How can I disable the "fix now" function when it wants to scan?

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

Dear fellow Nortonians,

After updating, Norton says, "Your PC needs to be scanned for viruses and spyware."  I say, tripe and hogwash.  However, the stupid yellow "fix now!" is starting to piss me off.

 

I have most of the "less useful" (ie., useless--for me) features disabled on my Norton Internet Security (20.2.0.19, whatever that means), and I absolutely hate the fact that the background tasks can not be completely disabled (it makes Norton into malware, in my opinion--I only use NIS because it was the most economical version of Norton available when we got it).  Anyhow, I have the all the "monitor" switches set to "disable" (even for Antivirus and Antispyware).  I keep the **bleep** thing updated.  I do NOT scan every time it asks me to--I know when I expose it to risks, and if there hasn't been any exposure, and I'm too busy (or just don't feel like it), then I don't scan.  I don't care if that hurts its feelings.  And, I do not want to see that stupid "Danger, Will Robinson!" every time I don't do something the paranoid program wants me to do.

 

So:  what registry entry do I have to delete to clip the robot's vocal cords?  (Ie., how do I get rid of the "fix now!" warning, without capitulating to its demands and actually running the scan?)

 

There's something else--after the last update, it wants to reboot.  I told it that I'll reboot when I'm **bleep**-well ready to reboot.  (Perhaps rebooting would fix the "fix now" problem... but honestly, Norton has no **bleep** right forcing this fascist "When I say 'reboot', you say 'how often?', dammit!" nonsense.  I'm positive that I'm not the only one who feels that way.)  ;p

 

So... no rush on this.  I would appreciate any answers that do not include the phrases, "Run the scan", "Reboot now", or "Download the next version" (unless the next version actually fixes this glitch--which, given the number of times I've tried the "download the next version" solution and been sorely disappointed, would be quite a surprise.)

 

Thanks kindly.

Stef

 

P.S.  When it isn't pissing me off, I have to say that Norton is a pretty good product.  (In truth, it pisses me off less often than most of the competing products, so, well, it has that going for it.)  ;p

2

Just an amusing observation, here: “d*mn” is inappropriate (replaced by “bleep”), but “pissed off” is not? Norton Community has some pretty bleeping strange taboos. Bleepy bleeping bleep, but that’s bleeping funny! (All the “bleeps” here were typed in as such–lest anyone think the less of my choice of vocabulary.) Stef

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Just curious, why do you want to keep NIS yet want to disable it??

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Erm… I don’t quite understand your question. I don’t want to disable NIS. I just want the right (as the user) to make decisions about when it runs non-critical functions. (That’s not unclear… is it?)

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I know of one feature - there may be a few - when disabled will trigger a "fix now".  In this one feature, an option to "ignore" is available.  It's been a while since I did that, but if I recall, it is in the "advanced" screen, far-right column of the feature.  I think I had to hover over something for the "ignore" option to appear.  Once "ignore" was chosen, the "fix now" disappeared.

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StefCoulombe wrote:
Just an amusing observation, here: "d*mn" is inappropriate (replaced by "bleep"), but "pissed off" is not? Norton Community has some pretty bleeping strange taboos. Bleepy bleeping bleep, but that's bleeping funny! (All the "bleeps" here were typed in as such--lest anyone think the less of my choice of vocabulary.) Stef

Hi,
The 'Fix Now' feature is usually warning you of something that needs immediate attention - scans overdue, backups overdue, etc. As such it will be very difficult to disable it. The easiest way to keep it from wanting to display is to schedule the various functions for times when you will not be needing your system.

The net nanny was programmed by Nathan the AI customer support program. It does leave a bit to be desired.

Keep us posted

7

Norton performs many housekeeping tasks, including Quick Scans, in the background when the system is idle.  These tasks are paused when the user resumes activity on the PC, so that in almost all cases, the user is never interrupted.  When users configure the product in ways that prevent it from performing these tasks while the machine is idle, the result will be that the tasks will either run anyway in non-idle time or Norton will alert the user that an operation, such as an overdue scan, needs to be performed.  It may seem counter-intuitive, but the more impediments a user places in the path of Norton performing the tasks that it needs to do, the more interruptions and annoyances the user will face.  The software is designed to take care of business as unobtrusively as possible, and for optimum performance, it is always best to simply allow the product to work as it is designed to work.  Running security software should not be a battle of wills - you're supposed to be on the same team.

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neigh-ho-ma: Thanks, but I did specifically state that “…I have the all the “monitor” switches set to “disable””. (Thanks anyway.)

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SendOfJive, Thanks… but that is what led me to ask how to disable it. The software may be designed to be unobtrusive, but the fact remains that designing the program to ignore the user’s wishes (“I’m a-gonna run that scan, an’ there ain’t nothin’ you can do about it! I’ll run it while yer sleepin’ ifn I has to, dagnabit!”) is sheer arrogance on the programmers’ part–they assume that we, the users, are too stupid to handle control over our own systems. If I could get virus definition updates for them, I would still be running antivirus programs from five years ago (when “disable background tasks” actually meant “disable”), but one other arrogance on the part of the programmers is their stubborn refusal to allow classic features like that to survive. So: that is why I was hoping for a registry solution. If possible, I’d like to disable all of the background tasks–Norton does NOT need to do housekeeping. There is no such thing as an “overdue scan”, because it’s MY dmn computer, and if I want Norton to just catch viruses when they try to run, and to run scans when I think it’s necessary, then Norton has no dmn right to tell me that it needs to “keep house”. Running security software should not be a battle of wills–I agree–which essentially means that either the software makes the decisions (which is fine for people who don’t mind outsourcing their lives to machines), or the user should be allowed to make decisions. To work as a team, we should trust each other–and given Norton’s history, regardless the current quality of their product, there is no way I will simply “trust” them; from the way users are excluded from the decision-making process, it is clear that Norton doesn’t trust the users, either. Thank you for your answer, though; it is insightful and well-expressed, and if I weren’t so disinclined to let Norton have its way (ie., if I weren’t so stubborn), I’d take your advice.

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Dick, Thanks, but when I don’t need my system, it isn’t running. (I’m one of those old-fashioned types who turns the computer on, uses it, and then turns it off/hibernates it; my laptop isn’t a pet that I take for walks, or turn on just so that it can enjoy its existence. That’s why I hate the “idle system scan” nonsense–my system is rarely idle, and if it is, it’s rarely for more than a couple minutes.) Maybe next semester I’ll feel like taking it out, turning it on, and ignoring it for a while. Until then, maybe I’ll just put a piece of black tape over the spot on the screen where that yellow exclamation mark sits. ;p As to the net nanny thing, I guess I understand. It’s still pretty durn funny. (Thanks again.)

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Hi StefCoulombe,

 

A certain amount of housekeeping is necessary (or do you really want 50 GB of accumulated virus definition files sitting on your hard drive?).  Also, in the view of the developers, an Idle Time Quick Scan is a priority task to be performed after each full definitions update in order to check for active threats that may have been missed prior to release of the latest signatures.  Since all of this is done in the background (unless you have forbidden it, or set the Idle Time Out so high that there is never any idle time available), it should not interfere with anything you are doing on the computer.  Norton is a comsumer-grade product that is designed to be easy to use for novices, and to provide protection without making a lot of demands on the user.  Eviscerating the program so that it can no longer work as intended is unnecessary, risky, and and unwise - honestly, making registry tweaks to hogtie your security program does not sound like a good plan.

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Stef,

 

You think that strange but don't stick your head above the pa**bleep**t or you might get bleeped ....

 

Anyone need a clue ?

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SendOfJive, Thanks, I get your point; my point is that it really wouldn’t be too hard to have those minimal, “required” functions as part of a core program, which could actually be selected as an option (that isn’t actually more expensive than the fancier gimmicky ones), and even within that core set of functions, allow the user to decide when they will be run. I do run virus scans. I run them when it’s convenient. I don’t run them every time there’s an update, because quite frankly, I don’t expose my computer to dangerous websites (or other risks). And, as I’ve pointed out, my computer doesn’t get much “idle time”. So, you may call it unwise and risky, but tweaking the registry to disable that irritating warning really won’t be any risk at all; in fact, it will encourage the user (me) to be more attentive to virus-scanning needs. Don’t you get it? Automation doesn’t increase security. It merely gives the illusion of security, so that users can get lazier and stupider, and ultimately, the user is so dependent on the automation that he is completely useless at solving problems for himself. What happens the next time Norton has a major screw-up? There are people who are happy letting their computers run their lives: they let MS Office spell their words and write their sentences, they let Google and Yahoo schedule their leisure time, and they let Norton (etc.) run with the autonomy of the American Homeland Security. Then, there are people who know how to spell and write proper sentences (which gives us freedom to use expressions like “stupider” for greater effect), who can decide for themselves what do to in their spare time, and who prefer keeping a tighter rein over security software (and who avoid American airports because of the paranoid, ultra-nationalist secret police services). ;p (Thanks for the reply… but really, if Norton didn’t assume that all consumer-grade users were stupid, then I wouldn’t have this problem to begin with. Of course, if I could afford professional-grade software, then this topic would be posted somewhere else…)

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Hi, Hugh… but why would I want to stick my head above the pableept? ;p Hey, it works! Too funny. You wouldn’t expect the top of a tower to be so innapropriate–though I guess it might depend on what you choose to do there… like maybe, eating gbleeps or gbleepfruit, or bleeplling down to the ground. Hey, you could even set up a tbleepze between two pableepts!

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StefCoulombe wrote:
Dick, Thanks, but when I don't need my system, it isn't running. (I'm one of those old-fashioned types who turns the computer on, uses it, and then turns it off/hibernates it; my laptop isn't a pet that I take for walks, or turn on just so that it can enjoy its existence. That's why I hate the "idle system scan" nonsense--my system is rarely idle, and if it is, it's rarely for more than a couple minutes.) Maybe next semester I'll feel like taking it out, turning it on, and ignoring it for a while. Until then, maybe I'll just put a piece of black tape over the spot on the screen where that yellow exclamation mark sits. ;p As to the net nanny thing, I guess I understand. It's still pretty durn funny. (Thanks again.)

I'm in a similar situation; I have a laptop that typically only gets used on weekends so I'm familiar with the "Your PC needs to be scanned for viruses and spyware" message that you mentioned earlier however that message appears on my user account without the 'Fix Now' button that you described :smileywink: (its driven by the number of days that have elapsed between the date of this power on and the date of the last Quick Scan).

 

My solution to the issue:

 

Under General Settings for Norton Tasks, start by changing the values of the 'Automatic Tasks Delay' and  'Idle Time Out' settings to the following values:

 

NIS 20-1-1-2 Settings - General - Norton Tasks.png

 

After making those changes, then based on my interpretation of "taking it out, turning it on, and ignoring it for a while", and assuming it's the morning, proceed as follows:

 

  1. Power on the laptop and login to your user account.
  2. Right-click on the Norton icon in the Notification Area and Run LiveUpdate.
  3. When LiveUpdate completes, press the 'Windows key ( ÿ ) and L' keys together on the keyboard to lock the computer. This keyboard shortcut tells Norton not to expect any user activity and will almost immediately place the computer into Idle mode. This will, in turn, normally trigger any pending Norton Background Tasks like the much anticipated Idle time Quick Scan that will resolve Norton's aforementioned 'Needs Attention' state.
  4. At this point, go to the kitchen and make yourself your hot beverage of choice eg. coffee. 
  5. When you get back from the kitchen, Windows should be happy, Norton should be happy and you'll have a responsive computer that's free of the overhead of all of these maintenance tasks. 
  6. From that point onwards, use the 'Windows key ( ÿ ) and L' keyboard shortcut whenever you decide to leave the laptop and you should find that Norton won't bother you again.

Consider trying the above solution and let us know how you go.

 

Thanks

 

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elsewhere, thanks, that does make a certain amount of sense (though I still prefer the “battle of wills” option, personally). My issue with the solution is that if I miss the weekend (or whenever) maintenance routine, then when I go to use it (and need it NOW), I either have to change the idle settings again or I can’t turn my back on it for even those two minutes. (Yes, it’s “supposed” to suspend the idle time tasks as soon as you start using it, but let’s be honest, “supposed to do” and “actually does” rarely coincide.) However, your suggestion has merit; if I could count on it “going idle” as soon as I do the “Windows + L” thing, regardless the idle time settings, then I could keep my idle time out maxed (so it doesn’t interfere every time I stretch my fingers), and still give it a moment or two when, as you suggest, I grab a coffee. So, then, will it actually “go idle” as soon as (or shortly after) you log out? Even if the idle time out is set to 20 minutes? (For everybody else, I’m still hoping for a registry solution; animals, I can trust with freedom, and children, to some degree, but software is kept on a short leash–“hog-tied”, as someone put it–because artificial intelligence is only necessary for those lacking the natural kind. It’s a tool, and when a tool doesn’t do what you want it to, you modify it to better suit your purpose–or doesn’t anybody straighten out paper clips to open non-responsive DVD drives, anymore?)

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Oh it’s a tool for sure

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Calls, thanks–that’s quite the helpful comment, there.

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StefCoulombe wrote:
elsewhere, thanks, that does make a certain amount of sense (though I still prefer the "battle of wills" option, personally). My issue with the solution is that if I miss the weekend (or whenever) maintenance routine, then when I go to use it (and need it NOW), I either have to change the idle settings again or I can't turn my back on it for even those two minutes. (Yes, it's "supposed" to suspend the idle time tasks as soon as you start using it, but let's be honest, "supposed to do" and "actually does" rarely coincide.) However, your suggestion has merit; if I could count on it "going idle" as soon as I do the "Windows + L" thing, regardless the idle time settings, then I could keep my idle time out maxed (so it doesn't interfere every time I stretch my fingers), and still give it a moment or two when, as you suggest, I grab a coffee. So, then, will it actually "go idle" as soon as (or shortly after) you log out? Even if the idle time out is set to 20 minutes? (For everybody else, I'm still hoping for a registry solution; animals, I can trust with freedom, and children, to some degree, but software is kept on a short leash--"hog-tied", as someone put it--because artificial intelligence is only necessary for those lacking the natural kind. It's a tool, and when a tool doesn't do what you want it to, you modify it to better suit your purpose--or doesn't anybody straighten out paper clips to open non-responsive DVD drives, anymore?)

Hi StefCoulombe

 

The settings I provided above are set once and forget. To manage the following issue:

 

"...then when I go to use it (and need it NOW), I either have to change the idle settings again or I can't turn my back on it for even those two minutes."

 

...then you need to turn on Norton's 'Silent Mode' at the start of your session (right-click the Norton icon in the Notification Area and select 'Turn on Silent Mode'). Select the duration that you want to suspend background activities for and you should be done. I must admit that you've piqued my curiosity here; I'm now interested in seeing how 'Silent Mode' and Norton's 'Needs Attention' status interact...

 

What Windows Operating System are you using and briefly describe your hardware ie. CPU type/speed, RAM size, hard drive (capacity and speed in RPM)? My solution above was based on a machine from the Windows Vista era that's been upgraded to Windows 7. If you are cold-booting the machine, then make the most of the start up period by adding Norton's update/scanning tasks to the mix upon login as I described earlier. Think of this as the computer equivalent of preheating the oven; when you get back from the kitchen your computer should be good-to-go.

 

As for the two minute 'Idle Time Out' setting then, providing you are not in Silent Mode, you should find that Norton makes the most of any idle time that your computer experiences eg. an unexpected phone call that takes you away from your computer for more than two minutes. That's an efficient use of idle computer resources and not actually a hindrance.

 

 

 

 

 

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elsewhere,

 

thanks again; I see how your solution works for you, and I realize that to a degree, my position must seem somewhat stubborn: I would make use of the Silent Mode if not for the "hassle" of turning it on every day. ;p (Now, if there were a registry tweak to allow Silent Mode to be on by default, it would solve my problems for sure!) I've been re-evaluating my Norton-using tendencies, and have come to the realization that I still don't trust Norton. (I don't trust MicroBleep either, but that's pretty normal.) I am in the habit of telling my computer what to do, and when to do it, partially so that I know that it is doing what it is supposed to do, and partially so that I can observe the results for myself.  The whole idea of it regularly "keeping house" entirely on its own is something I don't like:  if it is *only* deleting old definitions (ie., cleaning its own house), then fine--it can do that without telling m, but when it starts managing my files and programs (automatically scanning and dealing with "threats" outside of its own house), then I have a problem.  If it catches a virus while I am there, using the computer, great--I can see for myself what it thinks it has caught, and which file/program is affected (and when necessary, I can stop it from deleting harmless files that only look dangerous because they don't conform to Norton's "western worldview" of how files should behave).  However, if it catches and deals with something while I am away from the laptop, I may not find out about what happened (due to BSOD crashes, or something coming up which requires me to close the laptop before I see the virus report, or...).  Maybe I'm paranoid; I'm fine with that.  I've put a lot of time into my filing system, and I depend on my laptop doing exactly what I want, when I want--and I don't trust Norton alone with my files.

 

The computer in question is a 4(?)-year-old LG laptop, originally with XP Pro., which I replace with XP Home.  (Pro. was starting to annoy me with all of its "you don't have permission to do this" nonsense.)  I use XP (SP2) because Vista was buggier than a beetle farm, and 7 is the same farm except that the bugs wear camo.  (And as for 8... if I want a tablet system, I'll buy a tablet.)  I have 2 GB RAM, and I believe a 60GB HD.  (I am not using it at the moment--it's mostly for school stuff, and this is  along weekend.)  ;p  So, the laptop is probably quite fast enough to handle all of Norton's background stuff without interfering with my work, most of the time.  It really comes down to what I mentioned earlier:  I don't want my computer doing stuff when I'm not there.   One of the reasons that it has no idle time is because I hibernate it when I leave it for more than a few minutes--and one of the reasons I do that, is because I don't trust it on its own.  (It has blue-screened on me a few times, when I've left it alone for a few minutes--I suspect it's a background-task issue interacting with a sleep/HD power-down issue, but I haven't been able to prove it, as the BSOD usually destroys all the evidence.)  ;p

 

So:  thanks again for your interest and your answer; I may try the Silent Mode a few times, and see how annoying it is (maybe I can find an auto-run function for it somewhere...).  As long as I can scan when I want to, and as long as it catches viruses when they try to run, I don't mind hog-tying and hand-cuffing Norton; heck, I'd probably entomb it in cement if I could, to keep it from pulling that autonomous background *bleep*.  If I see any interesting interaction between Silent Mode and Needs Attention when I use it again next week, I'll be sure to let you know.  ;p