Norton Protected Files

having submitted questions to the symantec support site on numerous occasions, i think i'll bypass them and try this question here on BBS...

i am running Norton Systemworks2002 on win2000pro.

i'd like to know where the Norton Protected Files are stored, in which folder? also the Recycle Bin files?

the reason i need to know this is that prior to emptying both of the above, i'd like to erase them, using a shredder program. but i don't know the path to their location.

i am fairly confident that they are in the norton utilities folder, within the norton systemworks folder, but then i don't have a clue.

the path probably starts out like this:

C:\Program Files\Norton SystemWorks\Norton Utilities

any assistance is greatly appreciated, as always!



mark

 

I do not know about the version you are using but with the older versions and Win95 or Win98 that would be a HUGH NO-NO.

They needed to be removed by using the Empty Norton Protected files in the Right click/properties of the Recycle Bin.

Also in the older Version they were in a Norton Sub folder of the Recycle Bin folder.

Again I do not know about the newer version but from what I do know I would suggest very carefull handling of the Norton Protection. Do not remove Norton Protection without making sure the protected files are emptied first. Not doing so may ( did ) cause problems for Scandisk and Defrag.

BillyBob

 

can you say why that is?

currently i am erasing Recycle Bin files via right-click and choosing 'erase' option placed there by the shredder prog. no problems.

but the Norton Protected Files are not giving me an erase option on the righ-click menu, so i'd like to locate them on my hd.

the way i see it, you can erase them now or erase them later, after they are emptied. but to erase them later means wiping all the free space on the drive. better to do the erasing before emptying, like i am currently doing with Recycle Bin files.

there is no Recycle Bin folder in nsw2002, at least not that i can see

 

can you say why that is?

Only that they did not seem to delete properly. And sometimes they would still shoe in the Proteced files of the Recycle Bin. I tried it twice and caused problems. About that time I quit using the Norton Protection anyway.

In fact I use very few NU anymore.

You also have a newer version of NU and a different OS so things are more than likely in a different place.

BillyBob

 

thanks for taking the time to reply

but i'd still like to learn where these two sets of files are stashed.

i did go ahead and post to the symantec site...

their responses are always good for at least a mild dose of frustration and aggravation

so i'm not expecting too much

 

well, the boys and girls on the symantec support site actually came through with the answer to my question about where the Norton Protected Files and the Recycle Bin Files are located... that is, in which folder on my hard drive?

it took them three cracks at it, but i eventually learned not only what folder these files are in, but also why i wasn't able to see them, and what i have to do in order to make the folder visible. (and no, it isn't checking "show hidden files" in explorer\tools\folder options\view... that was already checked) <g>

i was skeptical about getting good help from symantec. the first two techs suffered from an all-too-common condition on that site.... failure to read what the message says. <g3> but the third tech cut right to the chase.

thought i'd put in a good word for them



mark

 

Thanks for the bit of useful info.

Now I have a question.

When installing Norton ( I guess Uttilities or maybe System Works ) do you have the option to NOT INSTALL ( or activate ) Norton Protection ?

Or is there a way to remove it once it is installed ?

If so fine.

If not it is not so fine. ( for me anyway )

What the heck is Symantec doing ? Are they getting to be like M$ and think we do not need to know what is on our machines, where it is located and when it runs or don't run ?

If so then Norton just lost my vote.

BillyBob

 

$ymantec

 

hi billybob

not sure if not installing that component is an option. quite possibly yes, if one goes the custom route. i have always opted for the full monty, so i can not advise regarding customizable features.

but i can tell you the norton protection can be toggled on and off inside the norton protected recycle bin. right-click the bin, select properties, click the norton protection tab and uncheck "enable protection ". this requires a restart to take effect.

i can relate to that, especially after what i just went through to find out where the darn norton protection files are hidden.

turns out they are in a folder called Nprotect, inside a folder called RECYCLER. but here's the clincher... the Nprotect folder is only visible (via a search or just looking in explorer), when "enable protection" is unchecked. amazing. and i do not know if that's for everybody, or all operating systems, or what. but for my install of nav2002 on win2000pro, that's the story.

i have said that myself a time or two over the years, but i stay with the company. imo, their utility suite (norton systemworks), av program (norton antivirus), and from the reviews i have read very recently, their firewall (norton internet security) are top drawer tools.

good luck



mark

 

Would " Getting used to new OS and/or software cover this nicely " ?

OK. I see we differ there. I do not do a default install of everything. Especially NU. Only once did I do that with the older NSW. But I also know that the newer NWS does not contain some of the things the older one did.

NAV and NIS yes. And then do any resesetting that I might want to. Such as not checking the floppy at shutdown because it can ( and has ) hang ( hung ) up a shutdown.

I also do not do a default install with things like IE either for the same reason. It may install OE which I do not even want on my machine.

AH HA. Maybe not only amazing but a good thing.

That may relate to my original reply about it not being a good idea to just randomly deleting the Protected files at any old time.

And with the older version if I improperly removed Norton Protection it would ( or at least could ) cause problems for Scandisk and/or Defrag. Even Norton SpeedDisk.

I also have had good luck with Norton Products. ( As long as they give me MY choice of what stays and what goes.

Thank you very much for the info.

BillyBob