Getting  Along With Your Computer Column Archive

Norton AntiVirus Conflicts with XP and Vista Service Packs

By Cate Eales
Appeared June 2, 2008 on castanet.net

You should disable your Norton AntiVirus protection before you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 and Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Why? How? Read on.

Can't we all just get along? I guess, not so much.
If you haven't received Service Pack 3 for XP in your updates yet, stand by. It will be offered as an automatic update beginning June 10. At least that's the current plan.

Meantime, people who have downloaded and installed the service pack through Microsoft Download Center and Windows Update have encountered problems if they are also using Symantec security products, including Norton AntiVirus. The problems are severe enough that Symantec is telling people to disable the protection before installing XP SP3.

Computerworld details the problems and Symantec's reaction in this article. Symantec's instructions to prevent the problem, or to fix the problem if you're already having it, are here and here.

Affected products are Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, Norton Systemworks, and Norton 360. Symantec is now advising everyone to turn off the protection before installing Vista SP1, too.

Several experts have recommended uninstalling your Norton security product completely before installing your Service Pack. If you do that it's entirely up to you whether you install it again. You should make a note of your product key and registered name before you uninstall, in case you do want to reinstall the product.

There are several good, free alternatives to Norton AntiVirus, discussed most recently here. NO MATTER WHICH PRODUCT YOU USE, YOU SHOULD DISABLE YOUR ANTIVIRUS PROTECTION. See this article from Microsoft.


Prevent XP SP3 From Installing
If you don't have time to sort out your anti-virus software in the near future, you may want to prevent SP3 from installing. It's scheduled to go to Automatic Updates starting June 10. You can stop it by setting your Windows Update to download your updates but not install them. Here's how:

Now, your updates will download as always, and you will see a yellow shield icon in the Notification Area (by your clock, in the lower right-hand corner of your screen) when they are ready for you. Select "Custom Install" and refuse the SP3 update until you are ready for it. You can allow the other updates to install.

Power users can use the Blocker kit from Microsoft, available here. If you don't understand the documentation, don't even think about using it!


Thank you everyone who wrote with questions, comments, and words of encouragement. Please email cate@rlis.com if you have anything to ask or tell about your computer. Don't forget, you can browse the column archives at any time. Point your browser here to go there.  If you'd like to subscribe to this column by email, please visit this link.  It's easy, and free. If you'd prefer the RSS Feed, click here.


Links
Computerworld article on Symantec problems with XP and Vista Service Packs: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9089658&source=NLT_PM&nlid=8
Symantec instructions  http://solutions.symantec.com/sdccommon/asp/symcu_defcontent_view.asp?ssfromlink=true&sprt_cid=b32555cd-1b26-4041-abac-882faf8d365f&docid=20080530144453EN
Symantec fix  http://solutions.symantec.com/sdccommon/asp/symcu_defcontent_view.asp?ssfromlink=true&sprt_cid=75a9ffd7-c7e4-42f6-bf73-6d2412c82289&docid=20080527181900EN
Free anti-virus products: http://rlis.com/columns/column147.htm
Steps to take before installing XP3: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950717/
Windows Service Pack Blocker Kit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=D7C9A07A-5267-4BD6-87D0-E2A72099EDB7&displaylang=en
Getting Along With Your Computer Column Archives http://rlis.com/column.htm
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Cate Eales has been helping people make online computing safe, accessible and fun for over 20 years. She lives in Kelowna with her husband, Eric, and her dog, Sandy. Cate is a partner in Real Life Internet Solutions, helping individuals and small businesses with virus, spyware and malware eradication; personal computer training and management; digital image management; music transfer; and website design, hosting and management. Email Cate at cate@rlis.com with your comments, suggestions, or questions. To browse the column archives, visit the Real Life Internet Solutions website at www.rlis.com.

© Cate Eales 2008 – All Rights Reserved
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