Constant Norton Pop-up 3021,4

[buddyboy]

I run an HP Pavilion 7955 with XP SP2, 1024MB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, Norton AntiVirus 2006, various anto spyware programs, and Zone Alarm.  I also have installed and use Skpe and Windows Live Messenger.  All this has run well for years until a couple of days ago I started to get a Norton pop-up every two minutes which states:

"Norton AntiVirus 2006 was unable to start the Instant Messenger scanner. It was unable to scan Instant Messenger downloads for infections. Click here to go to Symantec Technical Support Knowledge Base. 3021,4."

I don't recall making any changes that might have caused this.  I went to the Norton link and worked through what are basically two suggestions there, no good. I have searched the web for answers. There is the odd reference dating back to 2003, but no suggested remedy. I have scanned for spyware and viruses, again no good. I tried to restore to an earlier restore point prior to the few days that this has been happening but it just tells me that it couldn't restore to each of the points I chose, even in safe mode. I have uninstalled and reinstalled both the Norton AntiVirus and ZoneAlarm (there was a reference to the latter in one of the posts I read), again no good.

I have run out of ideas. Can anyone help please?

[cleaning up - attachment deleted by admin]

[unlovedwarrior]

try resetting verything on norton to defualt if possible.

[patio]

If you should decide to rid yourself of Norton down the road we have some excellent suggestions.

[CBMatt]

Has your license expired by any chance?

I suggest you download AVG Free and give it a whirl.  It's free and tends to have better protection than Norton.

[buddyboy]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.  I tried setting to all the defaults on Norton but it makes no difference.

When it comes to computers I am of a mind that there is so much excellent free stuff out there there is no point in paying for software.  To this point Norton AntiVirus has been my only exception to that approach.  However, I have been following reviews of free virus protection programs and a couple of months ago I decided that I would not renew my Norton subscription again when it expires at the end of September.  Now I have this issue and, knowing it will disappear if I stopped using Norton, I will likely throw Norton out, write off the last four months of the subscription and install a free program.

So, patio and others, what are the excellent suggestions you have up your sleeves?  I have had it with Norton.  I have read that both Norton and McAfee are pigs to get off your system.  In your views, is the uninstall facility good enough or is there a better uninstall program?  Once I have got it off, which free programs are as good, or better?and why are they as good or better? 

[unlovedwarrior]

AVG free

superantispyware

spybot search and destroy

adaware

avg anti-spyware

Ccleaner

firefox(better browser)

thats my set up and im infection free

[patio]

I use everything ulwarrior listed above.

They are all FREE as well.

Personally i used to use every product Peter Norton ever came out with. But it seems as they grew and got bought out by Symantec the apps themselves seemed to get bigger and bigger and demanded more resources to do the same job, so i started looking at alternatives.
I'm not here to bash their product i have just learned thru trial and error that there were more efficient apps that did just as good a job without taking over a whole machine.

I use AVG not because it is free but because it simply works great and stays out of my way...which come to think of it is exactly what i want from all my apps.

[CBMatt]

Be sure to follow these steps in your removal of Norton...
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,34939.html

Like patio, I use all of those programs listed, and I am also infection-free.  Sure, something slips through now and then, but McAfee SecurityCenter is very good about catching these infections promptly.  Of course, I still use the other programs for backup, just in case.  Be sure you don't have them running all at once, buddyboy.

I would normally agree that McAfee is as bad as Norton, but they seem to be taking big steps in improving their software and definitions.  And I've been quite pleased with SecurityCenter and SiteAdvisor, and I'd feel naked without them.  But that's just me.

[buddyboy]

OK, thanks guys.  I got rid of Norton AntiVirus sticking to patio's approach.  Long job, but it works.  I loaded AVG and scanned - it found five trojan horses that Norton missed!  I am pleased with the results.  It seems like a great product.  The only disappointment so far is that updates appear to be manual on the free version, but given the price I can live with that.  The persistent Norton pop-up is no more, and I am enjoying my computer again.  To top it all, I have discovered a great help forum.

Thanks again, all.

[unlovedwarrior]

you can turn on auto update when you turn your computer on avg anti-virus and anti-spyware

how do you like the other programs?

[dl65]

buddyboy...... Welcome to Computer Hope .......
Come back again anytime , the light's always on.


dl65 

[buddyboy]

Ah, yes.  I have found the automatic update scheduler.  I checked it before and it seemed to require the paid version, but another look shows that not to be the case.  So, there seems to be no downsides to AVG Free now.

What else do I use?  Well, I swear by Firefox.  I love how it can be configured with whatever add-ons take my fancy.  I particularly like Stumble Upon which lets me find all kinds of stuff I'd never otherwise discover.  Likewise Thunderbird is a great e-mail client.  Getting any spam at all is very rare.  It seems to appear in short spates but I can quickly stop it using the configurable message filters.  My other favourites are Spybot Search and Destroy, AVG AntiSpyware, Spyware Blaster, C Cleaner, CW Shredder and AdAware SE Personal, all is constant use and performing like high priced help.

As I mentioned earlier, I see no reason to pay for something that can be done for free, and usually just as well.  And I'll be a regular visitor to Computer Hope from here on in.

[unlovedwarrior]

glad to have you

[GX1_Man]

Personally i used to use every product Peter Norton ever came out with. But it seems as they grew and got bought out by Symantec the apps themselves seemed to get bigger and bigger and demanded more resources to do the same job, so i started looking at alternatives.

Actually, I can't think of ANY program that wasn't abandoned or ruined after Symantec got their hands on it. Not one.

[unlovedwarrior]

true the last norton i used was 03 or 04