OK, the problem was that I couldn't log on to secure sites. And it's gotten progressively worse over the last month.
My (Sample) Norton Virus Scan and Firewalls said they had expired, but when I pinged myself, there was clearly something blocking me.
When I tried to get 'to' the Firewall configure settings, it would tell me that I didn't have priviledges (The stinker!)....
I've tried calling and contacting Symantec, but like on forum posted, it's almost impossible to get help. I was on hold for 45 minutes at one point. The second time I got someone in Calcutta (Sweet girl...but) she kept saying "My supervisor won't let me do that!" (I think, her English was such I could have gotten the downtown Dominoes)....
SO, I've gone to Tweaks for Geeks, and I downloaded DLL servers.
I ran a Veri Sign Scan and computer is OK.
I've also read that Norton expired would block https sites, so I've also deleted all Norton programs (like they advised)....and turned off and rebooted my 'pooter.
And TA DA!
Not a damn thing has changed.
Hrmpt.
I'm on DSL too.
Any ideas?
Are you using Nortin's firewall ?
If you uninstalled it then do you still have another firewall?
Have you tried using firefox?
If you want a good free antivirus program, try AVG.
If you want a good free software firewall, try ZoneAlarm.
How long have they been expired?
See post #70
All right then more info means new things to check. Assuming you removed all Norton programs with Windows add/remove programs then we need to check the Windows firewall and see if it is now activated and what its setting are. If you just deleted Norton files without using add/remove programs you will need to reload expired copu of nortons and then delete it.AWB
Backhoe,ShadowAce,rdb3: Are you around? The more helpful ideas here the better.
It sounds to me like your windows "registry" still has a bunch of norton stuff in there.
Registry First Aid is a good program for cleaning your "reg"
Off the top of my head?
Ditch Norton AV, and get AVG from Grisoft. Uses less system resources, updates & scans once a day. If you don't care for AVG, Avast! by Alwil is also good, and free to home users.
Rather than rely on a software firewall ( Norton ) set up a home network ( ethernet, what we used to call a LAN- local area net ) and you will have a hardware firewall-- much better.
Fiddlstix has a point about that damned MS registry-- a corrupt registry, or one that has had numerous additions and deletions can cause all sorts of weird problems.
The earlier, free versions of regcleaner were pretty good, if you can find one. Regseeker ( google it ) is what I currently use, and it does other things as well.
I hate to mention it, but sometimes, it's faster, and less hassle, to wipe the drive and reinstall everything. This also clears all the crud the registry's accumulated. One "hardware guy" trick? Get a new drive, set it as "master," install the operating system, then install your old drive a "slave," and all your data will be there. You still have to reinstall all your software on the master ( so it will be recognized ) and then import your data from the slave drive.
Yes, it's all a pain in the backside- sometimes I long for the days of vacuum tubes and dial phones...