"Expired" message 1

[OsakaWebbie]

Background: Even though one computer of mine is only used for video editing (no email, almost no web use) and Norton AutoProtect is turned off because it interferes with DVD burning, I had been faithfully keeping the signature file up-to-date and letting it do a weekly scan. But when I recently tried to renew my subscription, I was told that version 2002 is no longer supported by Symantec, so now I would have to upgrade to 2005 to keep it current. The computer is likely to be replaced in the next few months and new PCs almost always come with Norton, so I made the decision not to upgrade this one. But I don't really want to uninstall it altogether, because a weekly scan with a slightly old sig. file (or manual scan from time to time or if something seems suspicious) is better than nothing.

But the "update me!" messages are starting to drive me crazy! Is there any way to turn them off without removing the program? If possible I'd like it to still do weekly scans, but if not, I'd like it to just reside on my hard disk without running at all until I envoke it manually. But I can't figure out even how to do that - whatever starts it up isn't in my Startup folder, so it's probably buried in my registry somewhere. Can someone help?

 

[jrjuiliano]

If you're not planning on paying for it and are going to dump the machine soon, check out AVG free version anti-virus.

You can get it at

http://www.grisoft.com

Make sure to remove NAV before installing this one. I use this at home on my Windows machines and have no problems.

HTH

J.R.

 

[OsakaWebbie]

Thanks, but I'd really rather not introduce any new variables. Video operations are prone to problems if interrupted, so once the machine is working well, I tend to resist adding things, especially something that runs in the background like anti-virus software.

So, is there no way to stop the "expired" notices while still having NAV on the disk?

 

[jrjuiliano]

You can try disabling NAV while you're working on stuff, but that kind of defeats the purpose of having anti-virus.

Other than that... don't know

J.R.

 

[OsakaWebbie]

Not completely. If you read my first message carefully you'll see that I already have NAV's AutoProtect disabled while I'm working on stuff (which is all the time I have the computer on). Disabling it doesn't prevent it from reminding me at least daily that its signature file isn't current, which is what I'm trying to stop. For this particular computer in this particular situation, my virus risk is quite low, but if possible I would like to keep the program around so that I can run manual scans sometimes (or weekly scans if I can get it to have that scheduler continue without complaints). To repeat my original question, if someone actually knows whether I can have the program on the computer at all without the reminders, I would be appreciative.

 

[AJ1982]

Then why not disable AVG auto protect and have it scanning weekly

===

Fatman Superstar (Andrew James)

CCNA, CCAI

 

[OsakaWebbie]

That's exactly the status I have had it in for about a year. The problem is that about a month ago the subscription was running out, and when I tried to renew, it told me my version (2002) was no longer supported. Rather than buying the upgrade, I decided it was not needed on this machine at this time. So what I want is to keep some functionality of NAV (albeit with an old signature file) without having it complain all the time that I'm not current. Weekly scanning would be ideal, but if that is not possible, then figuring out how to stop it from running but still be on the hard disk, so that I can do a manual scan when I want to. (I can't get support from Symantec for the same reason that I can't get a new signature file subscription - they refuse to offer any support for v. 2002 anymore.)

 

[Rick998]

It depends on what operating system you are using.

In Win 9x/ME, Norton and its additional services are started from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run and/or \RunServices keys in the registry.

In Win XP, Norton and its additional services are started from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run key in the registry and from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ (but you need to know the name of the service). It's easier using 'Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services' (or typing 'services.msc' in the 'Start > Run' dialog.

Hope this helps...

 

[OsakaWebbie]

Thank you! I had just about given up on getting an answer on this.

I found only two services in Admin Tools > Services that had the word Norton or Symantec in them, and both were already Manual rather than Automatic (I made Norton Auto-Protect Disabled just for good measure). But I think the key was a key (pun very much intended) - in the Run registry you directed me to, I deleted the NAVAgent entry and rebooted, and now I no longer have an icon for NAV in my system tray at all (I used to have an icon indicating NAV running but AutoProtect off). I'll write back if the "expired" messages still come, but I don't think they will. With this solution I won't be able to get automatic weekly scans, but it's better than uninstalling the program - I should still be able to do manual scans.

Thanks again!

 

[OsakaWebbie]

Update to inform anyone who is interested: Indeed, deleting the NAVAgent key in the Run registry folder silenced the message I wanted to silence. I assumed it had turned off all of NAV in order to do that, and therefore I would no longer get weekly scans. But this morning I woke up and discovered that it had done my scan last night like always! I have no idea what is still running to tell Norton what time it is (add it to the long list of things I don't understand about Windows - if it was *nix I would just check the crontab, but...), but I'm pleasantly surprised - for my situation it's just the right balance of running and not running, if you know what I mean.

 

[Rick998]

OsakaWebbie,

Norton's weekly scan is running as a scheduled task. (This is independent of NavAgent which you disabled in the Registry.)

If you can't see the Task Scheduler running in the 'Notification area' (bottom right near clock) then go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Scheduled Tasks.

When you open the Task Scheduler you'll see the task for the weekly scan. You'll also probably see a task for Symantec's NetDetect which runs every 5 minutes. I believe this is used to detect whether it can connect to the liveupdate.symantec.com site. If so then I also believe this then triggers LiveUpdate for the purpose of anti-virus updates and possibly subscription information.

Given what you've said about how you use Norton on the PC, in my opinion you can disable the NetDetect task. It's a waste of resources for what you are doing and, if you're burning DVD's without buffer underrun protection, it could help cause an error.

Hope this helps...