2. I use NISDownloader.exe to download the Setup source folder with contents: NISDownloader.exe (388 KB), NIS-UPGRADE-ESD-NoDefs-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (39.1 MB), symcdefs.exe (99.2 MB), 2011Plugin.dll (153 KB).
Testing:
1. Using NIS-ESD-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (98.2 MB) to install Norton Internet Security 2011. After the installation complete, the database show in the main Windows is 116 days ago, I click Run LiveUpdate to update the database. There are 22 updates about 105 MB.
2. Using NIS-UPGRADE-ESD-NoDefs-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (39.1 MB) to install Norton Internet Security 2011 without the Virus Definitions file (symcdefs.exe ). After the installation complete, the database show in the main Windows is Not available, I click Run LiveUpdate to update the database. There are 22 updates about 59 MB.
Please explain the differences between NIS-ESD-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (98.2 MB) with 105 MB update and NIS-UPGRADE-ESD-NoDefs-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (39.1 MB) only with 59 MB update.
Which way should I select to have the best protection for my PC?
Bombastus is correct that once Live Update has been run there is no difference.
To further elaborate:
When using the direct download, you are installing the product and the definitions that were included at the time of that product version creation. For example, the definitions included with version 18.5.0.125 are dated December 1, 2010; thus 117 days old as of today. When running LiveUpdate you will notice a large file set being brought in.
When you use the download manager, in addition to downloading the product itself, the most recent virus definitions (as defined by intelligent updater) are also included. After installing you may note that the Virus Definitions are only one or two days behind.
Therefore, when running LiveUpdate, the Update package will be smaller. It only needs to bring in very recent updates such as Virus Defs released since the referenced Intelligent Updater, Pulse updates, IPS Definitions, Web Protection Updates, minor Product updates, and a few other items.
Thanks Bombastus and Phil_D for your attention and informations !
Hello Phil_D, I agree with you:
1. "When using the direct download [NIS-ESD-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (98.2 MB)], you are installing the product and the definitions that were included at the time of that product version creation. For example, the definitions included with version 18.5.0.125 are dated December 1, 2010; thus 117 days old as of today. When running LiveUpdate you will notice a large file set being brought in."
2. "When you use the download manager, in addition to downloading the product itself, the most recent virus definitions (as defined by intelligent updater) are also included. After installing you may note that the Virus Definitions are only one or two days behind.
Therefore, when running LiveUpdate, the Update package will be smaller. It only needs to bring in very recent updates such as Virus Defs released since the referenced Intelligent Updater, Pulse updates, IPS Definitions, Web Protection Updates, minor Product updates, and a few other items."
But in my case, the second case, I only use NIS-UPGRADE-ESD-NoDefs-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (39.1 MB) to install Norton Internet Security 2011, without the Virus Definitions file (symcdefs.exe) which was downloaded by the download manager. It's like that I delete the Virus Definitions file (symcdefs.exe) or copy NIS-UPGRADE-ESD-NoDefs-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (39.1 MB) to another PC and run NIS-UPGRADE-ESD-NoDefs-18-5-0-125-EN.exe (39.1 MB) to install Norton Internet Security 2011.
The database status in this case is Not available. I think there are no database with 39.1 MB Setup file, and Live Update function will download a full database update package. So, why the database update package of this case is smaller than the database update package when using NIS-ESD-18-5-0-125-EN.exe [98.2 MB] (59 MB compared with 105 MB) ?!
I'm not quite sure what your intentions are by dissecting the downloader package into its component parts.
The NIS-UPGRADE-ESD-NoDefs-18-5-0-125-EN.exe @ 39.1 MB is designed to be installed simultaneously with the symcdefs.exe @ 99.0 MB.
Realize that once the complete downloader package is installed, there is still a need to run LiveUpdate which may account for the discrepancy you are noticing.
I don't know if I have answered your question or not.