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Kudos0

How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 24-Dec-2015 | 7:05PM · 12 Replies ·

How do I turn off all the various background scanning, disk defragging, etc. that Norton does?  I've unchecked all tasks under Settings/Background Tasks.  In scheduling, I set it to manual.  Still, if I leave my pc for a couple mins, when I come back I see the box in the lower right hand corner telling me background tasks are running, not to mention my disk IO spikes up.  How can I disable all this stuff once and for all?

Labels: Tasks & Scheduling

Replies

Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 25-Dec-2015 | 12:15AM · Permalink

Hello,

Settings>Administrative Settings>Idle Time Optimizer>Off

Win 10 Home x64, NS 22.5.5.15, AMD A6-5400K APU and 6GB RAM
Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 25-Dec-2015 | 8:38AM · Edited: 25-Dec-2015 | 8:39AM · Permalink

adding to Ballistic:

Idle Time Optimizer lets you configure your Norton product to defragment your boot volume or the local disk that contains boot volume when your computer is idle.

https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-security-with-backup/22.5.5.15/solutions/v29162440

Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 25-Dec-2015 | 3:52PM · Permalink

When I do this and then look at the performance tasks they are still going to be done. This seems to be only stopping them from being done during idle time. Is this so? How can I get just the Internet Explorer and Windows file cleanup never to run?

Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 25-Dec-2015 | 4:10PM · Edited: 25-Dec-2015 | 4:36PM · Permalink

stephen714:  How can I get just the Internet Explorer and Windows file cleanup never to run?

Settings > Task Scheduling > Automatic Tasks > remove x for Internet Explorer Temporary/History and Windows Temporary Files > Apply

Scheduling > set to Manual Schedule > Apply
Look for question marks throughout Norton user interface/control panel.  They link to Help e.g., https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-security-with-backup/22.5.5.15/solutions/v5581675
also, Product Manuals <here> and Please see Help (main view) > Product Manual

Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 25-Dec-2015 | 6:56PM · Edited: 25-Dec-2015 | 7:09PM · Permalink

I had already turned this off, and idle time stuff still runs.

I have an ssd, so I don't need daily defragging.  I don't need/want daily quick scans.  The only thing I want the program to do on it's own is update.

Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 25-Dec-2015 | 7:14PM · Edited: 25-Dec-2015 | 7:28PM · Permalink

clocks: I had already turned this off, and idle time stuff still runs.

I have an ssd, so I don't need daily defragging.  I don't need/want daily quick scans.  The only thing I want the program to do on it's own is update.

Sorry, Background Tasks run at idle.  Protection and Product require Background Tasks to run during idle time.  What problem do you experience with Tasks run at Idle Time.
The Background Tasks window lets you view and monitor all Norton-specific background tasks that the Norton product runs during idle time. The details include things such as:
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us/norton-security-with-backup/22.5.5.15/solutions/v15625365

You may disable defrag. 
Disable 'Disk Optimization' under Task Scheduling and disable 'Idle Time Optimizer' under Administrative Settings.
Settings > Task Scheduling > uncheck Disk Optimization > Apply.
Settings > Administrative Settings > Idle Time Optimizer > Off > Apply.   https://community.norton.com/en/comment/6589451
https://community.norton.com/en/comment/6589601

Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 26-Dec-2015 | 10:28AM · Edited: 26-Dec-2015 | 10:29AM · Permalink

clocks

I have an ssd, so I don't need daily defragging.

I was just doing a bit of searching on defragging and ssds and came across these two articles which I found interesting although old by computing standards ...

Why Windows 8 and 8.1 defragment your SSD and how you can avoid this 

and in it is a link to this by Microsoft

The real and complete story - Does Windows defragment your SSD? 

which again is from a year ago and so does not go beyond Windows 8.1

Anyone know if Windows 10 changes any of this?

But going back to your message, I think the answer is that you don't get daily defragging on SSDs even if stuff appears to be running that frequently.

PS And here it is:

Windows 10 Treats SSDs Extremely Well with Improved Management Features 

Hugh
Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 26-Dec-2015 | 8:29PM · Permalink

"Protection and Product require Background Tasks to run during idle time.  What problem do you experience with Tasks run at Idle Time."

I like to compare resource usage vs other AVs, but whatever is running during idle uses gobs of disk i/o.  I am not a believer in the necessity for daily scans.  I am more than comfortable with just the resident protection.  Requiring daily scans seems like a relic from the past.

Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 26-Dec-2015 | 8:53PM · Edited: 26-Dec-2015 | 8:56PM · Permalink

clocks: "Protection and Product require Background Tasks to run during idle time.  What problem do you experience with Tasks run at Idle Time."

I like to compare resource usage vs other AVs, but whatever is running during idle uses gobs of disk i/o.  I am not a believer in the necessity for daily scans.  I am more than comfortable with just the resident protection.  Requiring daily scans seems like a relic from the past.

Yes, Full Scan default backed off to monthly.  Set Full Scans to Manual Schedule.  Idle Time Quick Scans check changes and common infected areas.  Lets hear from Community, why "idle uses gobs of disk i/o".   I'm not seeing....I've never looked.  

Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 27-Dec-2015 | 9:29AM · Permalink

clocks

Just a thought -- have you had it installed long enough and let it complete one full scan since I have an impression that that is a requirement when Norton is first installed, before it settles down and does less .....

Hugh
Kudos0

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 02-Aug-2017 | 11:45PM · Permalink

I know that this is a necro post, but I still have not found what nortons defines as 'idle' I could be typing away or playing a game and that resource monster comes on without my permission and I wind up looking at a frozen screen.

what makes my computer idle when I am watching a video etc?

even task manager cannot 'end task'

so what does norton define as 'idle'? or better still, what does one have to do for the idle to turn off?

the only thing I found that works is to make it go into silent mode, and that leaves my system vulnerable

Kudos1 Stats

Re: How to turn off ALL background tasks?

Posted: 16-Aug-2017 | 11:30PM · Permalink

noah1_here:

I know that this is a necro post, but I still have not found what nortons defines as 'idle' I could be typing away or playing a game and that resource monster comes on without my permission and I wind up looking at a frozen screen.

what makes my computer idle when I am watching a video etc?

even task manager cannot 'end task'

so what does norton define as 'idle'? or better still, what does one have to do for the idle to turn off?

the only thing I found that works is to make it go into silent mode, and that leaves my system vulnerable

Idle is no keyboard or mouse(also touchscreen) input for the amount of time specified in the Norton settings -> "Administrative Settings" -> "Idle Time Out", after at least the amount of time specified in "Automatic Tasks Delay" after computer boot up and at least the amount of time specified "Automatic Resume Delay From Sleep Or Hibernation" since resume from standby or hibernate. Idle tasks are also delayed while a full screen program is detected (some are not detected) or a "User-Specified Program" under "Silent Mode Settings" is running.

Norton may use resources even during non-idle times if a threat (or potential threat) is being analyzed, or if some critical tasks have been delayed too long due to lack of idle time to run.

Here are all the discrete idle tasks, underlined should be delayed in silent mode, crossed out can be disabled:

Automatic LiveUpdate
Backing up
Disk Optimizer aka Idle Time Optimizer (aka Insight Optimizer?)
Full System Scan
Internet Explorer History Cleaner
Internet Explorer Temporary File Cleaner
Norton Community Watch
Quick Scan
Windows Temporary File Cleaner
Identity Safe Maintenance
AntiSpam Maintenance
Licensing Maintenance
Insight Maintenance
Product Maintenance

Silent mode shouldn't make your computer vulnerable all it does is delay idle tasks and hides threat detection popups until silent mode ends.

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