Needs Help Disabling Idle Full System Scan!

I believe that I am using NIS 2011 (upgraded using Xfinity/Comcast) and for some reason, I cannot stop the idle full system scans. I came to this site and searched posts that said to turn off idle time scans in the settings and I did, but it continues to do idle full system scans anyway. I also decided to run a full system scan manually (took around 2 hours) to see if that would stop it from doing the idle scan but it did not. I tried scheduling it to only do a scan once a week on Sundays and it still does the full system scan when my computer is idle. This has been going on for 2 weeks now and I am very frustrated. What is it that I am doing wrong here? 

 

Also, I am using a Windows Vista laptop with Pentium Dual-Core CPU if that helps. 

I believe that I am using NIS 2011 (upgraded using Xfinity/Comcast) and for some reason, I cannot stop the idle full system scans. I came to this site and searched posts that said to turn off idle time scans in the settings and I did, but it continues to do idle full system scans anyway. I also decided to run a full system scan manually (took around 2 hours) to see if that would stop it from doing the idle scan but it did not. I tried scheduling it to only do a scan once a week on Sundays and it still does the full system scan when my computer is idle. This has been going on for 2 weeks now and I am very frustrated. What is it that I am doing wrong here? 

 

Also, I am using a Windows Vista laptop with Pentium Dual-Core CPU if that helps. 

Ok thank you for the information. The Idle Full System Scan has been going on for almost 2 weeks now though. Is that normal?

No it's not normal unless it has been constantly interrupted by using the computer thus canceling the scan.

 

Open the main interface, click 'Performance' at the top of the screen and in the next window, click 'Norton Tasks'.

 

Let us know the status of the Idle Full System Scan:  Complete or Canceled.

 

And could you confirm if you are using the Comcast Norton Security Suite and also the version number?  (Support > About)

 

Thanks!

I think Phil is on the correct path.  When I upgraded my copy of Comcast's Norton Security Suite from version 4 to version 5, I noticed Norton Tasks showed the Idle Full System Scan as "never".  Once it started, I left it run to completion (been there before with the starting and stopping until it just decides it is time to finish). :smileywink:

It says that the Idle Full System Scan is Canceled. But I did run a Full System Scan manually a few days ago and that completed. I thought that that would somehow make the Idle Full System Scan stop.

 

Also, yes I am running the Comcast Norton Security Suite, version 5.1.0.29

Okay I think you have narrowed it down.

 

Please allow the computer to sit idle for an hour or two so that it can complete the original Idle Full System Scan.

 

Once that has completed, everything should work as per your preferences.

Okay thank you! I use it a lot during the day but I will let it sit overnight and let you all know the result.

So I let it sit overnight and it ran the idle full system scan for 10 hours and still did not finish. I went into Norton tasks and it says cancelled. I don't understand why the idle scan is taking forever but when I ran the full scan manually, it took 2-3 hours. 


msmusicmaker wrote:

So I let it sit overnight and it ran the idle full system scan for 10 hours and still did not finish. I went into Norton tasks and it says cancelled. I don't understand why the idle scan is taking forever but when I ran the full scan manually, it took 2-3 hours. 


Hi msmusicmaker,

 

Let's try invoking the IDLE full scan manually. From the main window click on Performance then Norton Tasks. Locate the Idle Full System Scan task then click the Play button to the left of this.

 

This should allow the Idle scan to complete. It is important to follow these steps exactly and not do a manual scan the way you would normally do.

 

Please let us know if this completes OK.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

Just tried this method, and it worked! Thank you so much for the help :)


msmusicmaker wrote:

Just tried this method, and it worked! Thank you so much for the help :)


HI msmusicmaker,

 

You are most welcome. :smileyhappy:

 

I am happy that it worked out for you.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

I spoke too soon :( The idle full scan is back with a vengance. When I let it run overnight, it completed. Now it says canceled again when I check under Norton tasks. I am going to let it run again. If it doesn't work, should I try to uninstall and reinstall?


msmusicmaker wrote:

I spoke too soon :( The idle full scan is back with a vengance. When I let it run overnight, it completed. Now it says canceled again when I check under Norton tasks. I am going to let it run again. If it doesn't work, should I try to uninstall and reinstall?


Hi msmusicmaker,

 

Sorry to hear that. Can you check some other things in the Norton Tasks window? What does it show for "Ran During Idle"? What does it show for "Duration" and also "Last Run"?

 

If it shows something like 1 second or something for duration, it might not be a problem and could be an indication that it simply was canceled before it even got started. Although I would consider it a bit odd since short a short time has elapsed since you manually completed the Full system scan from the Norton Tasks window.

 

Let's check one other thing as well. From the start menu type in "scheduler" in the Search box and hit return. In the Task Scheduler window expand the "Task Scheduler LIbrary" if not already expanded. See if Symantec or Norton is listed on the left hand window pane. If it is, click on the Norton or Symantec line and then check if the second window pane and see if there are any tasks scheduled for Idle Scan.

 

If you find any such entry then right click on that entry and select "Delete".

 

To be sure, also click on each of the other entries in turn on the left window pane and then check the second window pane for any entries indicating a Norton Idle Scan.

 

If this is still an issue after checking all these things, then we will need to uninstall and reinstall your Norton Comcast Security Suite. I can provide more guidance on that when we get to that point. Hopefully this won't prove necessary.

 

Best wishes.

Allen

I ended up having to uninstall and reinstall and that stopped the issue. Thanks so much for your help!


msmusicmaker wrote:

I ended up having to uninstall and reinstall and that stopped the issue. Thanks so much for your help!


Hi msmusicmaker,

 

Thanks very much for the update.

 

That was the last resort I mentioned you might have to do. It is odd that manually invoking the IDLE full system scan via the Norton Tasks window and letting it complete did not resolve the issue for you. This does typically work.

 

There clearly must have been a problem installation for this not to have worked.

 

The main thing is it is working for you now. :smileyhappy:

 

I would recommend considering setting up a scheduled scan at a time of your convenience so you won't have to remember to do a manual scan periodically.

 

Best wishes.

Allen