Norton AV about to expire - should I pay up again or go for a freebie?

Allexie

Just had a message to say my Norton Anti Virus will run out shortly. I've always used them and have been relatively trouble-free so am undecided whether to re-new, (and pay...eeek!:eek: ), or whether to go for a free one. Any advice please and /or suggestions as to free ones would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

MercilessKiller

freebie.

Norton takes up a heck of a lot of memory in the background. A freebie will do as good a job as norton full version, and your pc will run a LOT faster.

You'll have trouble removing norton.. may have to edit registry keys etc but I'm sure theres a tutorial out there.

sylvey1

Allexie wrote:

Just had a message to say my Norton Anti Virus will run out shortly. I've always used them and have been relatively trouble-free so am undecided whether to re-new, (and pay...eeek!:eek: ), or whether to go for a free one. Any advice please and /or suggestions as to free ones would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

hi, i just use the free ones from download.com
its a brill site, i use avg free, spyware doctor, ad-aware, spybot search and destroy.
seems to keep my pc free,
hope this has helped?
sylvey

Allexie

MercilessKiller wrote:

freebie.


You'll have trouble removing norton.. may have to edit registry keys etc but I'm sure theres a tutorial out there.

OMG!! :eek:

Darksun

AVG Free. The free version used to be awful, but 7.x is great, and is just as good as spotting viruses as other packages

Froggitt

Go for AVG free

heatherw_01

Another vote for AVG free

Rex_Mundi

If you have been happy with Norton, why not just buy another years worth of updates? This will be by far your easiest option because you wont have to uninstall/install anything. Once you've bought your updates for a year, you will only have to enter your new registration number into Norton, and it will continue to work as it has done.

I've kept updating my NortonAV 2002. I figured that it has run so well in the background on this computer that it was easier to just buy another years worth of updates. Norton has always worked well for me.

MercilessKiller

Rex_Mundi wrote:

If you have been happy with Norton, why not just buy another years worth of updates? This will be by far your easiest option because you wont have to uninstall/install anything. Once you've bought your updates for a year, you will only have to enter your new registration number into Norton, and it will continue to work as it has done.

I've kept updating my NortonAV 2002. I figured that it has run so well in the background on this computer that it was easier to just buy another years worth of updates. Norton has always worked well for me.

It may be easier just to do it, but norton slows down your computer quite considerably and does the same job as a free one!

I'm sure there are easy to follow tutorials out there on how to remove it. Or if you live near Milton Keynes I'd come do it for you (no charge of course )...

Anyway, it is up to you. If your pc doesn't have a lot of memory (RAM) in it, then you don't want norton clogging it up .

Allexie

MercilessKiller wrote:

freebie.

Norton takes up a heck of a lot of memory in the background. A freebie will do as good a job as norton full version, and your pc will run a LOT faster.

You'll have trouble removing norton.. may have to edit registry keys etc but I'm sure theres a tutorial out there.

I really like the idea of running faster....but I'm scared to death of anything to do with the registry!! Does anyone know of any good tutorials as suggested here?

(It would be soooo much easier to stick with Norton...but I like the idea of 'free' and 'faster'!!!)

MercilessKiller

What version of Norton Antivirus do you have The exact version.

Thank you:

I am led to believe you can uninstall the anti virus by going into Add/Remove programs. This has failed for many however. If an older version than 2004 there is an official Utility from Norton to be able to do this. It can be located:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/docid/2001092114452606

That has full instructions but rather complex:

There are also removal instructions here;
http://www.cit.cornell.edu/helpdesk/win/nav/uninstallnav.html
This uses add/remove programs window