topic Re: NIS won't go into idle.. in Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

NIS won't go into idle..

Arsene24 — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:26:53 GMT

Hi, I just bought a new computer(windows 7 64 bit) the other day, and downloaded the latest version of NIS 2011 (my last activation).

Problem is, it never goes into idle time....even when I open NIS Norton tasks, the graph shows the computer never going into idle even though I've let it sit for an hour or more at a time. Looking at it, the idle countdown, which I've set to 4 minutes, never starts either.Obviously this presents a problem for running such things as an idle time scan, unless I want to do it manually.

What could possibly be the problem and how can I fix it?

Re: NIS won't go into idle..

floplot — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:25:18 GMT

Hello Arsene24

Since it is a new computer, I would make sure that it didn't come with some pre installed security program or a security program waiting to be installled on that computer. If there is some other trial program on it, it will have to be removed. Please check to see if there is a trial version of one and then we can help you to remove that other security program the proper way and then help you to reinstall your NIS on the new computer. Thanks.

Re: NIS won't go into idle..

Arsene24 — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:20:26 GMT

The new computer came with NIS 2011, but it was an old version, and since I've had trouble in the past with pre installed NIS, I uninstalled it and downloaded the new version (18.5)....which is now what I'm having difficulty with.

I've thought of possibly uninstalling, running the Norton removal tool, and reinstalling, to see if that takes care of the problem. If I do that though, will I still be able to activate it with the same product key ?

Re: NIS won't go into idle..

floplot — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 07:08:37 GMT

Hello Arsene24

Please remember also since you just installed the program, there is a lot of background activity going on with the program. I have my idle time set to 1 minute so it will go into idle more often also.

If your new computer came with NIS 2011, all you had to do was to run live update to get version 18.5. Did the trial program expire before you put in your product key?

If you are just reinstalling the same program onto the same computer, then you should be able to activate it with the same key. In fact, when you use the Norton Removal Tool, it does leave behind the file with the key. Please be advised that the NRT will remove all Norton products.

If you have any problems with activating it, you can contact customer support for free via the chat program

http://us.norton.com/support/contact/contact.jsp?pvid=cs

This is the link for US/Can. If you need a different location, please consult your local Symantec site for the local free chat customer support link.

Please come back and let us know how you made out. Thanks.

Re: NIS won't go into idle..

Arsene24 — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:04:22 GMT

Hi flopot,

I ran the Norton removal tool, then reinstalled and it still does the samething....NIS never goes into idle. In fact, the idle countdown, which I've set for 5 minutes, never starts. I've had this computer since Monday, and not once has NIS run a task while in idle, or even acknowledged that the computer is in idle. All this, despite the fact I've let it sit for hours at a time.

I'm really confused. I guess I should have never uninstalled the original trial version, but I never expected difficulties. Neither of my other two computers with NIS installed has ever encountered this kind of problem. I suppose I could just leave it the way it is...but if one part of NIS isn't working properly, how am I to know if it's properly protecting my computer?

Any further ideas would be appreciated..thanks

Re: NIS won't go into idle..

floplot — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:22:28 GMT

Hello Arsene24

Since you just purchased this computer, I would contact the company that made the computer or the store where you purchased it and ask them if they could send you the installation file for the trial version of NIS that you had on the computer. It should still be under warranty if it isn't working properly.

Re: NIS won't go into idle..

Arsene24 — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 21:37:22 GMT

Floplot,

I fixed It! Luck more than anything else.

All I had to do was pull out the wireless mouse transciever, and the idle countdown began immediately. All the idle tasks then began performing normally. I'm not sure why, but for some reason, because of the one USB slot being used, NIS was interpreting my computer as active when it wasn't. Seems rather odd, but I'll take it.

Thanks so much for your help..

Re: NIS won't go into idle..

huwyngr — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 22:31:12 GMT

Aresene,

Congratulations!

I've heard of similar situations where Windows itself did not think it was idle because something was checking at intervals to see if it was being told to do something. So your mouse dongle was probably checked to see if the mouse had moved ....

Re: NIS won't go into idle..

floplot — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 23:08:42 GMT

Hello Arsene24

Please try putting the mouse transceiver into a different USB slot and see if the same thing happens.

I'm glad you got it figured out and thanks for the feedback.