Basil’s Blog

This past weekend was one of those Weekends From Hell that computer users run into every so often.

It began with the Wife talking about her computer having issues connecting to her online banking program. Seems she’s had issues with that for a bit. Because the bank had some issues in late 2006 with their online banking application, I figured it was the bank and not her computer.

This followed her earlier complaints (also in late 2006) that her computer was running slow.

But things actually started earlier than that.

The Background: Security Suites

I’ve used many different methods of securing computers. I try many of them out so that I can 1) use what I think is best, and 2) be able to give honest, first-hand advice when called upon regarding Internet security applications.

My personal favorite has always been products from what used to be Peter Norton. Now, Norton is a part of Symantec.

When Symantec bought out Norton, I wasn’t thrilled with what they did. At first. But, they eventually worked some bugs out and things got better.

Another early favorite was McAfee. At least, back when it was John McAfee’s first company. After the merger that formed Network Associates, things went a little downhill.

All in all, though, I had nothing to say bad about the quality of their product. Just the user interface.

Oh, the products did the job. I just didn’t like dealing with their products. They were nag-ware. And you couldn’t get rid of the darn things.

I always liked ZoneLabs ZoneAlarm firewall. It was always the highes-rated software firewall.

And, Computer Associates was, by default, considered a good product. Since they actually were the technology behind the ZoneLabs suite of products.

Suites. Right. So What?

Now, what’s all this got to do with the Wife’s computer and the Weekend From Hell?

Well, when Norton expired, I had a multi-system license for the ZoneLabs suite. So, I installed it on her computer.

And, some time around Thanksgiving, her computer began to act up. I did the thing that any husband would do when his wife’s computer acted up. I wondered what she did wrong. Being a guy and all.

After being unable to find a cause for the problem, I removed the ZoneLabs suite and bought the Computer Associates suite. Same technology, different name. And I had the chance to get it at a good price. So I bought a multi-system license and installed it on her computer.

Things immediately got better.

Except she started getting alerts about the Anti-Spyware portion of the application. Like it wouldn’t start.

I tried and tried to figure it out, but couldn’t. I made sure she did have other anti-spyware software installed.

Then, on Thursday, after her complaining again about it “slowing down,” I looked at her computer. And I discovered a serious problem with her computer.

It wouldn’t let me sign on with the Administrator account. Incorrect password.

I fixed that. I set the password on the account. Yes, on Windows XP, it’s possible to do that if you have another administrator account.

Then it wouldn’t let me sign on with the Administrator account. Account restictions.

So, I decided to roll back to an earlier setup.

There wasn’t one.

So, I removed Computer Associates suite.

Only, it wouldn’t let me. I didn’t have “permission” to remove it.

Wrong thing for a piece of software to tell me about my own computer. Okay, the Wife’s computer. But you get the idea.

We backed up all of her documents onto DVDs, verified the files were copied (that took a while), then did an operating system repair on her computer.

The repair didn’t help.

That meant drastic action.

Just Like Starting Over

I took the original discs that came with her computer and blew everything away.

Essentially, started over.

Which meant installing Windows XP Home SP1. Then upgrading to XP Pro. Then upgrading to SP2. Then all the critical updates (not much more than 100, by the time everything was done) for Windows XP.

Then installing software. That’s still not completely done. But the most critical pieces are done. And the critical updates for those.

Then putting her documents back. Okay, that’s still to be done. Well, some of it is done. But not all. Lot more to do.

Ayway, that meant a long Friday night. And a long Saturday.

How long did Saturday last? Until 5:30 Sunday. Not Sunday morning, but Sunday afternoon.

Once I realized just how goofy I was Sunday (I turned to the Wife and said, “I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now.”), I took a shower and went to lie down. I woke up about 6:45 Monday morning.

Still more to go before everything is done.

And when I put Computer Associates suite back on her computer, it seemed to run just fine.

Then, I saw an alert from the folks at AnswersThatWork.com.

Problems Remain?

Seems that Computer Associates sent out an update in November that has adversely affected many computers.

One of the things it did was “grind a PC down to a snail pace.” Yep, that sounds familiar.

So, could it be that my Internet Security Suite from Computer Associates was a problem for the Wife’s PC?

With it acting all uppity … not letting me remove items because I didn’t have “permission” … I’m inclined to believe the problem did indeed reside with that program. Or suite of programs.

So, I’m looking at returning to Norton. I would have considered McAfee, if they didn’t act like spy-ware … or CA … themselves.

How About You?

Anyone else have any Internet security suite horror stories they want to share? I’d love to hear them.

You know, suites that leave a sour feeling in your stomach. Things to avoid.

I don’t mind so much when things go wrong, if I can use the opportunity to learn something and help others avoid pitfalls.

But I’d love to hear about the issues you’ve run into. Not just to assure me that I’m not alone, but to help me (and, hopefully, others) benefit from experiences.

Tell me your computer security suite horror stories.