Norton has broken my machine. Completely.

[wiggy]

Hi,

I'm new here and no wizz-kid on computers. So i need some help please?! I installed NIS 2005 on my pc, restarted, and now it no longer works. I can just about log on to windows (XP), but that's pretty much as far as it goes. Even just clicking on the start menu will take about half an hour to load (if not more!). I have contacted symantec and they dont seem to understand that I cant actually use my pc's normal funtions, so i cannot use it to go online, nor can i use Add/Remove Progs or SymNRT to remove NIS.

Can anyone help please? I am really desperate. I only bought this machine in feb and cant afford to go and get it fixed/replaced.

Thanks. -w.

 

[Vigilante]

Chances are good you may have already HAD viruses in the system. And after installing NIS they caused all havoc which trashed your startup.

It would/will be a very long process to hack NIS out piece by piece manually without an uninstaller. But if it really won't work for you then we may have to.

Can you get into Safe Mode? You may be able to run your SymNRT from there. But I know you can't run add/remove from Safe Mode.
When your computer is first booting up, BEFORE windows loads, keep pressing F8 on the keyboard over and over until you get a menu. Choose Safe Mode. It may be possible to use Last Known Good to try and go back to before loading NIS. That's an option but may have random results!

Once in Safe Mode, run the SymNRT. And just for fun you could try the uninstaller from add/remove first.
From here you would have to manually remove all the NIS pieces one by one. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

good luck

 

[Nodsu]

I suppose now it is too late too tell you to stay away from Norton/Symantec products..

Boot into safe mode (tap F8 before the XP loading screen appears to get a menu) and uninstall everything Norton.

What are your computer specs? How much memory, how fast processor? Did you have any other firewall software installed?

 

[fus3r]

1.NEVER EVER use NORTON ( or any other symantec crap )

If I was you, I would format my pc and use Esset's NOD32

http://www.nod32.com/home/home.htm

goodluc

 

[wiggy]

Nice one! cheers guys! you've solved my problem! got into safe mode, couldnt use add/remove, but SymNRT worked a treat. I hope its all back to normal now. Only difference is that iTunes is telling me to reinstall becuase "the drivers for importing and burning CDs and DVDs cannot be found". weird, i didn't have that message before.

Can you recommend the best protection for my pc? is Esset Nod32 the way to go? i had a trial version of eTrust that came with my machine. Should i get the full version?

Thanks again for all your help. You're lifesavers!

 

[fus3r]

Im using NOD 32 for 4 years now with zoneAlarm pro
and had never any virus in my pc!

NOD32 :angel: :bounce:

 

[just_a_nobody]

I recommend AVG free. Here is a list of programs that I recommend everybody should have on their PC:

I only list here, the programs that I have used and I’m satisfied with, I know there are other great programs, but these are just the ones that I use, and can verify, as being worthy.

SYSTEM INVENTORY
Everest: http://www.lavalys.com/products.php?lang=en

SPYWARE
AdAware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot S&D: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
SpywareBlaster: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
Microsoft AntiSpyware (XP only): http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

VIRUS PROTECTION
AVG Free: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download886.html

VIRUS and SPYWARE DETECTION
Ewido (XP only - trial version): http://www.ewido.net/en/
HijackThis: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html

Online HijackThis Analyzers
HijackThis analyzer #1: (website) http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php?langselect=english
HijackThis analyzer #2: (website) http://www.help2go.com/modules.php?name=HJTDetective
HijackThis analyzer #3: (website) http://hjt.iamnotageek.com/


Online Virus Scan Website
Trend Micro: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/


Since you are removing Norton from your system, make sure you go to the Symantec sight, and download their removal program.

 

[Vigilante]

Glad you got Symantec removed. To bad that it's nearly impossible to get ALL of Symantec removed! As I can vouch, should you search for parts of it, you'll still find it all over the place, spread around your hard drive and through the registry. I doesn't remove itself entirely.

That is where a format can help but lots of work.

I used NOD32 once but it didn't work to good for my situation. It was on a laptop and was like 2 years ago so I'm sure they've improved much since then.

I've also used AVG Free and it seems to do okay as well.

For a paid-for Antivirus I am really happy with Panda - www.pandasoftware.com
Which comes with a firewall on some versions.

cheers