I need help - PC problems

[Hayashi]

Any assistance deeply appreciated. I've this weird problem concerning Norton Systemworks 2000 and my PC at home.

My system specs:
P3 500 MHz
Creative Labs TNT2 Ultra
256 MB RAM
Win 98 SE
DX 8.1

Norton Systemworks 2000 is installed, together with Norton Internet Security which, when I installed, upgraded my Norton Anti-Virus to the 2001 edition.

Here's the problem: All of a sudden, Norton would not load anymore. Starting any of the Norton utilities (diagnostics, disk doctor, etc), the program would run for a while, then close itself without completing the task.

So I uninstalled all the Norton programs and tried to reinstall. No dice. The Norton installer would just quit halfway. Same goes with the NIS which comes with the NAV 2001 edition.

Of all these programs, the anti-virus is the most critical. Right now I am posting without any anti-virus protection. I dare not open my mailbox right now as over the days I received a few infected emails which my NAV caught.

Any ideas what happened? Could I have (unknowingly) been infected. Unfortunately I made my rescue disks on a USB zip drive, and that can't be used to boot the PC. I booted using the Norton CD and ran the diagnostics, but quit during the scandisk portion as it was going to take literally hours.

All other programs *appear* to be running fine.

[MILAMBER]

It doesn't sound like a hardware problem, and with software problems, it could be anything. Especially when you are talking about a program that installs itself so deeply in your OS. The only thing you could really do you have done. And that is un-install then re-install your Norton software. I know this is a shitty solution, but I would be tempted to re-install your OS. I would be extremely tempted to buy the upgrade to winXP or 2K.

Sorry and good luck!

[Hayashi]

Well I just tried reinstaling NortonInternet Securities & AntiVirus 2001 (comes together in 1 CD). Halfway thru' the install window just quits, but I can see some HDD & CD-Drive activity going on. So I wait until all activity has ceased, then clickon the "install" button again. The wizard asks me if I want to resume the install.

It's just weird. Whoever heard of a program that self-terminates?

Anyway I managed to install the NIS & NAV, but somehow it screws up my internet seetings & I couldn't get on to the internet. Immediately a "Page not found" error pops up when I click on any url. So I had to uninstall the Norton programs, which leads me to where I am now.

Any one knows what might be happening? It's frustrating and inexplicable.

[/)eathKiller]

If a problem like this ever happened to me I'd try to re-create it on another computer and then work backwards from there... I don't use any protection on my computer of any kind though, except warrantry. I can be hacked, i can be sent viruses, you can screw my comp over, and you know what? I'll find some way to work around it. I'm just like that. If i ever needed protection i'd make my own to suit my own needs. I think it is stupid to worry about things like Norton when all they do is eat your memory and protect against threats which have a 99.99% chance possibilty of actually happening to you! Human error is a magnificent thing you know, i see it all the time, quite funny it is... once a guy over ICQ was DETERMINED to get my ccredit card number. in turn, his own number ended up being spread all throuout the palace visual chat [img]smile.gif[/img]
*holds up res edit likes its a cleaning detergant*
THANKS RES EDIT! X D turn anything into anything and make it do anything you want by typing in a 4 letter extention code Got a worm? Make it attack the person who sent it!

I even have a folder which I like to call "black winter" wich makes computers actually set themselves on fire. I'm planning on keeping it as a secret for that day in colledge when I am asked to write a program that consumes all of a computer's recources > *insert skript kiddie icon here oh wait I just did*

as for your problem.. hmm... i'd recomend calling some proffesional "norton guys" and maybe they could help you. If they couldn,t then Defrag the computer's hard drive and partitan the bits you don't want deleted...

[LennonCook]

I have had this problem before. I am positive it was caused by a virus, as is my mother. Our only solution was to format the computer without backing up. That was after almost a week of trying to find a solution. It wouldnt let us install ANY virus protection, and we couldnt figure out which file/s it had nested itself in.

[Animal]

Did you by chance try to install internet security while system works was running? If so, the norton integrator would've hacked up a furball because InstallShield tried to install a program while it was still running. The integrator for 2000 and 2001 are two seperate programs. I beleive you may have to install the newer version first, and then the older version.

[Farscry]

So-called anti-virus software has never done anything but screw up my computer. So, I just don't run any. I know, I've got a deathwish, but you know what? I wind up reformatting to clean up my computer about every 3-6 months anyway (I love my CDRW for backing up files I want to keep!) because it's the only way to clean up all the crap Windows creates. So if I got a virus that walloped my machine, I'd just shrug and reformat a little earlier than normal. Here are my stats for numbers of times my computer's been screwed up by two culprits:

anti-virus software: 4+
viruses: 0

hmmm... interesting trend...

Farscry

[LennonCook]

Originally posted by Farscry: So-called anti-virus software has never done anything but screw up my computer. So, I just don't run any. I know, I've got a deathwish, but you know what? I wind up reformatting to clean up my computer about every 3-6 months anyway (I love my CDRW for backing up files I want to keep!) because it's the only way to clean up all the crap Windows creates. So if I got a virus that walloped my machine, I'd just shrug and reformat a little earlier than normal. Here are my stats for numbers of times my computer's been screwed up by two culprits: anti-virus software: 4+ viruses: 0 hmmm... interesting trend... Farscry

Thats probably through not having the correct anti-virus software. Nortons and McAffee are the best for most systems,but the registered versions are a must. In both of these, the free downloads are never as good as the bought version, and often contain viruses in the download which prevent you from installing. Also, backups are useful, yes BUT in the event of a realy bad virus/worm, if you dont have Virus protection (or if the virus stops you from using it), you definately have to format WITHOUT BACKING UP. It is impossible to tell where a virus is in your system unless you have anti-virus software. It is also impossible to tell where you got a virus... you cant just say "i got it from this download because thats when I noticed it start doing stuff to my computer", because viruses can be set to attack certain things, and stay dorment until certain times. For example, you may get a virus on the 1st of May, which is set to remain dorment until say, you download something from a certain website, which you dont do until the 23rd of June. Somehow, I dont think youd suspect that original program...

[Farscry]

I didn't say I don't use virus scanning software. My personal fave that I actually use is F-Prot. I just run it once in a while, but it isn't one that needs to start up with your computer and run constantly in the background. (Or worse, run and screw up files while installing stuff... Ergh...)

Though I can't deny that you have good points there, Lennoncook. I just consider myself savvy enough to avoid most of the regular viruses, though worms and trojans can probably still find their way onto my machine through unconventional methods (or through lack of alertness on my part).

Farscry

[Megabot]

Get reed of that virus program it only ■■■■ up your pc i had it self one time and i had only problems so i uninstalled the hole crap!
You can read e-mail only dont open any with attachments then you are pritty sure you dont get any virus on your pc!
I have only had 1 virus on my pc`s and i have hadd pc`s for abouth 20 years now and no problems with that!