McAfee Internet Suite 6

[James O. Barlow]

I recently purchased McAfee Internet Suite 6 for a "new" computer, after
spending 20+ hours trying to get it to download updates, and contacting
their tech dept I finally gave up and installed Norton (which installed
and worked painlessly). This is the response I received from their tech
dept, seems like an awful lot of configuration to do to make a program
work. In short avoid McAfee like the plague!!!

Internet cache becomes clogged with images and text. Cleaning the

cache is a safe way to improve the speed and functionalityyou from accessing and using our services. We suggest you disable these
programs if you're unable to install or update.CTRL key and while holding the CTRL key down, click on check now. This
will start updating McAfee VirusScan. Make sure that you keep the CTRL
key pressed till the update is complete.viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but
rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an
infected system. Stinger utilizes next generation scan engine
technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files, and
scan performance optimizations.Windows XP feature, is similar to the "Last Known Good Configuration" in
Windows NT and Windows 2000. You can use System Restore to restore the
computer to a previous state, using the backups that it makes of
selected system files and program files. Unlike the "Last Known Good
Configuration" feature, System Restore maintains multiple restore
points. This gives you the choice of restoring your computer to any
number of previously saved states.temporarily turned off. For example, if the computer is infected with a
virus, then it is possible that the virus could be backed up by System
Restore. By default, Windows prevents System Restore from being modified
by outside programs. As a result, there is the possibility that you
could restore a virus-infected file, or that the on-line scanners would
detect the virus in that location.stop all the background running applications in your system before you
try to run the Stinger.items are programs that are automatically loaded every time you turn on
your computer. Some startup programs are absolutely necessary, others
are simply a waste of RAM.Scan" on your system now. However, we would like to inform you that a
Scan in DOS does not prompt for your permission before deleting any
infected files. If any system files are infected and cannot be cleaned,
they may be deleted or renamed.

 

[_Vanguard_]

I recently purchased McAfee Internet Suite 6 for a "new" computer,
after spending 20+ hours trying to get it to download updates, and
contacting their tech dept I finally gave up and installed Norton
(which installed and worked painlessly). This is the response I
received from their tech dept, seems like an awful lot of
configuration to do to make a program work. In short avoid McAfee like
the plague!!!


cache is a safe way to improve the speed and functionality
Explorer icon.
...

Bunch of detailed instructions. They could've just said to clean out
your temp space and let you figure it all out.

stored pages', select Automatically.

I prefer "Every visit", but then I have a cable connect instead of
dial-up.

And then I customize to increase security up from that level.

I prefer "allow 1st, block 3rd party, allow session.

you from accessing and using our services.

Same for lots of sites, so check your firewall logs for content
blocked - learn to manage your firewall!

Press the CTRL key and while holding the CTRL key down, click on check
now. This will start updating McAfee VirusScan. Make sure that you
keep the CTRL key pressed till the update is complete.

Weird to require holding the Ctrl key but must be how they do a *manual*
update.

present on the system. Please perform the following steps:

Yep, there are viruses that attempt to shutdown, disable, or interfere
with anti-virus software products. I suppose you could figure it out
yourself if you didn't want their instructions on how to use their
Stinger product to help you.

Part of any troubleshooting procedure for any product. They are
reminding you of it because it's likely you won't remember it.

Scan" on your system now.

Yep, some Windows viruses cannot be removed when Windows is running
because, well, duh, they infected the system files that lets the virus
hide. A DOS scan gets around that. However, it may still not catch a
MBR bootstrap virus. You might also have to use a bootable floppy or CD
to run a virus check without ANY operating system being used from the
media (i.e., hard drives) that you are scanning.

They gave you detailed instructions which, unfortunately, are not
complete because there are still more procedures sometimes needed
depending on how you are infected and what infects you. For those that
have had to clean up infected machines, their message is mostly fluff
since such users would already know all that stuff. Since you consider
it so onerous a list of instructions means you are a newbie who can't
simply skim through to notice if they mention anything you might have
forgotten to perform. You being lazy isn't their fault.

You never did bother to mention just WHAT was your problem when
installing McAfee so obviously your post was not a request for help but
instead just a bitch post. I also use Norton instead of McAfee but get
ready for problems with it, too. It's software, not godware.

 

[James O. Barlow]

Bunch of detailed instructions. They could've just said to clean out
your temp space and let you figure it all out.




I prefer "Every visit", but then I have a cable connect instead of
dial-up.




And then I customize to increase security up from that level.




I prefer "allow 1st, block 3rd party, allow session.




Same for lots of sites, so check your firewall logs for content
blocked - learn to manage your firewall!




Weird to require holding the Ctrl key but must be how they do a *manual*
update.




Yep, there are viruses that attempt to shutdown, disable, or interfere
with anti-virus software products. I suppose you could figure it out
yourself if you didn't want their instructions on how to use their
Stinger product to help you.




Part of any troubleshooting procedure for any product. They are
reminding you of it because it's likely you won't remember it.




Yep, some Windows viruses cannot be removed when Windows is running
because, well, duh, they infected the system files that lets the virus
hide. A DOS scan gets around that. However, it may still not catch a
MBR bootstrap virus. You might also have to use a bootable floppy or CD
to run a virus check without ANY operating system being used from the
media (i.e., hard drives) that you are scanning.

They gave you detailed instructions which, unfortunately, are not
complete because there are still more procedures sometimes needed
depending on how you are infected and what infects you. For those that
have had to clean up infected machines, their message is mostly fluff
since such users would already know all that stuff. Since you consider
it so onerous a list of instructions means you are a newbie who can't
simply skim through to notice if they mention anything you might have
forgotten to perform. You being lazy isn't their fault.

You never did bother to mention just WHAT was your problem when
installing McAfee so obviously your post was not a request for help but
instead just a bitch post. I also use Norton instead of McAfee but get
ready for problems with it, too. It's software, not godware.

What you failed to notice is what I mentioned in the first
sentence....this was installed on a "new" computer, as in just
purchased, never used before I tried to install McAfee. The problem
encountered was that updates could not be installed either automatically
or manually. I don't believe that Compaq pre installs viruses or ad ware
on their systems. This info was told to the McAfee tech dept in the
e-mails I sent to them. BTW I am not a newbie having over 24 years in
the comp industry. And I have used Norton for many years with no
problems what so ever. Thanks for your input.

 

[_Vanguard_]

What you failed to notice is what I mentioned in the first
sentence....this was installed on a "new" computer, as in just
purchased, never used before I tried to install McAfee.

"New" says nothing about what brand of computer you got or that it was
pre-built by a major supplier rather than some jobber or friend slapping
it together. In fact, some users are starting to notice adware on their
hosts when they get them back from the repair shop. "New" also doesn't
say whether it was a pre-installed and pre-configured OS or whether you
simply ordered the parts, put the computer together, and ordered the
software, and installed that. I've seen plenty of users building a
"new" computer that then install the same old software, including a lot
of downloads, that gave them problems before and wonder why they are
infected again. I've seen user refer to a "new" computer as a pre-owned
one that they just bought with plenty of software left installed, or
"new" after they ran Repair or did a reinstall atop an existing
installation. Unfortunately, being a Compaq means you get their
bastardized version of Windows, their superfluous utilities and other
software, and really don't get a clean install of Windows only. Did you
try using msconfig to get rid of all the fluff startup programs before
installing McAfee and doing updates? I suppose there's no chance you
got a real version of Windows (from Microsoft) rather than probably just
a restore CD (or partition) that overwrites the OS partition with
Compaq's bastardized setup again.

I didn't see McAfee's response as overly complicated or even very long.
To experienced users, it contained a lot of fluff that a simple preview
header would've alerted the user what the rest of a section was about to
detail. A lot of the details could've simply been summarized as "run
the Disk Cleanup wizard". Like them, I wouldn't know you weren't a
newbie, either. Your post never mentioned what YOU went through, only
what McAfee said in an e-mail back to you. It's all out of context for
the rest of us unless further information is provided. Your post never
really did ask for help from us.

The problem encountered was that updates could not be installed either
automatically or manually. I don't believe that Compaq pre installs
viruses or ad ware on their systems. This info was told to the McAfee
tech dept in the e-mails I sent to them. BTW I am not a newbie having
over 24 years in the comp industry. And I have used Norton for many
years with no problems what so ever. Thanks for your input.

Did McAfee report any errors when attempting to do the manual updates?
Does it provide a logfile of events which includes records of its
updates? Will McAfee load and run okay in Safe mode (with networking)
and, if so, what happened when you then tried to do updates? What
happens when you uninstall and do NOT install the entire suite but
instead just install the AV component? I'm assuming that a "suite" is
composed of separate component which the user can elect which ones to
install. However, at this point, I suspect you won't bother since you
went to Norton that its install and updates work okay.

A long time experience with PCs doesn't prevent committing boners but
only reduces the number. I had a buddy (we're both in software QA) that
worked over a month on his new computer (that he fabbed), returned the
mobo as defective, got it back as okay, and still couldn't boot when
trying to use an AGP video card but would work with a PCI video card.
Finally he brought it into work (to swap with some parts with our lab
stuff) and I decided to wander on over. Less than a minute of looking
inside and I fixed his computer so it would work with the AGP card. He
didn't push it all the way down into the slot past the 2nd indent. For
awhile afterward, all I had to do was smirk at him and he blurt, "Shut
up!". Boners happen no matter what your level of experience.

Did you ever get a refund on McAfee? Symantec has a 30-day satisfaction
guarantee and I've used it twice to easily get a refund. I still use
Norton stuff but one of their products did not work as advertised or
described (and they knew about the bugs that I was reporting) and in
another case I refused to accept the terms of their EULA. Called them
up, they told me I was within the 30-day satisfaction guarantee period,
and got my money back except for sales tax. I didn't even have to ship
them the product back (so I destroyed it after getting the refund). In
the future, I'll probably steer clear of the suites and instead get the
best-of-breed for each component.

I don't believe your experience with McAfee is typical or even occurs
with a significant number of users, so suggesting to avoid the product
like it was plague based on one experience doesn't make sense. The
purpose of first-level support techs is to respond quickly and NOT
escalate a problem in order to keep down support costs. You have to be
obstinate to get beyond the idiots that simply read from their support
knowledgebase and send back canned responses. Symantec is no different
but I have been able to frequently push past the 1st-level techs so
McAfee is just harder to get real support.

Hope you got Norton AV working okay. Sounds like it. Also hope you
managed to get your money back for the McAfee fiasco.