Norton Be Gone

Okay, long story-short, I can now access the Internet through my laptop. Which means more privacy for me, and more time I can spend on line (and an easier time getting on, too). Probably no more dealing with our crappy desktop computer, either.

On a whim, I decided to install the Netgear router I bought nearly 3 years ago. I tried installing it before, but couldn't get it right (they say Vista has problems with wireless programs). After all this time of it collecting dust in my room, I decided to try again; if it didn't work, I was going to sell it to my girlfriend.

With it all hooked up, I looked at my desktop's Internet connection. It was disconnected as I had expected, but then something happened... It got online. I tried out its Internet, and it worked. I tried connecting with my Wii and DS, and they got through.

The next step was my laptop, which was only online for 5 minutes after I turned in on for the first time in November 2006 before the Internet seemed to not work. Frustrating, but I was at least able to use my laptop for file-collecting and stuff. But then, a few days ago, I wondered if my antivirus software was interfering with its connection. It had both McAfee and Norton installed on it (Norton was preinstalled), and I decided to uninstall one to see what happens.

I decided on Norton first, and Googled "Norton will not let me online" (or something along those lines), and turns out that all this time, Norton WAS blocking my Internet access. If I disable its Internet Security, I would be able to go online. I did just that, and... Well, it was wonderful. :)

So, using an application from Norton's official website, I removed all traces of Norton from my system (since I read that using the Control Panel to do so could cause problems). I'm also going to remove McAfee from the computer, since it's outdated anyway (2005). Of course, I'm going to replace it with other programs; I'm already using Spybot Search and Destroy (which killed the XP Guardian 2010 virus that hit it yesterday, and the day before Vista Security 2010 got the desktop; don't let the names fool you, it's the same virus), and I'm going to also get Malware-byte, Kaspersky, and maybe AVG. Hey, I've had this thing for over 3 years now, and I'm going to keep my laptop clean; you'd do the same thing, wouldn't you?

But yeah, with me having this freedom and more time now, perhaps the Daily Cutie series could see their return soon... ;)

And I'm well aware that this entry would not qualify as a rant as the tag below would suggest, so let me fix that... The person(s) who wrote the XP/Vista Guardian/Security 2010 virus needs to get their face(s) stomped in. Preferably by... Oh, I don't know, Parvati Melton?