NIS periodically runs background scans while I'm working on the computer. This is good. However, whenever it starts such a scan, I get a popup screen notification that takes the focus away from what I'm doing. It sits on top of my application windows, obscuring what I might be working on. Even worse, if I close the popup, it comes back again maybe 10 minutes later.
This has got to be the most annoying program behaviour I have experienced.
The popup is not necessary for a scheduled type task. Popups should be for something that really need urgent attention - like identifying a virus.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to change this in the program setup. The closest is silent mode, which disables both the popup and the scan - which is not a solution.
Does anyone know how to disable popups for non-critical background tasks without preventing that task, or scan, from running? I would imagine this might be possible with a registry tweak. Or maybe I've missed something in the program documentation...
NIS periodically runs background scans while I'm working on the computer. This is good. However, whenever it starts such a scan, I get a popup screen notification that takes the focus away from what I'm doing. It sits on top of my application windows, obscuring what I might be working on. Even worse, if I close the popup, it comes back again maybe 10 minutes later.
This has got to be the most annoying program behaviour I have experienced.
The popup is not necessary for a scheduled type task. Popups should be for something that really need urgent attention - like identifying a virus.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to change this in the program setup. The closest is silent mode, which disables both the popup and the scan - which is not a solution.
Does anyone know how to disable popups for non-critical background tasks without preventing that task, or scan, from running? I would imagine this might be possible with a registry tweak. Or maybe I've missed something in the program documentation...
Mdturner’s suggestion will do the trick Just right-click on the Norton icon in your system tray and click on “Turn on Silent Mode” (that way you don’t have to dig your way through the interface and settings). There is, to my knowledge, no other way to turn off the notifications.
Message Edited by Yaso_Kuuhl on 11-01-2009 11:54 AM
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any way to change this in the program setup. The closest is silent mode, which disables both the popup and the scan - which is not a solution.
Does anyone know how to disable popups for non-critical background tasks without preventing that task, or scan, from running? I would imagine this might be possible with a registry tweak. Or maybe I've missed something in the program documentation...
As you've indicated that Silent mode isn't the solution, can you please provide some further information relating to the pop-ups you are getting while working on the computer. Typically, these pop-ups only appear when the computer is brought out of an Idle state; to let you know that background tasks were running while you weren't actively using your computer.
1. It also turns off the scan - which I don't want to do
2. It can only be enabled for up to 6 hours - for obvious reasons.
Sorry, but silent mode is not a solution to this really annoying behaviour. I want all the scans to run as recommended, but I don't want an annoying popup taking the cursor away from whatever I might be doing, and sitting on top of information that I need to see.
Maybe the idle mode setting is too sensitive. I develop software, so I might not always be typing non-stop. But, if typing something like this, if I stop to decide what to write next, I can get the popup message advising that a system scan is running in the background. Then, when I close the popup, and resume what I'm doing, the next time I pause for a minute or so, the popup comes back.
I'm quite happy for NIS to take advantage of idle mode and to run scans in the background. I just don't want to be told about it with an annoying popup.
Other programs that I use just modify the appearance of the task bar icon when they are running a background task. NIS should do the same.
It seems to me that this is just a bad programming decision by the developers. If there is no way to change the settings, then is there any way to submit an enhancement request to Symantec?
You can change the ‘Idle Time Out’ setting under Miscellaneous settings or via the Norton Tasks pane. The default duration is 10 minutes - try increasing this to 20 or 30 minutes and you’ll probably find that the pop-up will stay out of your way.
I believe the only time a background task will run while idle for more than a minute or 2 is when it is doing it's idle full system scan. That scan can and does take longer. The way to get around that popup since it can take a while to run when you are interrupting it is to schedule your weekly scans at a time when you won't be using your computer. Most of the other background scans can be completed in the time it takes to go and take a bathroom break.
Thanks. I've accepted your solution because,changing the idle countdown time from 10 mins to 30 mins effectively removes most of the problem.
However, the use of attention demanding popups for starting routine background tasks is bad programming. I've been reasonably impressed with most of the other NIS features and operation - so I guess I can just live with this.
It does surprise me that Symantec don't appear to have a place for customer feedback or enhancement requests.
The send feedback is more about rating the product and commenting on your overall experience with NIS. Most other software products that I use provide for customers to provide feedback on specific issues, including enhancement requests. Alternatively, it would be good to see some Symantec development staff participating in some of these forums. Maybe they do - I just haven’t noticed it.
Just right-click on the Norton icon in your system tray and click on “Turn on Silent Mode” (that way you don’t have to dig your way through the interface and settings). There is, to my knowledge, no other way to turn off the notifications.