Norton may slow computers down

Thanks for all the info here. I consider myself an experienced user, regulary cleaning my pc from programms and files and scanning for unwanted background processes.

The last time I updated my Norton Program, I opted for the newest version. Ever since my computer is so slow in waking up. I wasn't for sure if Norton was causing this trouble, but Google now brought light into the matter. I've read many sites, all having the same message: Norton slows down your computer.

Two weeks before my subscription expired, Norton renewed itself and charged my credit card $64. They sent an email about the renewal, but I wasn't reading my email and didn't know it happened until I saw my bank statement. I had to call for a refund. I thought it was deceptive to have the auto-renewal on by default. The year before, when I renewed my virus definitions subscription, there was a $10 add-on product on the order that was checked by default and I didn't notice and got charged for it. Both times, I found it difficult to call Symantec. I had to fill out a form online just to get a phone number. I had long suspected Norton 360 was what was slowing my computer down, because it sounded like it was running scans in the background all the time, but I didn't know how to stop it. Since my subscription was supposed to have expired, I started to uninstall it and it said I still had 330 days left. I uninstalled it anyway -- a free year is just not worth it. My computer returned to normal immediately. Now I am going to look into the AVG program that's been mentioned here. I've always used Norton products, but this has been the third strike. By the way, there is a class-action suit against Symantec which charges them with renewing subscriptions prematurely and not giving credit for the balance of the paid subscription. It sure feels good to know that it wasn't just me getting screwed by Symantec.

A clients computer was running Norton 2008 Antivirus, A few year old laptop Turion 2.0ghz with 512Mb ram, I uninstalled it making sure to use the Norton Removal tool (available from the symantec site) and the boot time from switch on to usuable Internet went from 5 Minutes 28 seconds to 1 Minute 34seconds! I do like Norton though as people who have installed it have had to pay techs like myself to rid themselves of it.

Top tip google "norton removal tool" and get rid of it and watch your system feel reborn or if you must try the latest and so called greatest Norton 200X try the free demo first, its amazing how many people feel that because they have paid for the software or had it bundled they HAVE to use it no matter how slow it makes there computer. AVG makes for a free finer alternative, personal favourite is paid for Eset Nod32 light and effective.

Hey peole, I dont know problems you have but I had newer BIG problems with Norton. I tryed several programs from time to time when I had some problems but after a week I returned to Norton. Yes I agree that its slowing down your Computer but it is not a byg deal! After instalation my computer was slower son 5-10 percent, and I thing its not much.

When you want your PC to be faster:
1. update you computer every day :D
2. dont use automatic update in backgroud !!! Slows 30 perc.!!
3. dont use automatic scant ore anything automatic :D do it when you have time, for example let the PC do it at night!
4. Try to have norton GREEN not with the red cross :D

Sorry that I disagre with you but I thing Norton is the best Antivirus ever....(you dont have to buy it, there are other ways :P)

Norton stinks! It slows down my computer a halt! And Avg is much better!

I had Norton for awhile, and figured out that it was Norton making my computer really slow. I called and talked to a person explaining this, and my dissatifaction. I dumped them even though I lost money on it. Norton is really bad!

Norton Internet Security absolutely cripples your computer. What good is virus protection if your computer runs like an old Commodore? Ridiculous.

My company's IT department uses Norton. Apparently they forgot to install it on my computer when they sent it over to me. They realized this a month ago and installed it. My computer now runs at about a third of the speed it used to.

This is the reason I stopped using them at home and switched to McAfee. But, I had never heard of AVG before, so I may have to check them out.

I installed the newest version of Norton just two weeks ago, and it crashed my laptop. I can't even get the damn thing to turn on!!!! Now I have to get my information out of my hard drive so that I can remove Norton and start all over again. Guess its good I was looking at buying a new desktop anyway now that I'm out of college. grrrrr.

My computer is fast and i have Norton Internet Security 2008.

I just saved a friends 5 yr old HP by removing Norton and installing AVG 8 (free). It was running so slow that they thought it was necessary to get a new one but now is running much faster.

Earlier today, I had purchased the downloaded version of Norton Internet Security 360 for some 80$. But then I found this webpage warming us about Norton. I immediately returned the product and got refunded. It was easy to get my money back from Symatec since I never got to install NIS360 and to use it. However I had to "chat" online with a Rep to get my refund because it takes forever for someone to answer at their 1-800 number.

I caught a virus . . . rebooting computer and then immediately purchased Norton . . . my computer is aggravating me w/ it's speed . . . I Google "norton slow computer" and vala . . . this information . . . does anyone know if there is a refund after 2 days? If so, how do I go about getting a refund . . . I'm thinking that I can go through my credit card? any suggestions?

Why is every complaint here submitted by someone called "Smart Computer User"?

My computer was very fast and pages would download right away on the internet, but ever since I renewed my my subscription and installed Norton 360, I can't play any videos from Youtube and Yahoo takes forever to download. Can I safely uninstall Norton 360 in its entirety and replace it with some other protection?

from 5 minutes to startup to 0. i have it installed but its out of msconfig. : Run: msconfig:

norton came on my new computer first thing i did was uninstall norton .now if i dump vista all will be fine