topic Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7 in Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

ade0410 — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:08:15 GMT

Hi all, I'm running W7 x64 and since installing NIS 2011 a few days ago each time I boot my pc it goes into Startup Repair mode and takes about 15 mins before it reboots ok into Windows. Norton then comes up saying "a fix is in progress" and it takes about 2 mins or so for the AV and antispyware components to appear as "on" during which time it informs me that they are "out of date" even though it updates ok. This was obviously very annoying so I turned Boot Time Protection to "off" (default is "normal") and since then my pc boots up everytime with no problems. Has anyone else noticed this? Is it a bug? Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

AllenM — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 18:26:05 GMT

Hi ade0410,

Welcome to the Norton Community. Can you confirm your version of NIS 2011 from Support > About?

I have not heard of any problems like this.

Do you or did you have any other security software installed before attempting to install NIS 2011? If so, did you remove the other security software and if so how did you remove it? Note that just removing through Control Panel is not enough. Security software should be removed using a removal tool before attempting to install the new security software. This is necessary because security software such as anti-virus embeds its hooks very deeply into the OS and the conventional uninstall does not typically remove all remnants of the old software. This can cause conflicts when attempting to install the new software.

Also, did you previously run the NIS 2011 BETA and if so did you restore your system to its pre-BETA state before installing the official version?

Hope this helps.

Best wishes.
Allen

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

ade0410 — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:05:13 GMT

Hi.

Version is 18.1.0.37 - clean install with full license key (valid until Sept 2011). I didn't have any previous betas installed.

Previous security software installed was Avast Free which I uninstalled using the control panel but then removed any left over folders and registry entries manually. Other security software I have installed as purely on-demand is SuperAntiSpyware Free and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free. Non of these two programs runs at start up. Windows Defender and Firewall are both turned off.

Hope this helps - please let me know if you need anything else.

PS. When I had NIS 2010 installed sometime back I never experienced issues with the early load option turned on with that only with NIS 2011.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

AllenM — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:26:54 GMT

Hi ade0410,

Thanks for the update. I believe Avast has a real-time protection component as indicated by the following Avast support forum discussion.

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=62280.0

Even though you uninstalled Avast and performed some manual clean up I think it is possible that remnants of it might have been left behind.

I would recommend running the Avast removal tool located here.

After that I would recommend using the Norton removal tool following the procedure below and then reinstalling NIS 2011.

If you use Identity Safe you should back up this data first. Please see this link for details on how to do this.

Before you use the removal tool, please download the full version of NIS 2011 from here. Please note that this is the English version so please let me know if you need a different language and I will provide the appropriate link.

Once you have downloaded NIS, you can proceed with use of the removal tool as indicated below.

Please NOTE that this removes ALL Symantec products so be sure to have your license keys ready as you will need to reinstall all your Symantec software products. You can get your Norton product key from your Norton Account.

Once done please download the Norton Removal Tool from Symantec from this link.

For your protection, disconnect from the Internet before continuing.

Do a conventional uninstall of NIS via the Control Panel and then restart your computer.

Run the Norton Removal Tool and once it is completed, please reboot your computer. Once up please run the Removal Tool one more time and once again reboot.

Then please install NIS 2011 from the full version downloaded earlier. Once installed please reconnect back to the Internet and run Live Update repeatedly (rebooting as requested) until it reports there are no more updates.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes.

Allen

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

ade0410 — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:56:01 GMT

Thanks for your help. Will try this when I get back this evening and post back.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

Floating_Red — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:42:41 GMT

Hi, ade0410,

Would like to make you aware that for about the first week you have Norton 2011 Products and Early Load Auto-Protect, you will find that your Start-Up Time will almost double, so, say, with N.I.S. 2010 installed it takes two minutes, for the first week of N.I.S. 2011 installed it will take four minutes to fully start up. The reason for this is that your Norton Product is getting used to being installed on your system; a bit like buying new shoes which may hurt at first, but, when you've got used to them, feel comfy as your previous ones did before they got un-wearable! Hope this information was helpful to you, and to anyone else out there in Norton Community World. And it is recommended you have Early Load "On" so that you are getting maximum protection.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

Victek — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:05:48 GMT

It would be helpful to explain this in more detail. Are you saying that with Boot Time Protection ON NIS is "learning" the system in some way? Creating a database of files? What? Also Boot Time Protection has two ON settings in the 2011 product, i.e. Normal and Agressive. It would be nice to know what the difference is. For what it's worth I have NIS 2011 installed on Windows 7 x64. Previously I was using NIS 2010 and I haven't noticed a significant difference in boot up time with Boot Time Protection On and set to Normal (default).

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

drshlomo — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:40:37 GMT

Floating-Red Hi, :smileyhappy:

You wrote:-

...........................................................................................................

And it is recommended you have Early Load "On" so that you are getting maximum protection.

.................................................................................................................................................................

Please excuse my ignorance, but where do I find this item, please?

drshlomo.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

Floating_Red — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:52:24 GMT

Hi, Victek,

Thank-You for your Reply.

Yes, your Norton Product, for about the first week it is installed, will be in a Learning Mode, for example, the Smart Firewall will be Learning how you use the programs on your computer, and, therefore, can create Rules based on how the programs connect to the Internet.

Once the Scanner of Auto-Protect and On-Demand has Scanned the same Files multiple times, the quicker it Scans them. It's a bit like learning to type: At first, you're slow because you're learning where all the Keys are, but, over time and the more and moe you do it, the quicker you become.

Don't forget that if you use Norton Insight, the more you Scan them at first, and based on their Reputation, they will be Added to the Not To Be Scanned, so there will be less Files that need to be Scanned; the Files in the Need Scanning part, will always be Scanned regardless of how many times you Scan them.

Please let me know if you have any more questions regarding this.

___________________________________________

When this option is set to Normal or Aggressive, all the required drivers and plug-ins start functioning as soon as you start your computer. A driver is a program containing information that the computer needs to recognize and control a device. A plug-in is an add-on for a program or a service that adds functionality to it. This option ensures higher level of security from the moment you turn on your computer.

When it is set to "Aggressive", if it Detects a File that looks Suspicious, for example, it will Remove it from your system, whereas, if it is on "Normal", this File may not be Detected as it is less aggressive.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

Floating_Red — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:46:09 GMT

Hi, drshlomo,

Some members of the Norton Community recommend that you keep Early Load on to Detect Threats as they are being Loaded as, once loaded, may be un-detectable due to their Anti-Detection techniques. Hope this answers your question.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

AllenM — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:11:06 GMT

Hi Floating_Red,

The OP stated it is taking about 15 minutes for Windows to boot up and then NIS indicates a "fix is in progress". I don't consider this normal behavior and I certainly don't see that on either of the 3 computers I've upgraded to NIS 2011.

In fact my desktop in particular boots up just a tad faster if anything, after upgrading to 2011.

ade0410, since you had advast before I think you should go through the removal procedure I mentioned before. This will ensure that there are no remnants of it left behind.

Have you been leaving Boot time protection set to Normal? Aggressive probably would somewhat slow down computer startup.

Best wishes.

Allen

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

Floating_Red — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:50:01 GMT

Hi, Allen,

Of course this doesn't seem like normal behaviour, but this, the Early Load, may have impact on Boot-Up, and I agree that the Removal Tool for the previous Anti-Virus should be Run in order to make sure it is fully removed from the system. I am sure that running something like Norton Utilities Registry Scan would fix this as well. Perhaphs the O.P. could post a Screen Shot of exactly what is happening, and if the Security Status is Secure or not, because, to me, "Fix in Progress" - or whatever the message is - looks like Norton is Fixing something, if it is indeed a Norton Notification that is displaying this.

Even if Early Load is "On", after about one week, things should have improved, i.e. the Start-Up becomes quicker as Norton gets used to the system on which it is installed, regardless of what Setting it is on.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

drshlomo — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:29:02 GMT

Floating-Red Hi, :smileyhappy:

Firstly, thank you so much for such a quick reply to me.

I wasn't, in any way questioning your judgment or expertise. It sounds like an excellent suggestion to me, especially after you explained exactly what it does and why we need it. It's just that I suppose this item is located in "Settings", but, having looked many times, I don't seem able to find it.

I would appreciate some directions, please.

Thank you, again,

drshlomo.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

AllenM — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:41:19 GMT

HI drshlomo,

In NIS 2010 it was referred to as early load. In NIS 2011 it is located in Computer Settings and is called Enable Boot Time Protection where the settings can be Off, Normal and Aggressive with Normal being the default and the recommended setting.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes.

Allen

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

ade0410 — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:02:23 GMT

Hi all.

Thanks for your replies to this thread - your answers are most helpful.

I think there has been some misunderstanding in that when I have Boot Time Protection enabled (left at the default of "normal"), my Windows install states that is is unable to start Windows and goes into the Startup Repair Wizard which takes 15 mins to complete saying it will fix errors if they are found. So it doesn't take 15 mins to boot up into Windows it's just the Startup Repair Wizard that takes the time. Once that is complete, Windows loads albeit slightly slowly than before I had NIS installed but the reason for that has been explained. When loaded, NIS is then stating that a fix is in progress and eventually after about a couple of mins things are back to normal.

I'll follow the uninstall procedure as mentioned and post back.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

drshlomo — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:07:16 GMT

AllenM Hi, :smileyhappy:

Wow!!! What a quick reply, 11 minutes after my post. Thanks, I found it immediately after I read your note. Mine is set to normal and has been since starting 2011. I don't know what my Beta or NIS 2010 were set to, presumably the same as I think this is the default.

I would like to add that for someone like myself, with a very limited knowledge about these issues, it is so much appreciated that when we ask simple questions there are so many very serious and knowledgeable experts, like yourself and Floating-Red, just to mention two among the large number of you, who are willing to take the time to explain to us, in simple terms, about our problems and queries.

For me, this makes writing on these boards a real pleasure and not the embarrassment which could result from our obvious innocence.

I thank each and every one of you for your wonderful help and assistance.

NIS 2011 is a wonderful program, in no small part because of the efforts of you guys.

drshlomo.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

AllenM — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:07:02 GMT

Hi ade0410,

Thanks for the additional information. We'll look forward to an update as to how things goes.

Please be sure to run the Avast removal tool along with the Norton removal tool.

Thanks and best wishes.

Allen

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

Floating_Red — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:41:47 GMT

Hi,

I'd like to add one more point to Allen's: I would recommend Saving the N.I.S. 2011 Download to your Desktop because, just before you Run the Norton Removal Tool, dis-connect from the Internet, and remain dis-connected until you get N.I.S. 2011 installed again; if you have the Disc of N.I.S. 2011, then all you need to do is once you Re-Start from using the Norton Removal Tool is pop the disc in to your machine and follow the instructions to install your Norton 2011 Product. Once you have got N.I.S. 2011 installed, it is safe to re-connected, however, I would highly recommend Running Norton LiveUpdate right away to get all the Protection Updates.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

drshlomo — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:01:34 GMT

Floating-Red Hi, :smileyhappy:

I always worry about this. If I understand you correctly, you're suggesting that NIS 2011 be downloaded whilst being protected by another Norton security program and then install NIS 2011 before reconnecting to the Internet. That is, we shouldn't be on the Internet whilst downloading or installing Norton without a Norton security program being present as we would be liable to pick up malware. How vulnerable are we as I haven't seen anything about this is Norton's instructions and I thought that maybe there was some protection from Norton during this dangerous period.

Also, does running the Norton Removal tool not affect the NIS 2011 that has just been downloaded to the desktop?

Cheers,

drshlomo.

Re: Boot Time Protection in NIS 2011 & Win 7

Floating_Red — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:11:50 GMT

Hi, drshlomo,

Firstly, thank-you for your very kind comments on your previous Message.

Secondly, sorry if I didn't make myself clear enough; this is what you would do:

01. Download the Norton Removal Tool and the Norton 2011 Installer; Save to Desktop.

02. Dis-connect from the Internet.

03. Run the Norton Removal Tool.

The Norton Installer should not be touched by the N.R.T., un-less this has been changed for Norton 2011 Products, probably for the reason of re-installing your Norton Product. If it does remove the Installer, then, once the computer has re-started from using the Norton Removal Tool, then a Web Page with instructions on how to re-install your Norton Product should be displayed, however, for this to be displayed, you would need to Connect to the Internet and you should try and avoid this so you are not putting yourself and the computer at risk of infection.

Hope this answers your question; please let us know if you have any more, thanks!