Hi guys,

I've narrowed down my Vista problems to just two issues.

1.) I installed the latest version of Symantec Antivirus for Vista 32bit, and for some reason Live Update won't work. It keeps telling me it can't connect to the Internet.

2.) When I run the Performance Rating test, it runs the test but doesn't actually give me any numbers. The boxes remain grey. Did I miss something?

Any help appreciated. With these 2 problems out of the way I'm ready to use Vista as my main OS!

When you did the install of Vista was it a fresh install or an upgrade? Although you can update you AV can you surf the web?

Fresh install. What's really weird is I just downloaded a free trial of Norton Internet Security 2007, and at first Live Update failed. Now it's updating using Live Update Express, and it's working.

Unfortunately, I don't want to pay for this version when my University pays for my Symantec Antivirus anyway. Is there a way to get Live Update Express on my University version 10?

Hmm...

I remember something similar to the Symantec issue happening when IE7 was in beta (for XP). What would happen was I could run the Adobe Updater (used for CS2, Premiere, etc..) just fine running IE6 but as soon as I would install the IE7 beta, it would give a similar message of "check your Internet connection" when trying to contact the update server. The final release of IE7 resolved the bug.

My guess would be that there's a similar issue with Symantec and Vista. If so, I don't think there's anything we can do until Symantec fixes it (or a hotfix for vista is released).

What you might consider doing in the meantime though, is to possibly give one of the many good, free anti-virus programs out there a try (if you haven't already). I'm currently running AVG (latest version is Vista compatible) and it does everything I want it to, has frequent updates, and doesn't leave much unneeded stuff running in the backround (it's free too). I actually switched from Norton as I finally got tired of all the product activation/heavy processes in the backround it created.

I've also heard that Avira Anti-Vir is another good one. Haven't tried it out yet, but there are a handful of other ones out there that might be worth looking at, even if just until Symantec/MS release a fix.

As for the performance rating applet, while it's not necessary for proper operation I can see how it not showing a score would be annoying. My only guess with that would have something to do with possibly running a beta or unsigned driver (I'm not sure if Vista will even allow an unsigned driver ) but I'm just poking around in the dark on this one.

Sorry I can't give you any more definitive answers on these, I'm not currently running Vista so I can't even try to troubleshoot firsthand.

My first thought was that LiveUpdate was (for some odd reason) not listed as an exception to the Windows Firewall. I've been having an issue where Windows won't remember my network login for my NAS box. I think the problem is my blank password, which Windows doesn't like to record.

Check for an update to your copy of AntiVirus on the Symantec web site. I've been finding updates for random programs creeping up, which fixes little Vista issues.

As for the performance rating, check your video driver setting. I've scratched my head a few times already over the driver version number that mysteriously doesn't change (although the driver date does change) when updating. Features come and go, though. I think there's a quirk there!

Thanks for the replies, guys. What video driver setting are you referring to? I did the Windows update that found the 97.46 for the 7400go, and that's about all I've done...

Whoops! I was tired when I wrote that. I meant to say that you should check the video driver version. I've found that all the ones I've tried will install and identify as version 97.46, yet the dates change. Mine is dated mid-December.

What about the audio driver?

I just keep thinking of a driver or Power Configuration setting.