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Norton AntiVirus 2005 [OLD VERSION]

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Norton AntiVirus 2005 [OLD VERSION]

(201 customer reviews)

List Price:	$49.99
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SKU:

AQ-FPYP-TY4Z

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Features

Removes viruses, worms, and Trojan horses automatically
Internet Worm Protection blocks certain more sophisticated worms
Detects spyware and other non-virus threats
QuickScan and PreInstall Scan; enhanced packer support
Defends against malicious code; easy to use

Description

Symantec’s Norton AntiVirus 2005 is the world’s most-trusted antivirus solution.* It removes viruses, worms, and Trojan horses automatically--without interrupting your work. Norton AntiVirus defends against malicious code attempting to spread via email messages, instant message attachments, and other sources. New Norton Internet Worm Protection blocks certain more sophisticated worms (such as Blaster and Sasser) at the point of entry. Even viruses in file archives can’t hide from Norton AntiVirus. The program can also detect spyware and other non-virus threats. Protect your computer against viruses and worms with Norton AntiVirus 2005.
*Top-selling antivirus software product from December 2000 through March 2004 based on The NPD Group’s retail Top-Selling Business Software list.
What's New:

Norton Internet worm protection: Blocks Internet worm threats by obstructing unsolicited, suspicious inbound traffic. This includes a basic inbound port-blocking configuration that identifies and blocks known worm signatures.
QuickScan and PreInstall Scan: PreInstall scans the system prior to installation, and QuickScan reviews the system after receiving the latest virus definitions.
Enhanced packer support: Norton AntiVirus 2005 includes improved detection and elimination of packed viruses.

Product Details

Package Length:	15.6 inches
Package Width:	9.7 inches
Package Height:	1.3 inches
Package Weight:	0.55 pounds
Average Customer Rating:	based on 201 reviews

System Requirements

Platform:	Windows 98 / Windows 2000 / Windows Me / Windows XP
Media:	CD-ROM
Item Quantity:	1

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review: 2.5

( 201 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

380 of 392 found the following review helpful:

Approach with EXTREME Caution, buggy Sep 20, 2004 By Noore
I have used Norton (AntiVirus, Firewall, Systemworks Professional) for years without a problem; and I have not had to deal with viruses, breakins or stability problems. They all previously installed in minutes without a problem. I did Not upgrade my 2003 products last year but did renew my subscriptions. I'm using a P4 computer running WinXP, with 612 of RAM and 80 Gig HD. I do not consider myself beyond a computer newbie, so perhaps my experience is a function of inexperience. That said, I have reformatted hard drives, upgraded WinME to XP, flashed the BIOS, installed graphics cards, audio cards,upgraded to USB 2, regularly download and install new software, hardware, etc. all without incident (or only a brief glich).

I have NEVER experienced the BUGGY, UNSTABLE, system wide problems that I have been trying to deal with since attempting to install this product.

(1)..The first problem was that it successfully prevented my Norton 2003 Firewall from starting (i.e., it just freezes on refreshing and after about 10 minutes indicates that all firewall features are disabled (will not permit them to be enabled); knocks out registration, while acknowledging the registration is still current for a few more months).

(2)..It causes Norton SystemWorks 2003 to crash...indicating problems with Symantec Integrator, etc. so SystemWorks is also unusable.

(3).. Antivirus 2005 has yet to be sucessfully installed. As per the Symantec site, I've updated "Liveupdate", and tried to remove and reinstall the product.(I've tried both upgrade/download and full product CD, trying the typical install> restart>delete> restart...) Although it was activated at install, it crashed at the computer's restart. My experience is that once AntiVirus 2005 is installed it CANNOT BE COMPLETELY REMOVED, there are literally dozens of folders and files that remain (even working in Safe Mode with full Administrator priviledges, many of the left-overs cannot be deleted, moved or renamed, at least not without a lot of effort). A computer scan also revealed over 60 Activex\COM errors specifically relating to Norton/Symantec, missing Norton\Symantec files, etc. Unfortunately, these items seem to prevent reinstall, as Norton 2005 sees even a few of these as evidence that it is already installed and aborts the reinstall. There is no option to repair/modify. Some of the problem also seems to strongly suggests that Product Activation/Validation is at least a partial contributing factor.

(4)..It should be noted that thinking that the Norton 2003 Firewall and/or Systemworks might be contributing factors, and since Norton 2005 AntiVirus made them un-usable, I eventually removed them from the computer....and attempted to install Norton SystemWorks 2005.

(5)..To date, although I have been able to get SystemWorks 2005 to install (it refuses to install Antivirus 2005), the Symantec Integrator causes it crashe constantly. And finally had to laboriously, manually remove the various SystemWorks leftovers as well.

(6)..Being without a usable AntiVirus program or a functioning Firewall, I have spent the better part of the past week attempting to remedy these problems since I'm using a cable modem with a fiber optic connection. I have been offline for almost a week (thankfully I have a laptop that has not been touched by any Norton 2005 product).Currently it seems the only possible solution is to manually change/ remove files from the registry (Symantec does provide information on the dozens of registry entries that will need to be removed (at least from the previous version of AntiVirus),if one cannot delete Antivirus using Add/Remove Programs.

(7)..Did I mention that prior to any Norton 2005 product install attempts I could press the power button on my computer and be on a working desktop typically in less than a minute; after the first attempted install of AntiVirus 2005 the start time is now over 4 minutes. Checking some log files seems to reveal a lot of the computer's time directed to verifying product activation/ownership info.

(8)..ADDITIONALLY, AFTER INSTALL (and before restart) AntiVirus 2005 provides information relating to product activation stating: "Antivirus 2005 may cause system problems if new users are added after Antivirus 2005 is installed."

Frankly, it's begun to feel like I'm an unknowing beta tester for Norton's activation process and upgrades. It's a bit like buying an elegant new car with a history of stability, reliability, safety, that has previously offered ease of use for its owner. Except the manufacturer has upgraded the vehicle to a keyless system that now uses only the owner's fingerprint to open the door locks or start the ignition. Unfortunately, there's a glitch and one is left with a vehicle that cannot be opened and will not start. No matter how attractive, no matter the previous history of safety, reliability and stability one is forced to junk the vehicle, as even a less known vehicle that will let do what you need to is better than one that sits there occupying space.It is unfortunate that seemingly such can now be said of Norton...

248 of 258 found the following review helpful:

DO NOT PURCHASE!!! Sep 17, 2004 By RM
I just purchased Norton AV 2005 for my Dell Dimension 8250 computer (approx. 1 year old) because my previous Norton Antivirus subsciption had expired and it was cheaper to buy this version than renew the license. What a mistake. I installed the program which seemed to go smoothly until I ran liveupdate to get the new virus definitions. The definitions appeared to download fine, but then they "failed authentication" and the program would not install them. I clicked on the link next to the error message and the Symantec website recognized the problem, but said it was either a problem with my computer or a worm or trojan causing the problem. I don't have any computer problems that I know of and the program didn't tell me what the problem was and I had been running NAV before with no problems and had purchased this after my virus deinfions were only ten days old. It seems a little too convenient that this is a problem with my computer! The Symantec link also gave me a great link to a self diagnostic tool that told me I needed to update my virus definitions -- as if I didn't know that already. I read a host of negative reviews of Norton AV 2004 but still went ahead and purchased NAV 2005 because I had used NAV in the past without any major problems. It looks like the software just keeps getting worse with every version. Don't make the same mistake I did.

37 of 38 found the following review helpful:

Installation Nightmare Oct 28, 2004 By Lynn M. Trowbridge
I am a retired systems programmer/analyst with 12 years of personal computer experience, both professional and personal.

This product is a disaster. After a year of the successful use of version 2004 under Windows 98SE, the attempt to upgrade to version 2005 not only uninstalled version 2004, but refused to install version 2005. A great many files and corrupted registry keys were left behind making the re-installation of all Symantec products fail. I spent 9 hours on and off the telephone with a vast number of Symantec "Customer Care" people before I was finally able to speak to someone with some technical knowledge. He directed me to the Symantec site and a large number of incredibly complex documents/routines for the deletion of all Symantec products from my computer and for the correction of the corrupted registry.

The next day I waded through several of these removal scenarios and finally accomplished an install. As of this moment I may still have LiveUpdate problems. I will have to wait until the scheduled call to update the virus definitions to see if that "feature" works properly. It did not work properly out of the box, but required the deletion of all LiveUpdate settings and virus definition files before the program would install the downloaded virus definition update. Solving this problem consumed another half-day.

This software is garbage and the Symantec help staff in India is incompetent. Symantec has created a "Support" system which demands hours on hold after which the customer is connected to a non-technical person who can neither answer questions nor direct the frustrated user's call to a competent technician. I will do everything in my power to report in the public media and to all who will listen, the installation failure of this disgraceful product. Symantec should be ashamed.

33 of 34 found the following review helpful:

NOT RECOMMENDED Mar 13, 2005 By SoCalReviews
I have used antivirus products since the DOS and Windows 3.1 days when antivirus protection was still an "option". Today you not only need AV protection for your PC but you also should have good antispyware and a software firewall. In the old days McAfee AV used to be free and Norton AV used to be a premium AV program that worked well at a reasonable price. These things are no longer true today and the software security industry has become a multi-billion dollar Godzilla type of monster that mostly cares about their own profits before customer interests. Unfortunately Symantec's Norton Antivirus 2004 and 2005 are evidence of one of these Godzilla monsters out of control and on the loose.

What happened to this once great antivirus program ? The answer is a combination of "bloatware syndrome" and "product activation". Norton AV 2003 and previous versions did require a faster computer with allot of system resources but they were recognized as some of the best antivirus security programs in the world. This reputation as being number one and the popularity of the internet made Norton Antivirus a prime target for the software thieves to copy, distribute, and profit from one of Symantec's best product. Unfortunately Symantec's solution, namely product activation combined with poor programming, has created a cure for Symantec that is worse than the illness. I have personally never seen, read about, or heard of a software program released on a large scale by a major software company that has corrupted and damaged more working computers than Norton Antivirus 2004 and 2005 products have. When I say "damage" I don't mean that the computer hardware is effected but what I mean is that at least ninety percent of the time when the Norton Antivirus installation does not go well then a complete restoration or reinstallation of the operating system is required. Since the Norton AV 2004 release I have heard and seen this happen over and over to people of all skill levels from regular users to advanced computer technicians. If you think you are immune to this happening to you if you upgrade or install the latest Norton AV 2005 then I wish you the best. Maybe this could be your lucky day.

I am not here to bash Symantec or the Norton brand of products. Remember that I have used and been a fan of Norton Antivirus up until Norton Antivirus version 2003 of which I have an updated subscription and I still use on my computer today. I really hope that Symantec gets its act together and improves Norton AV for future versions before it loses most of its Antivirus customers for good.

Here are some possible solutions. If you still want to use a Symantec AV product then look into purchasing the latest "corporate version" of Norton Antivirus. I have read that the corporate version is still and excellent program without all the bloatware and bugs of the retail versions. You could also simply use Norton Antivirus 2003 or SystemWorks 2003 which can still be purchased inexpensively online as an OEM version. But if you have had it with Norton for now and want to jump ship before it completely sinks then I recommend you try McAfee VirusScan 2005 or TrendMicro's PC-Cillin 2005. There are some other antivirus choices that are also supposed to be good including Kaspersky, Panda, and Computer Associate's E-Trust and EZ-Antivirus. Don't forget to install a good antispyware program such as Microsoft Antispyware or Webroot's Spy Sweeper and use a good software firewall or at the very least make sure that the standard Windows XP SP2 firewall is enabled.

Before you install any antivirus alternatives to Norton AV remember to completely, totally, and properly uninstall any and all versions of Norton Antivirus from your computer. You can find some helpful information regarding the proper un-installation of Norton Antivirus products on Symantec's web site. The sad truth is that there are so many hidden and discrete files that the retail version of Norton AV installs on your computer that some people have reported it to be harder to completely uninstall Norton AV than it is to get rid of a bad computer virus.

PROS: Program interface is attractive, the latest version has many new security features including spyware detection, the Norton Antivirus brand has traditionally had a very good reputation for computer virus detection and system security.

CONS: Serious installation problems have been reported by many users relating to product activation and authentication. It often disables or damages previous versions of Norton's security products. It ties up system resources and often causes a dramatic system slowdown. It is difficult and seemingly impossible to completely remove it from your computer once it has been fully installed. Product support is expensive and time consuming.

I really hope that things change for Norton AV in the future but as of the time I write this review the retail version of Norton Antivirus 2005 is NOT RECOMMENDED for most computer users.

The bottom line...One Star.

26 of 27 found the following review helpful:

Read the Fine Print; Poor disclosure by Amazon. Nov 03, 2004 By R. Ord
Make sure you read the fine print of this (...)offer. Amazon does not point out that this is a competitive upgrade only, and you must provide proof of owning a prior retail version of Norton, McAfee, or Zone Alarm. This should be more prominently displayed. The type on the printed form is very small and hard to read and I didn't spot this before I ordered. Like most people, my prior Norton version was OEM from Dell. Amazon does a huge disservice to it's customers by not pointing this out more clearly.

See all 201 customer reviews on Amazon.com