Norton AntiVirus 2003 - Crippleware?

[kopfjaeger]

Wanting to be a careful and responsible Netsurfer, I was happy to find a reasonably-priced update to my Norton Antivirus. I dropped in the CD and let that baby run.

It didn't run very far however. Apparently Symantec Norton Virus 2003 _requires_ IE 5.0 to be on your machine or it won't install, won't play, won't do jack.

That's odd, the package didn't say anything about a requirement for IE 5.0 at minimum to install this software. Frankly it sounds like an illegal 'tying agreement' whereby you can't have one without the other.

Has anyone else encountered this and found a workaround, or do I have to rattle my tin cup across Symantec's bars for a refund?

are you running a windows verison where you took i.e completely off? or running an older verison of ie?

the reason for having i.e might have to do with norton ability to scan for dangerous applets online, it might some how use i.e for its interface. or maybe online updating

[Scott Tiger]

Yeah, I think IE 5.0 was a requirement for Norton 2000 back in the day (in computer years anyway). At least I think I'm remembering this correctly. I do remember for sure that you had to have IE5.0 or better to use Outlook 2000 and that might be were I'm getting confused...

[kopfjaeger]

Tiger,

Actually, I've already got Norton AV 2001 running and it doesn't require IE 5.0 or later in order to install. In contrast, the 2003 update searches your harddrive and if it doesn't find BillGateus of Borg's IE 5.0+, then it stops butt-cold. End of Line.

There was no warning on the package stating that such was required.

Not real worried however. Got my testbed machine up and running, will soon download RedHat or Fedora, put on my training wheels and see if there really is life after MicroShaft.