I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and NIS 2009. Every time I run Windows System Restore, I get an error message that the virus definitions are out-of-date and have to download the entire virus definition suite (66MB) using LiveUpdate. Since I (and many others) have dial-up at home, this is a big problem that needs a fix. I've tried turning off Tamper Protection and Auto Protect before creating Restore Points and before restoring my PC, but no help. I also tried turning off all Symantec Services and Startup items with msconfig before and after as above, but still no help. This was never a problem with Windows XP and NAV 2005.
Does Symantec or anyone have a solution? The virus definitions should restore properly.
I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and NIS 2009. Every time I run Windows System Restore, I get an error message that the virus definitions are out-of-date and have to download the entire virus definition suite (66MB) using LiveUpdate. Since I (and many others) have dial-up at home, this is a big problem that needs a fix. I've tried turning off Tamper Protection and Auto Protect before creating Restore Points and before restoring my PC, but no help. I also tried turning off all Symantec Services and Startup items with msconfig before and after as above, but still no help. This was never a problem with Windows XP and NAV 2005.
Does Symantec or anyone have a solution? The virus definitions should restore properly.
NIS 2010 should work better with Win 7 than your version of NIS 2009.
Yes,but it won't fix the behaviour described by the OP . I mean it happens the same with Norton 2010.
System Restore cannot be accomplished if Tamper protection is ON and after System Restore has been performed , Norton should re-download its definitions . Don't know if it is a bug or by design but it is a fact . Happens with Norton 2009 and 2010
I can confirm what you write but why do you use System Restore so often ? And why dial-up ?
Dial-up is so slow , old and is not cost-effective at all. You should consider a fast always-on broadband connection . With a router (wired or wireless) you can share a single connection (internet subscription) with many computers at home (for example). Sorry for the off-topic .
OUgrad wrote:
I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and NIS 2009. Every time I run Windows System Restore, I get an error message that the virus definitions are out-of-date and have to download the entire virus definition suite (66MB) using LiveUpdate. Since I (and many others) have dial-up at home, this is a big problem that needs a fix. I've tried turning off Tamper Protection and Auto Protect before creating Restore Points and before restoring my PC, but no help. I also tried turning off all Symantec Services and Startup items with msconfig before and after as above, but still no help. This was never a problem with Windows XP and NAV 2005.
Does Symantec or anyone have a solution? The virus definitions should restore properly.
My subscription is valid. I may try your suggestion if I don't get any other feedback regarding a definite solution. NIS 2010 may have the same problem with System Restore.
Does anyone else know if NIS 2010 will definitely fix this problem?
- Just saw your response after my reply to floplot. So, guess I'll just keep NIS 2009 for now. I do have the option to take my notebook to the Library for hi-speed downloads.
Hopefully someone from Symantec will read this thread and provide a fix. I rarely use System Restore, but like to test new software so I know what to expect.
Whether NIS 2010 resolves the problem you are experiencing or not, you are really much better off by updating to the latest. NIS 2010 has a much lighter footprint than NIS 2009 and you are entitled to the update for free as long as you have a current subscription.
I would highly encourage you to update. You can get your free update to NIS 2010 here.
This was never a problem with Windows XP and NAV 2005.
NAV 2005 updated its definitions once a week. Modern versions receive new full definition sets every 8 hours or so. If you lose the current definitions set when you roll back to an earlier state it is going to impact current versions every time, whereas their distant ancestors were still up to date with a signature file from last Monday. Times have changed indeed.
Yes, a lot has changed, but not all for the good. With NAV 2005 and WinXP I could restore back several weeks and never had to download the entire virus suite. It was just as if I had been off-line that long. We are always receiving incremental updates from Symantec whether we are on-line daily or not and System Restore should preserve that continuity. This is a Symantec bug that needs a fix.
i don't think that this is a bug as much as it is a example of why system restore is not reliable.
system restore isn't as good as having a REAL backup of a computer. it only restores system files and changes to the system files and registry. its not actually changing anything else. if you accidently delete something and do a system restore chances are it won't restore the file.
so whats happening here is that system restore is changing a system file. probably a system file where nis reports that it has up to date virus definitions.
so when system restore restores itself if changes some files. then all of a sudden nav sees that the latest update was say defsAAAA but the defs on the hard drive are actually defsBBBB (just examples). it thinks that something has been messed with and puts you on the safe side and redownloads the defs.
i think relying on system restore is a bad idea. i turn off system restore and use ghost doing nightly backups. its much more efficient.
just my twocents. never been a fan of system restore, cause it messes with only itself. maybe it it was smart enough to include other programs, but it never really does. i guess system restore really means system file restore.
Is there a way do download and save the current set of Virus Definitions for installation if needed after System Restore is run? At least I could keep a nearly up-to-date set of definitions and only have to update from that point in time if my only option is dial-up.
You mentioned using Ghost. I use Ghost 14 to backup this Windows 7 PC monthly, but when I tested it using an Image to recover my hard drive, I had the same problem with virus defs - having to download the entire suite again. Have you ever restored your drive with Ghost and seen the same issue with virus defs?
This is normal under current design. NIS injects an exclusion into Ghost for reasons stated in this thread.
Hopefully this design will change at some point soon.
EDIT: FYI, if you do a COLD backup with Ghost 15 from the recovery environment, the virus defs are included in the backup/restore. Ghost 14 does NOT support cold backups.
This is a business link, but I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work for everyone as it's not just for Corporate Edition versions. At least I can get this periodically so I don't have to download the entire suite if needed after System Restore or a Ghost Image recovery.
Regarding getting your free update to NIS 2010, I noticed above you have a dial-up connection. If this update proves to take too long you can access the full version of NIS 2010 here. You could download the full version from the library and then install over the top of NIS 2009 when you get back home. Make sure and use the same product key you already have. You can find the current product key from your Norton Account.
Of course, if the NIS 2009 in question is on a laptop then you could just take the laptop to the library and do the update method.
Just a suggestion as I would really like to see you be able to get the improved NIS 2010 version.
