Is this evidence of a virus on my computer?

[DebJ]

Or I'm thinking it might just be Norton. Ever since I had to switch from McAfee to Norton (each provided free by Comcast), my computer keeps doing strange stuff (in addition to slowing down argh).

And my husband's computer is doing the same thing...

When I shut down my computer, I always close down all windows and programs. But when I turn it on again later, it keeps telling me that Windows was shut down abnormally last time, and asks me if I'd like to return to where it was open before. (Just though of something...I should say yes and see where it goes). I don't understand why this is happening, and the only changes made to both my computer and my husband's computer was Norton.

Also, I am frequently getting errors where Windows is just shut down, and I have to go back to the sites again...and I don't look at oddball risky sites.

Any ideas? I think I'm going to have to buy McAfee and see what happens.

[MicaelS]

1. Norton is crap, so is McAfee

I would uninstall Norton and give Microsoft Security Essentials a try. It's free and works great.

http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Download both MSE and CCleaner http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

CCleaner is a great free utility that will help clean your system of crapware.

Uninstall Norton, then install and run CCleaner. You will want to use the Registry tab, and the Cleaner tab for right now.

On the Cleaner tab, if you want to save cookies for your favorite websites like DU, then UNCHECK the Cookies box on BOTH the Windows and Applications tabs. If you're concerned about possible crapware from your cookies, then leave both checked.

Delete all the crap from both the Cleaner and Registry cleanings. Then install MSE, and run a FULL scan, which could take a couple of hours.

[DebJ]

2. thanks. n/t

[Curmudgeoness]

7. I have installed Microsoft Security Essential at work, but it really

s-l-o-w-e-d my home computer down. It seems to be working well at work though. You might want to run SpyBot or some other free virus program to see if there is anything there.

[NJmaverick]

3. Did you uninstall McAfee before installing Nortons?

antivirus programs don't play well together.

[MicaelS]

5. Yes, forgot to add that....

Only one AV program per system is the rule.

[pokerfan]

4. Maybe

Windows is rather notorious for startup/shutdown issues. It could be a misbehaving application, a bad (or out of date driver) or even a hardware problem. Or a trojan/virus/malware. You can try troubleshooting but when I was still using Windows it was just faster/easier to reinstall the system.

[DebJ]

6. thanks to everyone. i'll have to ask my son about the

uninstall on McAfee. He did it for me....I could figure it out myself, but he likes to do it and I'm too busy!

[hippywife]

8. You might also want him

to install an anti-spyware program, too. We use free Avast antivirus software and Super AntiSpyware on our computers and have never had an issue with either.

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Uninstall and totally wipe anything from Norton, and then the McAfee shit.

You might not have a virus, but you certainly have something worse - you have a Norton.

[DebJ]

10. LOL that's my suspicion exactly. n/t