How do I look?

[billyellis]

And by that I of course mean how does my computer look after I did everything the other pages said to do (because I know I look darn handsome).


Edit #1: And while I am here, I would like to follow the recommendation to stop using Firefox, but the one thing I can't seem to find that I use all the time in IE is a FF equivalent of the IE option to right-click and "Create Shortcut". I can't find anything in the FF Help about it. Does anyone know a way to do this? Thanks.

Edit #2: Also, if I screwed up any of the steps or missed anything, or if something didn't clean the way it was supposed to (I got a few unexpected error messages from one or two of the cleaners that were not mentioned in the instructions - most did not recur upon re-running the program, so I can only assume they did their job eventually), it was an honest mistake, and I am not trying to make this any harder for you guys. Honest.

 

[Rik]

My advice would be to get rid of norton, its rubbish, it causes far more problems than it cures.

 

[billyellis]

OK, I plan on doing that, since it certainly didn't help me this time. But what are the alternatives, and do any of them have a long enough track record yet to make us feel comfortable that they are effective and will update on a regular basis? What is out there that everyone thinks is good?

 

[Rik]

Well im a big fan of ETrust, i use both etrust antivirus and etrust pest patrol and i rate them highly.


In my opinion, which i have formed from seeing other peoples problems on techspot and on the net generally, norton and windows defender are the ones to steer clear of. Even google spellchecker doesn't like the word norton!!!!! (can't say i blame it).

 

[Matthew2009]

Norton...I hate that compant, Symantec. That software does my head in. It slows your PC down so it makes opening a browser longer than a week in the jail! Norton is so annoying, it pops up every few minutes too and made my life misrable. I got Antivir Classic and Sygate Personal Firewall! Both do me well!

 

[howard_hopkinso]

Your HJT log is clean.

I agree with the guys about getting rid of Symantec/Norton crapware. It`s a real resource hog and isn`t very good at killing viruses either.

I personally recommend the following.

Download and install the free AVG antivirus programme and either the free Zonealarm or Kerio firewall programmes. You can get them HERE, HERE and HERE.

Disconnect from the net and completely uninstall Symantec/Norton. If you have any problems in doing so, see this thread HERE.

Once you`ve done that, do the following.

Install whichever firewall you chose, followed by AVG and reboot your system the required number of times. Reconnect to the net and run the AVG updates.

If you ever have any further virus/spyware problems, please post in this thread.

Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of billyellis only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.

 

[billyellis]

Thanks everybody!

 

[billyellis]

OK, since I cleaned I am getting the triple error/attemp to run Windows installer that some people described here:

https://www.techspot.com/vb/all/win...2005-does-not-support-the-repair-feature.html

I have looked for missing folders as suggested here:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2005092822170206?OpenDocument&src=hot&seg=hho

but they seem to be there, but I have not yet run the tool since a.) I am not using IE again unless I have to, and b.) I am suspicious about what this tool will do now that I have just finished a 3-day orgy of virus/trojan removal.

The last post in the other thread above mentions another thread to look for, but I can't find it using the search, and it no longer appears to be one of the current stickys (judging by the their titles anyway). Any suggestions on what I should do? I am not quite ready to get rid of NAV yet, and I am worried that something that I need is not running properly. Is the registry adjustment recommended in the other thread a safe idea?

Thanks.

Edit: Found this link:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1114973232

which says there is no lost functionality, which makes me feel a little better. I don't really care about closing the error messages when booting if that is the only problem. Do you agree that this issue is not affecting functionality, and is there any way for me to test it?

 

[howard_hopkinso]

I`m not sure what you`re saying exactly.

Have you uninstalled Norton?

You say you havn`t run the tool. Which tool?

If it`s the one in THIS link I gave you, I can assure you it`s perfectly safe.

Please clarify.

Regards Howard

 

[billyellis]

I`m not sure what you`re saying exactly.

Have you uninstalled Norton?

You say you havn`t run the tool. Which tool?

The Symantec AutoFix tool at the link in my previous post, which requires IE to run and I am not sure what it will do...

And again, do you think that ignoring this issue and simply canceling the installer prompts each time I log in is OK?

 

[howard_hopkinso]

So, you haven`t uninstalled Symantec/Norton as advised?

The programme is complete crap and causes more problems than it solves.

I personally wouldn`t want to see an installer prompt every time I logged on.

The Symantec AutoFix tool is perfectly safe to use. You would need to use IE as it uses an ActiveX control.


Regards Howard

This thread is for the use of billyellis only. Please don`t post your own virus/spyware problems in this thread. Instead, open a new thread in our security and the web forum.