Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

[crisoco8722]

Hi brummie,

What I was experiencing is exactly the same and my son's computer does not experience any of the issues that I had either.

I don't think much can be gained from testing out another Anti-virus program I have been this route already and installed Avast Free which is very much lighter on resources. Yes, it did work well and no freezing but unfortunately the free version  lacked the informative logs that Norton provides. It also required the addition of a free two way firewall as I didn't want to have the full Norton Suite as well as Avast loaded all at the same time. I used the Comodo free firewall but could not get on with it at all. It was so invasive!

I hope that the links you provided for Carlos can identify what the problem is in your case.

I have also noted that the BASH driver BHDrvx64.sys which zigzag3143 mentioned was also the driver that Norton blocked Microsoft from setting a registry key yesterday on my computer.

Other users have experienced similar freezing issues and you may also find this post interesting ........

Norton internet security 2012 freezes my computer.

In that post I detailed how I solved the freezing / BSOD issue. A summary extract below from that post describes what I do to disable LiveUpdate & Norton scans and run them from Windows Task Scheduler.

1. Turn off Automatic LiveUpdate. Run Windows Task Scheduler updates instead. Minimum 30 seconds delay (important).

2. Block Automated Quick Scans by running NIS in Quiet Mode continuously.

3. Run Quick Scans from Windows Task Scheduler at set intervals during the day. Minimum 30 seconds delay (important).

4. Set a number of programs into NIS that will put NIS in Quiet Mode (User-Specified Programs) immediately at startup.

5. Set Resume Delay to 20 minutes. Set Tasks Delay to 20 minutes & Idle Time Out to 30 minutes.

6. Turn Idle Time Optimizer off.

7. Set Enable Boot Time Protection to Normal (so that Norton can be placed in Quiet Mode at an early stage)

8. Turn off LiveUpdate, Pulse Updates, Download of New Version & Smart Definitions. Run LiveUpdate from separate Windows Task Schedules at interval during the day.

9. Install DriveGLEAM to continuously check the cpu usage in the Notification Area. Will show any actual cpu at freeze.

10. Make sure a Windows account User Name & Password has been set up to run Task Schedules in Norton.

11. When logging on wait a a minute or so before entering the password. (ensures NIS enters Quiet Mode when logged on).

12. Install WinPatrol & set startup programs to delay start. Allows first LiveUpdate schedule at startup to run cleanly before other programs are loaded.

13. Delay the startup of programs that are not required immediately or may overlap in cpu usage.

14. Change the default Full System Scan to run via Windows Task Scheduler at a specific time of day.

15. Avoid setting anything to run in idle time when you cannot see what may be causing the freeze.

16. Set a Quick Scan schedule to run monthly starting from a day after today. Disable run in idle time. This will stop any further automated Quick Scans from running.

[brummie Regular Contributor]

Hi crisoco8722,

I think you misunderstood my earlier post, in that the chap from 'W7 Forums' suggested that the cause of my BSOD was Symantec, and to check this I should completly uninstall NIS (And run NRT) from my system to see if that stops the problem. Of course I would need to have aother anti virus programme running for safety so that would be a free version. I wouldn't be doing it to test another virus programme.

I looked at the list you provided and to be honest, if I had to disable so many of the things suggested and bypass others just to get the system stable then I wouldn't have thought it worth having the software anymore! The sad thing is NIS has run like mint until I had these problems. There has to be something somewhere on this pc of mine that is causing this.

[brkkab123]

Go to your motherboard manufacturers website and download any drivers & bios updates. Make a folde in your Downloads folder named Drivers and save them there. Also copy that folder onto a flash drive. For any Realtek HD Audio or LAN drivers get them directly from Realtek at thes 2 links. Realtek HD Audio: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/ Realtek LAN: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=10&PFid=13&Level=4&Conn=3 For any Renasas USB 3.0 drivers get them from this Renasa Electronics website. Renasa Electronics USB 3.0 driver: http://www.renesas.com/products/tools/middleware_and_drivers/c_driver/usb_driver/index.jsp See if that helps. Disable Nortons Antivirus, Antispyware, etc. before installing any drivers.Also after each driver install restart your pc. After all drivers are updated re-enable Norton. Now download Ccleaner from this link: http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner Install Ccleaner using the Custom option and deselect either Google Toolbar or Google Chrome. Open up Ccleaner and click on Registry  on the left side. Then click on Scan For Issues and let it remove any it finds. Repeat until no issues are found and restart your pc. That should fix your issue.

[crisoco8722]

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brummie wrote:

I think you misunderstood my earlier post, in that the chap from 'W7 Forums' suggested that the cause of my BSOD was Symantec, and to check this I should completly uninstall NIS (And run NRT) from my system to see if that stops the problem. Of course I would need to have aother anti virus programme running for safety so that would be a free version. I wouldn't be doing it to test another virus programme.

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Hi brummie,

Yes, I realise that the test is to see if having Norton unistalled would solve the issue but running another anti-virus program like Avast may confuse the issue. Avast will run easily on any system and its scans will run with less cpu. It is a good test though and worth running but you will also need a good 2 way firewall in the interim as well.

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brummie wrote:

I looked at the list you provided and to be honest, if I had to disable so many of the things suggested and bypass others just to get the system stable then I wouldn't have thought it worth having the software anymore! The sad thing is NIS has run like mint until I had these problems. There has to be something somewhere on this pc of mine that is causing this.

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In my opnion Norton Internet Security 2012, in spite of the problems it is been giving you and I, is one of the best out there. Adjusting the way updates and scans take place will make it more informative so that any issues can easily be detected. I think it is worth having for that alone. I consider the problem is with the high cpu scans and when they run. It is no great deal to disable LiveUpdate and Quick Scans and run them from Windows meantime if that is going to stop your system from dropping out. If Norton has been running well for you previously then maybe it is something on your computer or something that Norton has introduced that is not working well for you. I don't think it is either but I do hope you find the solution.

Be very careful blindly running any cleaner. Even the better ones like CCleaner have been known to remove vital system or program entries. Check what is being removed and make sure to set a restore point in case things go wrong.

Before you proceed my advice would be to wait for Carlos to reply. You are very lucky to have an analyst to help you.

Kind regards.

[brummie Regular Contributor]

Hi brkkab123,

Do you know, I have been thinking about the motherboard and bios updating, I have taken your advice and have downloaded their auto scan programme to do all the necessaries, mines an MSI by the way, will see what it comes up with. Many thanks.

Hi crisoco8722,

No probs. I hope also that I may hear from our friend Carlos from Symantec. I couldn't imagine not running Norton either as I have used some of the big names in the past and for the last 3 - 4 yrs Norton have been up there with the best. Anyway, I shall run this motherboard/Bios scanner and see what it comes up with. Many thanks for your very informative input and advice.

Brummie

[brkkab123]

Another thing you may want to do is download CPU-z from http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html . Install it, but don't let it startup yet. Click Start > All Programs> CPUID> CPU-z and then right-click on CPU-z's icon and select Properties, then click on Compatibility, put a check mark next to Run As Administrator, click on Apply and OK. Now open up CPU-z, click Yes to the UAC prompt. Now click on the Memory tab and right those numbers down on a piece of paper. Those are your current ram timings in your bios. Now click on the SPD tab in CPU-z. Compare those numbers with the numbers you wrote down. The SPD tab lists the timings that your ram supports. If them Memory tab numbers don't match one of the SPD tabs columns, you'll get quite a few bsod's as your ram is set wrong in the bios. Make sure the settings in the bios match the SPD tabs. Most of the times you need to do that yourself. P.S. I have a MSI 890FXA-GD70 mobo. in my pc.  

[Carlos_Linares]

One of the memory dumps points to dxgmms1.sys (one of yrou video drivers?).  We're looking into the BSOD associated with BHDrvx64.

[brummie Regular Contributor]

Hi Crisoco8722,

I did the Bios update, phew, I had to take my time a bit but managed it in the end. I followed your instructions re Norton and CCleaner, although that didn't find any dvr related files left over. The Bios updater is a very useful and user friendly piece of software, my bios dvr's were a few years out of date.

I will give this cpu-z utility a run to see what that brings. Many thanks again.

Hi Carlos,

I updated my ATI drivers plus the CCC with it at the time I reinstalled my NIS2012. That is an interesting find. Glad to hear Symantec are looking into the 'BHDrvx64' issue, it would appear a few people have this issue with their BSOD's, that's according to the other forum I visited and they are advising to uninstall norton completely or just to see if this is the cause. Be nice to get to the bottom of it though just to eliminate the problem and certainly put my mind at rest.

Brummie

[crisoco8722]

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brkkab123 wrote:

Another thing you may want to do is download CPU-z ..........Make sure the settings in the bios match the SPD tabs. 

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Hi brkkab123,

Thank you for providing the cpu-z link. The program is very informative.

Just out of interest I checked the bios settings on my computer and they were fine.

Important!

I should however mention that this website is another of those sites that trick you into installing the Ask toolbar. It is not a simple matter of unticking the install Ask Toolbar boxes because they also want you to tick the box to accept the cpu-z conditions which incidentally also includes accepting the toolbar (in spite of unticking the other boxes to install the toolbar).Very underhand in my opinion.

Untick everything and the program will install anyway.

[brkkab123]

It's easy enough to solve, though. Uncheck the boxes, install CPU-z, then uninstall the Ask crap and then let Everything aka Search everything search for Ask and delete what it finds. Problem solved.