BTW, I'm not a novice. Have had a computer or terminal in my home since 1976. Goodness, that's 30 years. Shocking.

[x1stcav]

I had so many problems with Norton 2006 that I went back to the 2005 version and simply update it.

[CremeSaver]

Thanks to both of you. It's a new computer and has so many options and gadgets. I think I'll pull out my old Sharp laptop. Simpler was better. :0)

[gondramB]

>>Thanks.<<

You are most welcome.

[gondramB]

>>Thanks to both of you. It's a new computer and has so many options and gadgets. I think I'll pull out my old Sharp laptop. Simpler was better. :0)<<

Interesting - I have seen three HPs and/Compaqs shipped recently with the Norton installed incorrectly so that it had to be removed.

[Velveeta]

Reading with interest.
I'm having the identical problem which started a few days ago.

[DesScorp]

"Uninstall Norton and get something else."

As an IT pro, I cannot agree with that enough. Norton Antivirus has become malware, and McAffee has become almost as bad. If you have to have a commercial antivirus solution, I highly recommend Trend Micro's PC-Cillin, or even Panda Antivirus if you must. However, there are solutions out there that free for personal use and as good or better than the commercial solutions. Antivir is excellent, as is Avast Antivirus. The gold standard for free virus protection is AVG Antivirus Free Edtion. All three free solutions work well. All three have "deluxe" commercial editions you can upgrade to if there's a feature that you need, but the free versions are excellent in and of themselves. If you suspect you're already infected with something, uninstall Norton, and go to Trend Micro's Housecall, which will remotely scan and fix your computer over the Internet, and at no charge. Good luck.

[saganite]

After Norton drove me crazy when I bought this computer I dumped it and downloaded AVG. It's a blessing.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

The best advice can be found in posts 5 & 28 !

[Snoopers-868th]

Do you have a shotgun?

Best reply to anything Norton (Systemworks, Internet Security & Virus control). I used to use it and "thought" I loved it until I tried to uninstall it. It would not uninstall. The computer tech I hired could not uninstall it. It became such a mess and was so time consuming costing me by the hour, I spent $450 and got my computer rebuilt. I searched between Microsoft and Symantec webpages for a fix and never found one. Now Norton has a Clean file if their stuff won't uninstall. Most of the cost was time spent trying to fix it and finally buying XP rather than update from W2000. The Norton issue messed with my Administrative privileges somehow if I remember correctly. What a mess.

[L_Von_Mises]

Sounds like you got some good answers on what the problem is and how to fix it but I want to add one thing. Do NOT add another anti-virus program to your computer unless you have COMPLETELY removed Norton. If you have two anti-virus programs running at once they will scan the same file simultaneously and hopelessly lock up your computer.

You said it is a new PC and had lots of "gadgets". I am assuming Norton came with it along with a lot of other software (most of which is probably useless). If you get it working and are happy with it - stick with it since you already paid for it. It is a huge resource hog and will slow your computer down. You may want to remove most of the junk that came installed. Even if you don't use them, they can take up resources.

I used Norton for years until the 2004 version. I noticed it slowing my PC down and when I updated my wife's PC which is a PIII it slowed to a crawl so I got rid of it and her's works fine now.

Another poster mentioned some good alternatives and I would like to add one other - Eset Nod32. It ranks among the highest in detecting viruses if not the highest and uses very little resources and has updates several times a day. For a firewall I would recommend Agnitum Outpost. It not only works as a firewall with full control to the user but stops trojans and spyware. Their spyware component updates several times a day as well. I bought the family pack which is good for seven pcs for not much more than Norton would cost for just one. You can get multiple PC discounts for Nod32 as well.