Whenever I try to modify Firefox's rules in 'Program Control' NIS crashes
I've used the Uninstall Tool and reinstalled NIS but the exact thing occurs.
I'm using NIS2012(latest build) Win7 x64 SP1 with latest updates.
No other security suites are running and the system is clean.
Here is the log
http://localhostr.com/file/dwNW8O6/Report.wer
yowanvista wrote:Whenever I try to modify Firefox's rules in 'Program Control' NIS crashes
Hi yowanvista:
Are you trying to customize the Internet access for your Firefox browser at Settings | Network Settings | Smart Firewall | Program Control? This shouldn't be necessary if NIS 2012 and Firefox are installed properly and the NIS Smart Firewall is the only firewall running on your system.
It sounds like you tried using the Norton Removal Tool but I would suggest you perform a thorough clean re-install using the instructions posted here. Make sure you have your Identity Safe data backed up if you use this feature to manage web logins and personal information and then decline to save your previous settings when asked by the uninstall wizard just in case your current setings are corrupted.
Some people in the forum even recommend that users manually delete the C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security folder after Step 7 of the instructions (i.e., after running the Norton Removal Tool and re-booting multiple times) to ensure the cleanest removal of your previously NIS installations but I'm not sure this is necessary.
If the clean re-install doesn't work, would it be possible to copy your error message into a text editor like Notebook and attach it as a .txt file in your next post? You should be able to see a Copy to Clipboard link when errors are viewed at from the Problem Reports and Solutions in your Windows Control Panel.
Edit:
Before trying the clean re-install, so might want to try resetting your Smart Firewall (Settings | Network Settings | Smart Firewall | Advanced Settings | Configure | Firewall Reset | Reset) to reset your firewall back to it's default settings. I doubt this will work since a firewall configuration setting shouldn't be crashing NIS, but you never know.
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Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit SP2 * NIS 2011 v. 18.6.0.29 * IE 9.0 * Firefox 8.0.0
HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3.0 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
Those were exactly what I've done, a complete reinstall of NIS. I have no other Firewall programs running.
I am trying to modify Firefox's rules because NIS seems to be blocking some outbound connections used by some Frefox extensions when Firefox is just started. However the issue dissapears when 'Smart Firewall' is disabled. And yes still after a complete reinstallation of NIS the same crashing issue ocurs.
NIS is installed in D:\Program Files(x86)\Norton Internet Security
Hi yowanvista:
Did you try a re-set of your firewall as suggested in message # 2? It would also help if you posted a .txt version of your Windows error message.
If the firewall re-set doesn't help, start Firefox in Safe Mode (Help | Re-start with Add-ons disabled) to disable your Firefox extensions and see if you can change the program control for Firefox in your NIS Smart Firewall settings. If NIS doesn't throw an error message, start re-enabling extensions one at a time as descibed in the Mozilla Support article here titled Troubleshooting Extensions and Themes so that you can isolate the extension(s) causing the problem.
If your extensions aren't the problem, move on to the Mozilla Support article here titled Troubleshooting Plugins and see if you can isolate the specifc plugin(s) causing the problem.
Is there any reason why you chose to install NIS on your D: drive instead of the default C: drive (i.e., do you have a dual-boot system)? My NIS 2011 is installed in C:\Program File\Norton Internet Security [i.e., no (X86) in the path]. When you re-installed NIS did you download a new copy of the installation file and follow the instructions posted here just in case your installer is corrupted?
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Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit SP2 * NIS 2011 v. 18.6.0.29 * IE 9.0 * Firefox 8.0.0
HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3.0 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
I strongly suggest performing a clean reinstall of the product using the add/remove program. Using the Norton removal tool is considered a dirty reinstall and may cause problems down the line. Also, did you try waiting? Sometimes Windows will declare a software as not responding when it does not respond inc timely manner. This could be because the product is busy doing other things. This is like a person tapping on your back when you are doing something and declaring that you are ignoring them when you do not respond timely. Try waiting and the error may go away (Windows no longer declares the product non responding). This problem can happen when a product is loading a long list or updating.
Hi mikedov:
The link I provided here to the clean re-install instructions include removing NIS from the Windows Control Panel (Add / Remove Programs) before using the Norton Removal Tool.
I always recommend this step now since Symantec employee Subash Prabu has stated that critical system drivers can be corrupted if you run the Norton Removal Tool before uninstalling your Norton product from the Windows Control Panel (see PhilD's post here).
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Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit SP2 * NIS 2011 v. 18.6.0.29 * IE 9.0 * Firefox 8.0.0
HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3.0 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
I’m just including that advice in my response for completeness.
It might be helpful to see the rule that you are trying to build as well. It may not be compatible with what Norton needs to do.
Imacri is correct about removing through add/remove first and then using the tool, although using the tool is not going to produce a "dirty" installation. It is more like a sloppy uninstall. 
1. The crash isn't listed in Problem Reports and Solutions in Windows Control Panel.
A Windows Error Report is attahced to my first post, it can be viewed with any text editor.
2. NIS doesn't throw an error message with Firefox open, actually it isn't a Firefox issue since the 'firefox.exe' process is denied access to the Internet at startup but connections are established after few minutes. Other browsers work fine and are not being blocked by "Norton Smart Firewall"
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Is there any reason why you chose to install NIS on your D: drive instead of the default C: drive (i.e., do you have a dual-boot system)? My NIS 2011 is installed in C:\Program File\Norton Internet Security [i.e., no (X86) in the path]. When you re-installed NIS did you download a new copy of the installation file and follow the instructions posted here just in case your installer is corrupted?
3. The reason why I've istalled NIS to my secondary partition is because my Primary partition is around 80GB, NIS2011 was also previously installed to 'D' and it caused me no problems at all. The (x86) is meant for 32-bit applications btw.
My NIS installer is perfectly clean, it makes no sense. A corrupted installer would not even open.
4. "I strongly suggest performing a clean reinstall of the product using the add/remove program."
Thats what I did, after getting the same crash I used the "Norton Removal Tool"
5."Sometimes Windows will declare a software as not responding when it does not respond inc timely manner."
Yes I waited and windows just sayed "Norton.. has stopped working etc" with nothing more. However a log file was produced and thats what I've attached.
6 "It might be helpful to see the rule that you are trying to build as well"
Well, I just tried to set Firefox's rule from "Auto" to "Enable"
If I understand you correctly, you have NIS2011 on your C drive, and NIS2012 on your D drive. Are both partitions bootable? I didn't see an answer to the dual boot question.
No, I meant that I also previously had NIS2011 installed in 'D', now I use NIS2012 but it is installed in the same location(D).
I don't see how this could be problematic.
NIS2011 was totally removed before installing NIS2012
I have a single OS, the other partitions are used for installing all my programs. I never install 3rd party programs in my C drive.
Hi yowanvista,
Security software interacts with the operating system at a low level and should be installed on the same partition as the OS. It may be why Norton is crashing.
Also Norton should be installed in the x86 part of the program files since it’s a 32 bit application (Norton should be installed in Program Files (x86) and not Program Files in a 64 bit system. In fact, when installing, don’t change any options regarding the file location. Let it install where it wants to install.
yowanvista wrote:NIS is installed in D:\Program Files(x86)\Norton Internet Security
Hi everyone:
Just a quick question. Since yowanvista's NIS is installed on the D: drive, is it necessary to download and run the NRT from the D: drive? Will the NRT even run correclty if NIS is installed on a drive other than the C: drive?
Hi mikedov:
Sorry for the confusion. I didn't realize a 64-bit OS installed 32-bit applications in a C:\Program Files(x86)\ folder by default.
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Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit SP2 * NIS 2011 v. 18.6.0.29 * IE 9.0 * Firefox 8.0.0
HP Pavilion dv6835ca, Intel Core2Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83 GHz, 3.0 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
Most of the app you use on a 64 bit macine will go to the x86 folder. Only native 64 bit apps (which is quite rare) will go to the non x86 folder. The same goes for system32 and syswow64. The system32 contains the native 64 bit binaries while the syswow64 contains the file necessary for compatibility. The syswow64 folder is akin to the system32 folder in a 32 bit machine and all 32 bit apps will use this folder (including 32 bit version of flash and shockwave (I think)).
Since Norton loads during the boot, I don't actually see how it could function without being on the booting drive. Your antivirus is not like the other applications that are perfectly happy on a storage drive.
See http://www.samlogic.net/articles/32-64-bit-windows-folder-x86-syswow64.htm for explanation of the folders on a 64 bit macine. Also Shockwave, a 32 bit app, places itself in the syswow64 folder.
"Security software interacts with the operating system at a low level and should be installed on the same partition as the OS. It may be why Norton is crashing."
At low level, NIS drivers are still being loaded from System32/drivers. All NIS drivers are still in drive C, only the main application is installed in D. I didn't see any such issues with previous versions of Norton so I don't get it why this would change with NIS2012
"Also Norton should be installed in the x86 part of the program files since it's a 32 bit application (Norton should be installed in Program Files (x86) and not Program Files in a 64 bit system. In fact, when installing, don't change any options regarding the file location. Let it install where it wants to install."
Yes part of NIS is still 32-bit but it is still installed in the Program Files (x86) folder in drive D.
"Since Norton loads during the boot, I don't actually see how it could function without being on the booting drive. Your antivirus is not like the other applications that are perfectly happy on a storage drive."
Yes its drivers are still being loaded from from the C drive and all its data is still being laoded from drive C as usual(C:\ProgramData\Norton\), only its application executables are installed in D
I just changed the install path from C to D, nothing else was modified.