Norton Antivirus keeps asking for activation

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February 26th, 2006, 12:31 PM
Loopy

Norton Antivirus keeps asking for activation

I have this very annoying problem with Norton Antivirus 2006, I have it installed on TWO diffrent computers using TWO diffrent CD Keys, on one computer it works fine now. But on the second computer it keeps asking for reactivation everyday even if I activate it. I tried talking to Symantecs support online but the support is very poor.

I hope someone here has gone through this and can help me. I wish I could send this junk software back to Symantec and get a refund, it's silly when anti-piracy measures hurt legit customers.

-Thank you
February 26th, 2006, 01:34 PM
TechZ

Have you tried uninstalling Norton Antivirus 2006 completely and re-installing?

On occasion that I've had problems with NAV2004 or 2005, a simple uninstall/reinstall followed by a Live update, solved everything.
February 26th, 2006, 04:26 PM
Loopy

Yes, I have reinstalled. I contacted tech support about this and first the guy said to activate again then once I told him that won't solve anything he said that my Key wasn't anygood since I had activated the software with it so many times. He said to call customer service and they'd get me a new key to use. We'll se how that goes :rolleyes:

What I don't understand is thier reasoning first he tells me to reactivate then once I protest he says the keys no good, they seem to have the general attitude of "get this customer out of here as fast as possible" rather then get this customers problem solved then they won't contact us again. They are starting to remind me of Gateway when I dealt with them in '02.
February 27th, 2006, 02:09 AM
Loopy

I noticed that on symantecs website it says:

Not For Resale (NFR) software is not returnable and is not included in our 60-day guarantee.

Does anyone know if they would take OEM versions of NAV 2006 back? This didn't come with my computer I bought the two copies from Newegg.com
February 27th, 2006, 09:38 AM
BOB IROC

I am having the same problem. I bought the 5-license pack of Norton '06 and 3 of the computers are having the activation problem. Symantec is no help. They tell me my key is invalid. It sucks.
February 27th, 2006, 01:14 PM
jitBob

They have two patches for this on their website. It has worked on a couple of computers here and has not worked on a couple of others. Norton stuff can be very difficult at times which is exactly why it no longer is being used at this shop.
February 27th, 2006, 01:27 PM
BOB IROC

You wouldn't happen to have links to those patches would you. Upon searching their site I only found reference to Norton 2004 and 2005.
February 27th, 2006, 01:49 PM
DonJ

Help with product activation
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...06021715234146

Quote:

What is product activation?
Product activation protects you from pirated and counterfeit software. It limits the use of Norton programs to those who bought them legitimately. When you install a Norton program, you must use a unique product key to activate it. You can activate your Norton program during installation, or after you install. If you activate after you install, you must do so within a limited time, or the product will not work.

There are several links there for you to try out, including a link for FAQs.
February 27th, 2006, 01:54 PM
DonJ

Product Returns
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...o?kbdocid=null
February 27th, 2006, 01:54 PM
BOB IROC

The problem I am having is the option "Your Symantec product prompts you to activate whenever the computer restarts" and I tried the automated assistant and the patch supplied there says 2004/2005 only :mad: Dammit
February 27th, 2006, 02:01 PM
DonJ

It says that only the Repair Tool is for 2004/05 only. If you have the original install disks, the files shouldn't need repairing.

Have you tried steps 3 and continuing?
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...&osv_lvl=&seg=
February 27th, 2006, 02:32 PM
BOB IROC

Thanks I will try those. This is just one of the many reason's why I hate the concept of activating software. I understand why they do it, but when headaches like this come up it just detours people from their products.
February 27th, 2006, 05:16 PM
Loopy

Cool, lots of replys.
Does anyone know if I could return the OEM version of the software I bought from newegg.com could I return it to symantec?
February 28th, 2006, 11:44 AM
DonJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loopy

Cool, lots of replys.
Does anyone know if I could return the OEM version of the software I bought from newegg.com could I return it to symantec?

You got a reply to this a few posts back...

Product Returns
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...o?kbdocid=null
March 1st, 2006, 04:27 PM
joker j

I have found that AVG is a LOT better than Norton. I had Norton about 4 years back and for some reason my computer would always act up. So I got AVG from a friend that said AVG was better and lo and behold, it found a worm. Luckily I didn't have my computer hooked up to the internet... lol.
Just thought I'd toss this out there. :)
March 1st, 2006, 04:41 PM
EvilKlown

Wow, I guess this is where working for a large corp. pays off. Norton screwed up their updates with the last batch. It will not be fixed until March 11th.

You can install and update everything but the Common Client update and the program will work fine, though you will have to have auto updates turned off until they fix the problem.
March 2nd, 2006, 09:18 AM
BOB IROC

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilKlown

You can install and update everything but the Common Client update and the program will work fine, though you will have to have auto updates turned off until they fix the problem.

So what are you saying? Turn autoupdate off and do a manual update and the program will still work?
March 3rd, 2006, 12:14 AM
Loopy

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonJ

You got a reply to this a few posts back...

Product Returns
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...o?kbdocid=null

I'm not trying to be rude but, that link doesn't answer my question, is NFR(not for resale software) another name for OEM software? I still don't understand if I can return the OEM software I bought from newegg.com to symantec.
March 16th, 2006, 01:53 AM
Poseidon

F.Y.I.

On a side note I too have run across this annoyance on several occasions. Thing is, the NAV OEM software the customer purchased came from me as part of a software bundle I included on the purchase of the custom built computer. So, I know the software is 100% legit.
The first couple of times I also tried the patches posted on Symantec's site,(DonJ posted above), in addition to the normal, repair utilities, uninstall - complete removal utility, to no avail. To resolve the issue, I ended up talking to tech support at Symantec and they do not issue a new key, but rather re-activate the existing key taking note of my information, the hardware specs and any serial numbers and/or tracking codes I personally assign to the machines I build.

Now whenever I run across this problem, I immediately call Symantec and go through the key re-activation process with out wasting time with the patches and reinstall process.

btw - in case you are wondering, when the key is re-activated the original install date is not compromised, even after a format and clean install of the OS.

During the past couple of months I am starting to see this problem more and more - including machines that were purchased from another store such as CompUsa or BestBuy. So far in these particular cases, NAV has been limited to the 2005 version, so I usually end up either selling them NAV 2006 (retail box) with a discount, the amount depending on the time left on their current subscription, or talking them into buying AVG Professional/Firewall edition. Sure, doing this I may loose a couple of dollars on the sale of some software, but I also gain a new customer.

Another thing I have noticed is the problem seems to be, (or at least to me anyhow), limited to OEM versions of NAV. Also, in almost all the cases I’ve seen, the problem occurred on the next reboot following a windows update. - go figure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loopy

Yes, I have reinstalled. I contacted tech support about this and first the guy said to activate again then once I told him that won't solve anything he said that my Key wasn't anygood since I had activated the software with it so many times. He said to call customer service and they'd get me a new key to use. We'll se how that goes :rolleyes:

What I don't understand is thier reasoning first he tells me to reactivate then once I protest he says the keys no good, they seem to have the general attitude of "get this customer out of here as fast as possible" rather then get this customers problem solved then they won't contact us again. They are starting to remind me of Gateway when I dealt with them in '02.
March 16th, 2006, 02:04 AM
Poseidon

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loopy

I'm not trying to be rude but, that link doesn't answer my question, is NFR(not for resale software) another name for OEM software? I still don't understand if I can return the OEM software I bought from newegg.com to symantec.

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...sch_nam&seg=ag

from above link

Quote:

. . .
* Not For Resale (NFR) software is not returnable and is not included in our 60-day guarantee.
* Symantec Backup CDs are not refundable and are not included in our 60-day guarantee.
* Consumer multi-packs, Enterprise multi-user packs, and volume licensed Enterprise products purchased with Maintenance (that is, Upgrade Insurance and Technical Support) are not refundable and are not included in our 60-day guarantee.
* The pcAnywhere 30-day edition is not refundable and is not included in our 60-day guarantee.
* Appliances, see below.
* Symantec Education Kits are not refundable.
March 16th, 2006, 08:06 PM
Loopy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poseidon

F.Y.I.

On a side note I too have run across this annoyance on several occasions. Thing is, the NAV OEM software the customer purchased came from me as part of a software bundle I included on the purchase of the custom built computer. So, I know the software is 100% legit.
The first couple of times I also tried the patches posted on Symantec's site,(DonJ posted above), in addition to the normal, repair utilities, uninstall - complete removal utility, to no avail. To resolve the issue, I ended up talking to tech support at Symantec and they do not issue a new key, but rather re-activate the existing key taking note of my information, the hardware specs and any serial numbers and/or tracking codes I personally assign to the machines I build.

Now whenever I run across this problem, I immediately call Symantec and go through the key re-activation process with out wasting time with the patches and reinstall process.

btw - in case you are wondering, when the key is re-activated the original install date is not compromised, even after a format and clean install of the OS.

During the past couple of months I am starting to see this problem more and more - including machines that were purchased from another store such as CompUsa or BestBuy. So far in these particular cases, NAV has been limited to the 2005 version, so I usually end up either selling them NAV 2006 (retail box) with a discount, the amount depending on the time left on their current subscription, or talking them into buying AVG Professional/Firewall edition. Sure, doing this I may loose a couple of dollars on the sale of some software, but I also gain a new customer.

Another thing I have noticed is the problem seems to be, (or at least to me anyhow), limited to OEM versions of NAV. Also, in almost all the cases I’ve seen, the problem occurred on the next reboot following a windows update. - go figure.

Thank you very much! currently they claim that the "research department" is looking at my issue, this is the second time they say they will call me in 24-48 hours but they never do. Do you think I should call them back and tell them I'm using the OEM version and to reactivate the key?