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sitegrader,
I uninstalled Norton 360 from my desktop, and the performance returned. It had gotton so bad that IE/Firefox would take forever to bring up the home page (set to Google). It made browsing the Internet unbearable as nothing would respond, and at first I thought it might be my Internet connection. But my notebook had no problem with its connection (the same).
I have installed 360 on the notebook, too. It doesn't seem to have the same problem. Even when it started a background scan because I left it unattended for a minute, when I came back and moved the mouse to start working, it stated that it had cancelled the background scan (assuming because it saw user activity). This would be expected behavior, I would think.
So, I am still testing it on the notebook, but I have definately removed from my desktop. I just can't risk losing time working or competing for resources.
Thanks.
Thanks for flagging this issue with the background scan. We've seen this in some limited instances and are working on diagnosing if there are specific system configurations that tend to exhibit this, and isolating any potential contributing factors. Please stay tuned - we are working on addressing this as soon as possible.
Mark Kanok, Sr. Product Manager for N360
I was just wondering if any users having this problem have Windows Defender enabled.
I do know that when installed on XP systems the program requests you to uninstall Defender before continuing with the install.
On Vista machines Defender is turned off by Norton during installation .......... perhaps if a user turns it back on and has Auto scanning and Auto protect enabled it could cause Norton to behave erratically.
I do know of some users who still have Defender auto protecting and had no issues ........ but it might be worth considering as it has been said there are definately compatibility problems between the two programs.
Good luck anyway !
Liverbird
I too am having the same issues with the background scan running whenever they want. I tried to set it all to manual and it didnt help. I set them all back to auto, thinking that Norton would manage itself and not run when I was using the system…yeah, right!! I am running 360 on my laptop and this issue has been a recent development (within the last month). I am seriously considering ditching the program and going back to something I have control over. I like the all-in-one part, but me as the user needs to have more control over the program and what its doing. I’m tired of my newer dual core laptop running slower than my 6 year old desktop.
I too have the same problem. It autoscans everyday at the most critical time of my work and slows down the computer to a halt. I tried adjusting all the settings to manual, but it didn't help. The autoscanning seems to be non-configurable and is forced on my computer. It seems that the only way is to un-install Norton 360!
I feel sad for all those people who have installed Norton 360 V2 and now have no idea why there computer is not running properly.
Today I switched on my computer and despite using the mouse continually, a scan began after a few minutes. The computer basically stopped for 2 hours.
The background scan is running at least once every day, and sometimes twice.
PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE tell me how I can disable these background scans.
I have had Norton installed for 8 years.
IanW wrote:
PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE tell me how I can disable these background scans.
I have had Norton installed for 8 years.
Thank you for letting us know about the problems with the background scans. As Mark Kanok states in an earlier post, we're working to fix this issue soon. I apologize for the delay, and I thank you for your patience.
One thing to check is Windows defender and firewall. Make sure they are turned off…they dont play well with Norton. I had very few issues with 360 till I tried to run both 360 and Defender at the same time. Some people dont have any adverse effects when they do this, but its not typical. When I turned Defender back off, 360 started working better. Still have a few issues with it running scans whenever it wants, regardless of what my manual settings are, but by and large the effects of those scans are just about negligable.
Both of those applications were disabled and turned-off in my issue. I think the core problem boils down to one simple issue: is the application designed with the functionality to allow the end user to appropriately control the related settings, when the application runs, and how much resources it may consume when running. Norton does not seem to allow for this control, and I understand that this might be intental to sell to those that want to "set it and forget it". But if you want to make that type of software, maybe it would be best to sell it through info-commercials.
The whole application has this same design problem repeated. For example, the approach to the backup is via file type across the whole system. There is no easy way to view it from a Tree View/Explorer type approach for maintaining the backup sets (not that you can't add by folder, but it takes forever to bring that up in the application). So, that I might have a top-level folder I can add, but no easy way to exclude specific subfolders within that top level. There is no capability to create multiple back sets (e.g. Monday's do documents, Tuesdays do videos). I'm not sure if it supports incremental backups, etc.
It's just the design of the software was not made for the above average (or dare I say even average user). It might have been better marketed to the "I don't want to think about this stuff" crowd. So, I might not be the appropriate customer.
I don't have Windows Defender on my computer.
Anyway, I solved the problem by uninstalling Norton 360 altogether! I installed an alternative AV on my computer and all is fine.
Even uninstalling Norton 360 didn't go smoothly. When I re-booted I had the message "A necessary file could not be loaded PIF: AlertEng.dll" Click here to go to Symantec Tech support...etc.
I clicked on the link and downloaded a patch. But this didn't solve the problem. On re-booting this message appeared again. Obviously the Norton un-installer didn't clean everything that belongs to it. Anyway, this is not a serious problem.
I am happy that my computer is running fine without anything in the background that I can't control.
One problem I have right now is with a word document I was working on. I can't save it as I keep getting the message "Word cannot complete the save due to a file permission error". I read somewhere that this might have something to do with remanent of uninstalled AV. Not sure how to solve this one yet.
A read on when the fix will be ready would be appreciated.
This problem is SERIOUS for the user. If an "elegant" solution will take while, I suggest a first-step patch: a simple "Stop This Now!" button that pops up when the auto scan starts. More robust options and menus can come later--the ability to IMMEDIATELY ABORT the scan would enable your users to regain the use of their systems.
The short term alternative for us is the permanent "Stop This Now!" solution: uninstall the 360 product. If I have to do this, I will certainly be an ex-Norton customer for good.
Please advise of target fix date ASAP. Thanks.
Same problem here.
I've updated from V1.0 because I was not able to scan individual files manually.
But Norton 360 v2.0 is getting sickening.
I hate Norton starting "Background????" activity, when I'm using my computer. All system slow down then. Hard disk activity increases and it's almost imposible and irritating to work with computer or watch TV with media center.
The background scan is running at least once every day, and sometimes twice. It seems to start even if there is activity in the computer. And doesn't start when I'm not touching the PC.
186 days licence left, but I'm thinking to change my AV software before.
It's frustrating not being able to stop this UNWANTED scan, and have to wait 2 HOURS until Norton scans 1'5 TB of data, EVERY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm keeping an eye on Panda, Mcafee and NOD32 AV software and considering to leave Norton AV after a lot of years.
I have seen this issue myself as well, and as Mark states above it is being looked into.
I have tried the following with some success, that is go to the Main UI for Norton 360 v2.0, and hover over the "PC Security" icon and select the "Run Scans" menu item.
This will bring up the "Choose Scans" window.
Select "Comprehensive Scan" and click "Go".
After "LiveUpdate" has completed and the "Virus and Spyware Scan" has started to run, click cancel.
I believe the slowdown may be caused by a background "Virus and Spyware Scan" and by running the scan in the foreground it will attach to the scan and allow you to cancel it.
Matt
You beat me to posting about that little trick Matt. Oh, well. I would like to add something though.
I'm having this "background" scanning problem too. When it happens, it makes my three month old computer fairly unpleasant to use. I've been using Matt's trick to get by, but it doesn't work all of the time. I can tell if it's going to work shortly after I start the foreground scan. The "Total items scanned:" goes from 0 to some large number instantly which makes sense since it's attaching itself to a scan that's already running.
But sometimes this trick doesn't work. Sometimes when I start the new scan, it really is starting a new scan. I stop the scan, but there is still background activity going on. I know it's Norton activity because the little notification window keeps popping up telling me that it's doing something.
Note that that background notification window doesn't appear in the case where there is a full blown background scan running.
Lee
Matt: Thank you for acknowledging the problem and posting a workaround until a final fix can be released.
Hi. I am having the same problem with 360.
I used the workaround to stop it, but it has restarted whilst I am typing this. Do I get to charge Norton back for the time I waste babysitting their product?
As a former loyal Norton user who abandoned the products because they were so bloated and resource hungry a few years ago, I was slightly skeptical about even trying another Norton product, but with a friend insisting that 360 is a vastly improved product, I decided to give it a test drive.
While not a big fan of the "dumbed down" aspect of the software, I do agree that it is a vastly improved product.
I am testing a few products before making my final decision on which one to purchase, but although I like 360, the idea of having to take time out from my work to stop these unwanted scans is a hassle I would be unwilling to spend my money on to do.
I have eleven days left on the trial...if you fix it, you get my money, no fix...NO MONEY!!!
Thank you Mark for commenting on Symantec's future correction of this issue. Do you have a target date as to when a patch will be available? I know there are quite a few users who will be satisfied when the incident is resolved. Keep us all in the loop on your progress. Thank you.
PS - In the interim, is there a short term fix suggested by your staff?
Just installed Norton v2.0 on Vista 32-bit.
Norton – in its infinite wisdom - has decided to perform a background scan for viruses and spyware of 2 TB of data during the middle of the work day without any approval from me, which is bringing my Quad Core with 4 GB of RAM and multiple RAID drives to a halt because of the disk I/O.
I need to find the following:
1. A way to temporarily or permanently stop the current scan immediately so that I can actually perform some development work.
2. Identify a way to control the schedule of the scan (which I have gone through the simple UI settings for Task Scheduling, and it was set to Sunday at Midnight, weekly and not Monday at 10 AM).
3. Identify a way to actual view the progress of the background scan (e.g. 50% down, working on file xyz).
4. Identify a way to limit the I/O that is used by the background scan (e.g. maximum number of threads or maximum number of files open at a time).
If I can’t control the application and how it runs, I don’t think it will be any use to me. Is there a refund process?
Thanks.