Off topic computer question

I use the free AVG Grisoft programme mention by Truckster also. I also put it on a friends laptop who already had Norton 2003. He was having trouble with his computer but after puting AVG on it picked up 2 viruses that Norton did not and it has run fine ever since.

Utemad

Thanks Truckster

I have received an email from VET who advised to change my HTML settings to Plain Text in the Send function. Have done this but it is still not working.

Norton 2004(I don't know which version) kept on trying to do updates to its program and especially when I was offline out bush. Then the Dial up dialog box would appear and I could not get rid of it. This in turn interfered with Microsoft Word so that I could not get in to my files. Once I was back home and connected to the internet the problem went away as I was able to have the Norton updates downloaded.

I am up to date with all my Windows downloads.

I haven't paid my computer man for VET yet. How good is McAfee as I have heard it not so hot...but then again I know very little about these things.

The thing with Nortons, was AUTOUPDATE. You can turn that off easily enough, its a TICK box to stop it updating. So if that is all the problem was, I can talk you through that tonight on ICQ.

Antivirus programs all have + and -. I've heard bad about all of them! We use McAfee at work here, that doesnt mean its THE BEST, also doesnt mean its the worst...

I use Nortons Corp edition at home, and dont have any probs.

Anti virus update

I have checked out AVG but when I register they will provide me with a link and this is the part that is not working. If I type the url in the address box will the link still work? It should. And must I uninstall VET first?

Yer I use Nortons Corp edition and it works a treat. Nortons 2004 is very slow and intrusive in ots endeavours to save your PC from viruses, I have it on my new PC but am going to kill it and stay with Corp Edition.

Willem,

It may be the firewall section thats blocking the HTML stuff coming in, I use zonealarm (free download and install for personal use) and dont know if VET has one with their AV software. Good luck.

THanks for your feedback, Sam. I will give AG a go after I have exhausted more options as suggested by yourself and Truckster.

maybe you have to alter a tick box in internet explorer 'tools' 'internet options' ? i use xp and can remember whats what with 98

Thanks Richard...I went to have a look in Security but couldn't decide what I had to do.Might do the wrong thing and stuff everything up like last time......LOL

Yes Michael I did uninstall even Norton Utilities which did state that it may affect some files. I have reinstalled Windows but to no avail. A fellow forum member has emailed me privately and he will try to help out later this evening as he runs VET.

Thanks for that bit of lateral thinking, Jeff. I am becoming aware that this antivirus stuff is too complicated and stuffs up ones system. I delete anything that I do not recognise as safe. I get lots of spam which somehow has attached on to EO posts or through my website and it usually comes with an attachment. They get deleted in to cyberspace immediately.

I have had a reply from VET help line today but it is so complicated that it is not worth the effort

Thanks Steven....I used to run Trend Micro PC Cillin and that gave be grief as well......maybe I am allergic to computers..hahahaha

Maybe it is the other way round Willem and the computers are allergic to YOU! lol

Steven

Thanks John, that's what I was going to say... Willem, don't be concerned about the topic as this certainly isn't viewed as an offtopic qn, as I've said before there are lots of interesting topics that relate to our pursuit of travelling, camping and the various ways we conduct our research so if you're having trouble with your computer, then that's a valid issue to ask here on ExplorOz.com

Thanks for your comments John and Michelle

I have now had PC Cillin and Norton and have had no end of trouble. As I have stated above maybe I have an antistatic electric mechanism in my body which throws the computer in to disarray...hahahaha.........we will see what transpires.

What you are suggesting Magnus is similar to a lot of 4wheelers. Just add more stuff. Car is not runing so good so fit a turbo...hmmmmm could be better.... fit a D-tronic engine management system....hmmmm what next?

The problem I have now was not prevalent when I had Norton installed. The latter caused a different problem which I have rectfied by uninstalling Norton.

No doubt I will sort it sooner or later :-) Thanks for your feedback

Sorry Willlem, wasn't suggesting that at all. I happen to believe that Norton is the best you can get, feature for feature, in the overall PC protection arena. It is consistently rated as if not the best then right up there with the best in the market by PC Magazines. Not cheap and a fair bugger to use at times.

And, yes, it is resource hungry and needs lots of grunt. Hence my comments about max memory etc.

It is a bit like a 25 foot caravan. Lovely, but not to be towed with a four cylinder car.

However, in the end, you need to stick with what works for you and your hardware/software set up. If Norton is giving a pain, then do what you have done, and try something else.

One of the later recommendations to get and use Lavasoft's Adaware is a good one. I have been using that little gem for years. I also purchased the ad on Adwatch which stops any unwanted writes to your registry and is worth the price. Less than $30 if memory serves me.

A good spam filter should stop the nasties that you mention, I use one that will not accept emails from anyone who is not in my address book. Shunts them off to an archive which I have a look at every couple of days. Gets rid of a lot of rubbish and keeps my in box clean. The anti virus bit of Norton (or any other prg you may want to use) takes care of any email attached nasties.

Try to get hold of the monthly magazine Australian PC User from your local newsagent, September 2004 Issue. Has a full comparison of PC Protection Software and especially anti virus software (page 47). The cover headline is Safe & Sound.

If you can't get it , I am happy to scan and email or copy and post for you if you like. Just let me know.

And hang in there. You will get it sorted eventually.

Cheers

Magnus

Thanks Magnus

I have Lavasoft Adaware. Another forum member is ringing me tonight to try and sort my problem out while I am online. Maybe we will have some success. Will let you know what transpires.

I run Windows 98se because I do not need XP or others. MS still supports it and I update regularly. Last time was last night.

Do you have a solution or a better suggestion?

Mate I'm not taking the p|ss....
but 2k, xp were made to make your life easier. most software these days simply doesnt cater to win98 (it may say so on the box but how much work do they really do for maybe 2% of their userbase?)

you might find a lot of the "weirdness" that seems to be happening would go away if you went to xp?

software aint like Rosie... it doesnt get better with age :)

OK I take your point. I have asked my computer man about XP but it would seem that he does not know the anwers either.

What is interesting is the diverse array of opinions in this thread which brings me to the conclusion that we are all falling around in this morass of IT

Rosie...if it wasn't for the loose doors and the dust ingestion we might still have been partners. No doubt she will go on for a while

Maybe try this young fella

Internet Explorer Users
1. Click on Tools > Internet Options > Security; 2. Click on Custom Level toward the bottom; 3. Go to Scripting toward the bottom and select "Enable" for Active Scripting; 4. Click on "OK" to close the Security settings dialog and then on "OK" again to close the Internet Options dialog.

Thanks for trying Andrew but my settings are enabled...i checked

I also have the latest IE

I am busy downloading the full version of VET as the Support Team have suggested. Will see if it works magic..otherwise I might try Harry Potter.